Crusades Trilogy (Bradford)

Canadian Children's Literature knew that Karleen Bradford had a winner in There Will Be Wolves, the first, award-winning instalment in her Crusades trilogy. The bestselling book, which has sold more than 40,000 copies, was followed by another critically acclaimed bestseller, Shadows on a Sword. Both of these titles set the stage for the eagerly anticipated release of Lionheart's Scribe, the third - and the buzz is that it's the best - title in the medieval series. Lionheart's Scribe is the story of Matthew, a 15-year-old scribe, orphaned and destined for a hardscrabble life of twelfth-century servitude, whose quick wits thrust him into the position of scribe to King Richard the Lionheart of England. It's the time of the Crusades, as France and England prepare to help King Guy of Jerusalem in winning back the Holy Land from the Muslim Salah-ud-Din. Matthew finds himself drawn into a bloody and divisive war, saving a queen from imprisonment and a young Muslim girl from drowning at sea. Matthew's journal becomes the masterful framework for this powerful, action-packed adventure, a first-person account that instantly grabs its readers for a historical ride they're not likely to forget. Like its predecessors, Lionheart's Scribe is a satisfying, illuminating story that will be a must-read for Karleen Bradford's many fans.

In this gripping sequel to the award-winning There Will Be Wolves, Karleen Bradford once again shows her immense talent for combining a sizzling plot, fascinating historical detail and real-life characters whose eleventh-century concerns ring surprisingly true with contemporary young readers. Set against the violence of the Holy Crusades, Shadows On A Sword is the tale of Theo, a passionate young knight; Emma, a strong and subversive girl bound by her position in life; and Amalric, a young man ready for war - holy or not. Confronted by life-or-death consequences, the injustices of war and politics and the joys of first love, the trio are believable players in a riveting, yet sensitive coming of age story.