Stephen closed his eyes and again, in his mind, the noise of battle rose around him. Then a voice cut through his imaginings.

"Come here, Stephen," it said.

It seems as if his wildest dreams have been answered. A poor shepherd boy in medieval France, Stephen has been commanded by the Lord Himself to raise up an army of children to accomplish by their faith alone what grown men have failed to do: restore Jerusalem to Christendom.

Encouraged by Father Martin, the village priest, Stephen runs away from his father's house to start a new crusade. Mesmerized by his fervour, thousands of young people, priests, and even adults flock to follow him, but the march across France through drought-ravaged villages and opulent cities is a bitter journey. How will Stephen be able to care for so many? And how will they get to Jerusalem?

The prequel to Angeline, and based on a true episode in history, The Scarlet Cross is not just the tale of the Children's Crusade, it is the story of one boy's inner journey from poor shepherd to trusted leader.

    "Karleen Bradford's skill in recreating events that happened 1000 years ago is proof of her mastery of her craft. Even more praiseworthy is the relevance of her theme to modern readers. Colorful, dramatic, full of action, pathos, tragedy and optimism, The Scarlet Cross is an important book. Already highly acclaimed by critics, teachers and students from all three faith traditions, it deserves a wide readership."
Review by Maryleah Otto, The Muskokan, March 2007

    "Karleen Bradford's fifth novel about the Crusades is the prequel to her critically acclaimed young adult novel Angeline. The Scarlet Cross is a magnificent companion to Angeline and readers will also appreciate it as a stand-alone read.
    "Bradford once again richly describes the protagonists' characters and their growth through imagery and well-paced action, as opposed to plodding description. Stephen struggles with universal themes, such as faith despite enormous obstacles, love (both spiritual and romantic), egotism, class differences, and failure. Young adults will relate their own insecurities and concerns with Stephen's and Angeline's.
    "Includes helpful maps, prologue, and historical note."
Review by Jennifer Caldwell, CM: Canadian Review of Materials, September, 2006, © the Manitoba Library Association

"Karleen Bradford's The Scarlet Cross, takes as its backdrop one of the great tragedies of the Middle Ages, the disastrous Children's Crusade of 1212.
    ...Bradford wonderfully evokes the dirt, grimness, and poverty of medieval France, and gives readers a real sense of the power of the Catholic Church in Stephen's world."(Review by Jeffrey Canton: Quill & Quire, May 2006)

"Ontarian Karleen Bradford harks back to a conflict of the Middle Ages in her fourth work of historical fiction about the Crusades, The Scarlet Cross. This story depicts the ill-fated Children's Crusade of 1212, a movement begun by Stephen of Cloyes, a shepherd boy who claimed that Christ himself had ordered him to gather the children of France to march on Jerusalem and take it from Muslim rule...She has produced a fast-paced, undemanding read...for a child who wants to know something of the Children's Crusade, this makes a reasonable beginning." (Review by Deirdre Baker: The Toronto Star, May 14, 2006)

• Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice 2005 (Starred review)
• Nominated for the 2006/2007 Stellar Award
• Selected as an Honour Book for the Geoffrey Bilson Historical Award, 2005
• Nominated for the 2005 IODE Violet Downey Award
• Nominated for the Ontario Library Association White Pine Award, 2006
• Nominated for the 2006 Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award

Stunned by the blistering heat, the noise, the sea of faces crowding in upon her in the teeming Egyptian market, Angeline cannot believe that she is being sold as a slave to one of the great princes of Cairo. Only a short time ago she left her small village in France to follow Stephen, a shepherd boy whose vision led him to mount a children's crusade to the Holy Land, but they were deceived by those who offered help. Now it seems they are doomed to a life of slavery in a foreign land and even Stephen has lost all hope.

Somehow, Angeline must find the strength to survive, as well as to help Stephen overcome his despair. But first she must learn to understand and respect the ways of a culture so very different from her own.

"The Crusade is but one of several strong topics dealt with in the book, along with female sexual slavery (concubinage, harems), the hostile relationship between Christianity and Islam, the question of God and faith, and the two-edged power of religion which can lead astray but also fortify. The depiction of cultural and religious intolerances based on ignorance - i.e. the core beliefs of the Christian crusades against the Muslim "infidel" - are timely, given the present day battles between fundamentalist Christians and fundamentalist Muslims. Reading Bradford, one might wonder have we yet left the Middle Ages.
    Bradford does not shy away from these difficult topics and her young readers will appreciate her straightforward manner. More importantly, she does not allow the weight of message or moralising to interfere with her story. This is a powerful coming-of-age tale of a courageous young woman who faces terrible hardship but remains true to herself and her will to survive - I must take care of myself - ultimately grasping happiness against the odds." (Reviewed by O. R. Melling: Books in Canada, December, 2004)

"This novel is based on the horrific experience of the 20,000 children who followed Stephen of Cloyes to Marseilles in 1212. Thirteenth century Egypt comes alive in the hands of this marvellous storyteller. You can taste the sand and feel the peace of the Emir's house. The markets, the journey on the Nile, and the streets of Cairo are all pulsing with action, colour, strange smells and wonderful food." (Review by Joan Marshall, CM: Canadian Review of Materials, October 2004)

"In this quietly compelling tale, Karleen Bradford revisits, and expertly recreates, a distant time and event which clearly beckons to her. As in her earlier Crusades Trilogy, Bradford has chosen the wars between the Christian and Muslims for control of Jerusalem as the backdrop for her latest historical novel....The author provides a rich and vivid depiction of Egypt in all its mysteriousness. Bradford also creates a thoughtful account of Angeline's Islamic captors, an intriguing glimpse into their customs and daily lives...It is a beautifully evocative work that will undoubtedly inspire further interest in the topic..truly a marvellous book." (Review by Lisa Doucet, Canadian Children's Centre Book News, Summer 2004)

"Bradford deftly evokes an exotic world of crocodiles and pyramids, silken bowers and scented palaces. Instead of barbarism and brutality, Angeline finds in medieval Cairo a culture undergoing enlightenment, a rich city where Muslims, Christians, and Jews co-exist peaceably. She acquires language and insight...Bradford takes on timely themes of East versus West, Christian spirituality and hypocrisy, and sex and power..." (Review by Maureen Garvie, Quill & Quire, August 2004)

• Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice 2002
• Nominated for the Ontario Library Association Red Maple Award 2002

"You have been summoned, Dahl," said Catryn, Seer of Taun.

It has been three years since the two friends last met. Dahl has done much since then, is no longer the nameless boy called from his hiding place on earth to defend his homeland against the Usurper. He is now, rightfully and proudly, the King of Taun, a confident and sure ruler who has grown into his kingship and brought hard-won peace and prosperity to his realm. But Catryn, too, has grown and changed in the last years. Once merely a spirited servant girl, she is today the Seer of Taun, a shapeshifter whose alternate bodies are cats and who is possessed of extraordinary powers of magic. She is also the messenger of devastating news: the peace Dahl fought so hard to win for Taun is crumbling, stealthily unravelled by a dark force once thought vanquished.

Only Catryn knows how very real this danger is. And only Catryn can lead this battle. But has she learned enough? Will Dahl put aside his crown and follow her? And, her worst fear: are she and Dahl strong enough, even together, to win over the evil again?

"Bradford has created an intriguing fantasy world that comes alive in the pages of both Dragonfire and Whisperings of Magic and woven a suspenseful and satisfyingly rich story." (Review by Jeffrey Canton, Books in Canada, July 2001)

"Like its prequel, Whisperings of Magic is a fine example of all that is compelling about the very genre of fantasy literature. The story is fast-paced and suspenseful right to the end, and it is peopled with intriguing characters...what truly sets both of Karleen Bradford's fine fantasy novels apart is the way in which the main characters manage to be convincingly heroic and yet remain completely real and human in their imperfection. Catryn...is a satisfying and worthy heroine!" (CM (Canadian Materials), Volume VIII Number 5, November 2, 2001)

"Like its predecessor, Dragonfire, this book is an original and compelling tale that gives the reader much to think about...Readers will be swept up in the drama and excitement of the story's soul-stealing dragon and revenge-seeking villain." (Review by Lise Doucet, Children's Book News, The Canadian Children's Book Centre, Summer/Fall 2001)

You can read an excerpt from WHISPERINGS OF MAGIC.

The Third Book of the Crusades

• Nominated for the 2002 Red Cedar Award.
• Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice (starred) 2000
• Nominated for the Silver Birch Award 2000
• Shortlisted for the Manitoba Young Reader's Choice Award 2001
• Shortlisted for a 2000 TORGI Talking Book of the Year Award

A lowly apprentice scribe, an orphan crippled by a club foot, 15-year-old Matthew thought he knew what life had in store for him: endless servitude. Of what consequence was it to him that King Richard the Lionheart of England and King Philip of France were soon to meet in his home city of Messina? What role could he possibly play in the Crusade to liberate the Holy City of Jerusalem from the Saracens?

But Matthew is drawn into the bloody and divisive war. His quick wits save a queen from imprisonment and a young Muslim girl from drowning at sea. And King Richard himself soon needs a scribe.

The first two books in this Crusades trilogy are the award-winning There Will be Wolves and Shadows on a Sword.

"In her bold portrayal of Matthew's uncertain future and the 'inconclusiveness' of the crusade (Richard didn't take Jerusalem but helped negotiate a three year truce between Christians and Muslims), Bradford grants this novel an honest lack of closure that resonates powerfully in our present. Bradford's writing is direct and vigorous, evoking Mediterranean heat and light, ancient stone and misery...Detail about 12th century warfare, political events, religious ideology is all here, with colour, action, a thoughtful, critical voice and an appealing protagonist."
(Review by Deirdre Baker, The Toronto Star, Sunday, January 9, 2000)

"Completing her trilogy about the Crusades with this volume, Karleen Bradford once again creates a gripping story that brings a distant time and place vividly alive for young readers today...Presented in the form of Matthew's journal, the novel is skillful in integrating historical material into his own perspective and personal story...an absorbing tale about a complex and fascinating period."
(Review by Gwyneth Evans, Quill & Quire, October, 1999)

"The quality of life described in (Matthew's) journal offers an excellent opportunity for comparison: the value of human life, political rights and freedoms...Bradford points out, through her character's friendships and dialogues, the futility and destruction inherent in religious discrimination and related violence...descriptions of life at that time are quite vivid."
(Review by Donna K. Johnson Alden, Resource Links Magazine, December 1999)

"Bradford's Crusade trilogy stunningly brings to life a world long lost."
(Review by Jeffrey Canton, Books in Canada, October 1999)

Selected by the CBC Children's Book Panel, November 1999.

You can read an excerpt from LIONHEART'S SCRIBE.

A Novel Studies Activities Guide is available. Details.

• Winner of the 2001 Moose Jaw Young Reader's Choice Award
• Shortlisted for the 2001 Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award
• Shortlisted for the Manitoba Young Reader's Choice Award 2000
• Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice 1998/99
• One of the Best Books of 1999, Resource Links Magazine

This is a fantasy about good and evil, but with a twist.

"The sword fights and encounters with dragons that mark Dahl's struggle towards reclaiming his throne are only part of this story. At a deeper level, Dragonfire is powered by Dahl's relationship with what Carl Jung called the shadow: that darker, unknown side of oneself that must be met and embraced if true growth is to occur. Dahl's final battle with The Usurper is one of the most thrilling encounters with the shadow in children's literature." (Maclean's Magazine, November 1997)

"Karleen Bradford's latest novel draws upon medieval cosmology, Jungian psychology, and classic adventure-suspense to produce an intelligent and entertaining fantasy for young readers. The hero of this quest romance is 17-year-old Dahl, an orphan who has lived as a stable-boy for most of his life but harbours a secret, nobler identity. The heroine is Catryn, who is crucial to Dahl's quest, not as the traditional damsel in distress but as his helper and psychological counterpart...

"The action in this novel is enough in itself to sustain the interest of readers. However, what really distinguishes this book is its theme--or more precisely, the coalescence of its structure and theme...In keeping with tradition, the hero's goal is individuation, but here the process is divided into two stages that develop the theme of self-acceptance. In the first stage, Dahl learns to acknowledge his fear and to act in spite of it. The second stage demands a more difficult acceptance: Dahl must embrace his shadow side, the evil that is as essential to his identity as the good.

"Bradford...writes with vigour and exactitude. The vocabulary, which is remarkable for its range and quality, creates a sense of the medieval grotesque." (Quill & Quire, December, 1977)

The daughter of an apothecary and the owner of a secret book of healing arts, Ursula is determined to become a great healer, but her ambition makes her an outsider in the Holy Roman Empire. When she is accused of witchcraft and sentenced to burn at the stake, she is given one chance to save herself: she must march in the People's Crusade to the holy city of Jerusalem.

"It works its magic with a plot that weaves memorable history lessons into a colourful medieval tapestry of high adventure." (Ottawa Citizen)

"...the adventure is gripping, the insights into human nature are uncompromising." (Quill & Quire)

A Novel Studies Activities Guide is available. Details.

A passionate young knight, Theo can't wait to embark on the Holy Crusade to reclaim Jerusalem. With his best friend Amalric at his side, he is eager to fight. Equally fervent is Emma, a servant girl who has intrigued Theo since the first time he saw her.

"...the historical detail is rich...the characters come alive, for they are true and real. A gripping, very human story of the First Crusade." (Quill & Quire)

"This is an amazing historical novel written in strong, simple vocabulary. Readers will enjoy the excitement and adventure of the travel of a massive army and the descriptive battle scenes, and they can follow the progress of the Crusaders via clear maps at the beginning of each chapter. History teachers will appreciate the accuracy of the details and the chance for modern students to glimpse the realities of the medieval world. The armour of the soldiers and the siege weapons used are vividly described and help the era come to life. Suspense is kept at a peak throughout the story. The ending is a happy one."
"Highly Recommended"
Review by Ann Ketcheson, CM (Canadian Materials), April 28, 2006

A Novel Studies Activities Guide is available. Details.

Working at her parents' roadside gas station and struggling to cope with an alcoholic father and defeated mother, Kate escapes her stressful family life by writing stories. But Mike comes to town and a series of robberies ends with a murder. Does Kate hold the key to it all?

"Bradford handles her challenging material sensitively, and demonstrates that a little love, trust and loyalty can go a long way in fostering human relationships." (Books in Canada)

Loren has lived his whole life on Windward Island but high school is on the mainland. A lighthouse keeper's son, he cannot face the thought of leaving, but the light is to be automated and there is no future for him on the island now. His friend, Caleb, a fisherman's son, faces the same choice, for the fish have gone.

When a yacht pulls into the Windward Island harbour, the boys' problems escalate. On the yacht is April--sullen, sophisticated and unhappy at being forced to spend the summer away from her own world and friends.

As the boys clash over their feelings for April and for the future of the island itself, their lifelong friendship seems about to crumble. It takes a near-tragic accident at sea to bring the three young people together and help Loren recognize the path he must take.

"Windward Island is nothing short of excellent." (Canadian Children's Literature)

"...deals with the timeless aspirations, fears, jealousies, and problems of young people growing up in a way that is at once immediate and engaging, but honest and unpatronizing...Bradford has an easy and unforced ear for the dialogue of the young." (Quill & Quire)

THE NINE DAYS QUEEN celebrates a bestselling twenty years in print. Scholastic Canada has reissued it in the Beneath the Crown Series, with a sumptuous new cover by Helen Breznik.

At fifteen Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England. But only for nine days. A true story of a tragic episode in England's history.

"Through Bradford's skilful handling of the complexities of this time, we come to understand how (Jane's) parents' plotting, her cousin's illness and the people's religious leanings were all manipulated to create the position Jane at the age of 16, found herself in...This novel will appeal to students who are interested in the "whys" of history, not just the facts."
(Resource Links, April 2006)

"Bradford makes history come alive." (Canadian Children's Literature)