The vision that young shepherd Stephen of Cloyes experiences on a hillside in France will launch him on a staggering journey: a children's crusade to accomplish what grown men had failed to do and restore Jerusalem to Christendom. But for Stephen and the thousands of children—some as young as seven; many orphaned, malnourished or ill—who answer his call, the crusade will also become a test of faith and friendship.

The Scarlet Cross, the prequel to the bestselling Angeline, is a gripping fictional account based on the real history of the Children's Crusade of 1212. Karleen Bradford blends adventure and insight in the story of a boy whose questions about his vision and ability to lead will instantly capture the interest of adolescent readers.