The Crescent and the Cross: The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad by Robert Rogland

Sinbad is famous for his first seven voyages, but his eighth is the most surprising and amazing of all. Sinbad acquires an African slave, Selassie, who is a Christian. Together they embark on incredible journeys together while Sinbad witnesses firsthand the difference between his Islamic faith and Selassie’s Christian one.

Reading Level: Ages 8-12
Read Aloud Age: 8+

This episodic novel is one story of peril and adventure after another. I will confess that I have not read One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights), so I cannot compare this to the original. That being said, the reader needs no prior knowledge of Sinbad to fully enjoy this non-stop thrill ride. There are some very intense moments, with death on the line often, so sensitive readers might struggle with this title. While some of the situations Sinbad and Selassie find themselves in are realistic, many others are not; one section has very strong Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea vibes. While the style and subject matter might lend itself more to boys, your adventure loving girl will also find this irresistible.

The author does a fantastic job of juxtaposing the views of Islam and Christianity and weaving this naturally throughout the story. There are conversations of image bearers, children of God, slavery, and more and they are all handled biblically! There are a few either full or partial presentations of the Gospel from Selassie to Sinbad. This is a riveting, thought-provoking title for your middle grade readers!

Violence:
While there were no doubt other instances of violence nothing was egregious. The one that stood out to me was when men were being bitten and gouged by apes. It reads, “bloody handfuls of hair flew everywhere.”

Language:
“Curses filled the air.”

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclaimer for more info.