Young readers will be spellbound by this story of fierce battles, dark dungeons, secret passageways, and medieval characters, made all the more vivid by true tales from experts in the field. Fun facts and photos, including reenactment shots, illuminate the lives of the inhabitants and the fascinating histories of castles. National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information. CRISPIN BOYER lives in Xcalak, a small fishing village in Mexico, where he writes about history, wildlife, and technology. He and his wife live with their flock of hens, a turkey, two roosters, and a guard goose. His 2013 cover story for National Geographic Kids magazine,  Return of the Missing Lynx , won an Eddie Award for Best Single Article, Youth/Teen. The American Library Association chose his book This or That? as one of 2015's top picks for reluctant young-adult readers.