The Children’s Crusade is a deeply thoughtful book about a California family struggling to overcome “maternal deprivation”.  Author Ann Packer slowly builds up steam in her recent novel, and she brings to life a very real household whose inhabitants could live next door.  She begins with patriarch Bill Blair as he ends his Navy service and finds a beautiful piece of undeveloped land on which to build a legacy of home and family.  A caring and thoughtful, respected pediatrician, we hear throughout the book Bill’s mantra, “children must be cared for” - a poignant consideration as he progresses through his career, marries and raises four children.