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350 pp.
| HarperCollins/Harper
| October, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-240405-3$16.99
(3)
4-6
Mice of the Round Table series.
In this third entry, Calib, a mouse of Camelot aspiring toward knighthood, and his human friend, Galahad, are lured into Morgan's underwater lair. There they build allies and discover magical secrets. In a bittersweet ending, the magic of the famous sword, grail, and mirror all come together--but Camelot falls; Arthur and Galahad depart for Avalon; and Calib, rewardingly, is left to help lead the new era.
(2)
1-3
After Sir Erec lies about slaying forty dragons to King Arthur, Merlin, and fellow Knights of the Round Table, he's sent into the past to face off against angry dinosaurs. Playing fast and loose with anachronisms, Phelan crafts a lighthearted romp with an engaging cast of characters. Pen-and-ink illustrations and intermittent comic-style sequential art bring swordplay to the forefront and keep the tone light enough for the book's young audience.
Reviewer: Eric Carpenter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2018
74 pp.
| Philomel
| March, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-17325-7$12.99
(4)
4-6
This book of advice, adapted from the author's 2013 Oxford University address, is presented as a conversational visit with the famous wizard Merlin. Summarizing life's experiences and mysteries in a few simple words, "Merlin" explores how gratitude, courage, knowledge, belief, wonder, generosity, hope, and love can help one create a meaningful existence. A purposive graduation gift for fans of Arthurian fantasy.
(4)
4-6
Otherworld Chronicles series.
This trilogy-ender sees King Arthur reincarnation Artie and friends search for the Holy Grail amid dragons and other fantastic beasts. The parallel-realm-via-video-game conceit lets them jump back and forth between worlds to learn secrets of their pasts. It adds up to a lot going on, but series fans who love action may find all the threads worth following.
252 pp.
| Putnam
| December, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-25706-3$16.99
(4)
4-6
In this retelling, Merlin gathers teenagers to form a new group of knights, here to pilot spacecraft to fight alien invaders. Reluctant Ben must look within himself to become the hero he's destined to be. An entertaining (if odd) mixture of Arthurian legend and science fiction, fans of Ender's Game will eat up the well-worn kids-saving-the-day trope.
335 pp.
| HarperCollins/Harper
| January, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-207086-9$16.99
(4)
4-6
Otherworld Chronicles series.
Twelve-year-old Artie Kingfisher discovers through his favorite video game that he is a reincarnation of King Arthur. Contacted by Merlin, he joins a quest through a parallel world to find Excalibur. The action is slow to start and video game fans may be put off by the lack of verisimilitude, but fans of myth-inspired adventures will devour this tale.
168 pp.
| Philomel
| September, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-24741-5$17.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
August Hall.
This companion guide to Barron's Merlin books covers the stories' various realms and details the characters and places found in each. Within every entry, bold text indicates terms that have their own subentries. As a stand-alone book it lacks context, but it's a useful resource if you've read the series. Illustrations and maps break up the pages.
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Sam Hart.
In graphic novel form, this volume presents the story of King Arthur, from the events leading to his birth through his final battle with Mordred. Many of the stories and characters from the Arthur mythos are included (not always in familiar form). The art uses color and shadow to good effect in depicting the sometimes gritty, sometimes mystical realm of Arthurian legend.
223 pp.
| Philomel
| October, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-25217-4$19.99
(4)
4-6
Basil joins with fellow dragons Marnya and Ganta in the final battles to save Avalon. With the resolution of Merlin's familial discontent, the final pieces are put in place to try to rid the land of evil. Though the writing continues to be over the top, the descriptive text paints a colorful picture of Avalon throughout this climactic trilogy ender.
125 pp.
| Random/Fickling
| May, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-385-75190-2$15.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-385-75191-9$18.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Peter Bailey.
Twins Toby and Tess share their lunch with an old man named Teller; in return he spins them a story in rhyme. Over subsequent meetings, the bearded man (eventually revealed as Merlin) tells the children four more tales knit together by prose. Old-fashioned-looking silhouettes and black-and-white line drawings illustrate the well-designed volume.
238 pp.
| Philomel
| September, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-25212-9$19.99
(4)
4-6
Basil the dragon is big enough to beat up bad guys, but there are just so many of them. With Merlin embroiled in petty family squabbles, Basil alone must rescue the realm from civil war. Fans of the previous Merlin's Dragon book won't mind this one's similarly purple prose: "Wrath oozed out of its every pore, sliding down its skin like poisonous perspiration."
305 pp.
| Philomel
| September, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-24750-7$19.99
(4)
4-6
Barron's seemingly endless supply of Avalon books continues in this trilogy opener about Basil, a strange-looking lizard. One-of-a-kind Basil travels to Avalon trying to help Merlin and wishing to be important. In a conclusion that might shock anyone who hasn't read the book's title, Basil discovers he's a dragon. Basil's adventure is peppered with musings on identity and self-fulfillment.
339 pp.
| Scholastic
| November, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-09334-7$16.99
(1)
YA
Narrator Gwyna is rescued by scheming storyteller Myrddin after Arthur's soldiers burn her home. She joins Arthur's band, first disguised as a boy, then as handmaiden to Gwenhwyfar. Reeve's characters remain true to themselves within an ever-intensifying plot. Touchstones of Arthurian legend are cleverly alluded to throughout. The relationship between story and history, myth and reality, is richly explored in this brilliant, brutal re-creation.
Reviewer: Claire E. Gross
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2008
216 pp.
| Random
| May, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-375-85577-1$16.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-375-95577-8$19.99
(4)
4-6
Merlin and companions Welly and Troll enlist a dragon to rescue Merlin's fiancée, Heather, from his old nemesis Morgan. After preventing Heather's sacrifice to Kali, the foursome (and dragon) tour magical belief systems across the nuclear-devastated globe, facing Morgan down in a Native American spirit war. Despite the jumble of myths and shallow characters, the original post-apocalyptic conceit may lure readers.
108 pp.
| Random
| February, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-375-83727-2$11.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-375-93727-9$14.99
(3)
1-3
Magic Tree House series.
Illustrated by
Sal Murdocca.
In this new Merlin Mission adventure, Annie and Jack visit seventeenth-century Japan to find the secret of happiness for their aging magician mentor, Merlin. The quest's abstract impetus is handily balanced with adventure--the kids meet the poet Basho, dodge samurai, and ride a dragon--the most dramatic moments of which are capably captured in Murdocca's black-and-white illustrations.
437 pp.
| Random
| April, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-375-84087-6$15.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-375-94087-3$18.99 New ed.
(2)
4-6
This volume includes Winter of Magic's Return (1987) and Tomorrow's Magic (1985), set in Britain five hundred years after a nuclear war. Two students discover their new classmate is really Merlin, who must reawaken King Arthur and save the world from the forces of Morgan La Fay. Service has done a terrific job melding futuristic science fiction with ancient Arthurian legend.
(3)
4-6
Grail Quest series.
Sidetracked in their quest for the Holy Grail, squire Gerard and stable boy Newt set out from the court of King Arthur to rescue their friend Ailis, a maidservant with nascent magical powers who has been kidnapped by the scheming Morgain le Fay. Engaging and accessible, the continuing adventures of this likable trio should please fans of the earlier book, The Camelot Spell.
40 pp.
| Holiday
| September, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-8234-1647-X$16.95
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Trina Schart Hyman.
Based on an early manuscript of Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, this retelling of the legend of King Arthur proceeds from his birth until he is taken away to Avalon at the end of his life. Intricate borders and romantic art illustrate the formally written three chapters. This solid introduction to Arthurian lore will encourage readers to learn more.
357 pp.
| Philomel
| October, 2000
|
TradeISBN 0-399-23456-X$$19.99
(3)
4-6
Lost Years of Merlin series.
Young Merlin faces his greatest challenge yet in the fifth and final book in the series. With only two weeks to spare, he has to convince all the creatures of Fincayra to band together to battle Rhita Gawr's evil army. But he is distracted from this task by a fearsome enemy from his past, who is terrorizing the island's children. Barron brings his epic story to an exciting and satisfying conclusion.
245 pp.
| Philomel
| September, 1999
|
TradeISBN 0-399-23455-1$$19.99
(4)
4-6
The fourth book in the Lost Years of Merlin series lacks the polish and panache of the first three, and readers may find the silly dialect of the ballymag downright annoying. But fans who have followed young Merlin through his many adventures will still enjoy tracking with him as he and Hallia meet up with marsh ghouls; his nemesis, Nimue; a young Arthur; and a much older version of himself.