Author
Biography
T.A.
Barron is a prolific author of books for children and young adults,
particularly in the fantasy genre, as well as an active founder and supporter
of conservation causes. He lives in Colorado.
Published
By: Penguin Group USA
Year:
1997
ISBN:
978-0-399-25021-7
Reading
Level: Grades 7 and up
Reader’s
Annotation:
When
young Merlin’s reckless use of magic puts his mother in danger, he sets
out on a quest to save her. On this quest, he must master the Seven Songs of
Wizardry, and learn what it means to be a great wizard and a wise man.
Plot Summary:
After defeating the evil spirit
Rhita Gawr and his slave King Stangmar, thirteen-year-old Merlin sets out
to magically heal the blighted lands of Fincayra. But victory has stoked his
ego, and his new friends – forest girl Rhia, poet Cairpré, and others –
constantly annoy him with their warnings not to misuse his power. His longing
for his mother Elen is made keener by the belief that she, unlike his friends,
would always support him. So against all warnings, he uses a powerful spell to
summon her to Fincayra. But he soon regrets his choice, as a deadly illness
sent by the vengeful Rhita Gawr to kill him strikes Elen instead.
The only
cure is the Elixir of Dagda, which can only be found by journeying to the Otherworld.
To do so, Merlin must master the Seven Songs of Wizardry – seven invaluable
skills written down by his grandfather, the great wizard Tuatha. Together,
Merlin, Rhia and eternally gloomy “jester” Bumbelwy set out on a journey to
master the Songs and obtain the Elixir. But will various obstacles and
tricksters, the terrible giant Balor, and Merlin’s own hubris bar their way?
Critical
Evaluation:
First
published as The Seven Songs of Merlin and
later reissued as Merlin, Book 2: The
Seven Songs, the second book of T.A. Barron’s Merlin Saga continues to paint a rich, colorful and engaging
picture of the great wizard’s boyhood adventures. Like Book 1 with its
“amnesiac hero in search of his past” premise, this book once again uses a
stock plotline: in this case a “find the cure” quest, crossed with a “Labors of
Hercules”-type scenario, with a climax that’s effectively a platonic Orpheus
myth (and once again, a hint of Star Wars
thrown in for good measure). But once again, Barron makes the stock scenarios
work by infusing them with poetic language, appealing mythological
world-building, cinematic beauty and excitement, humor, poignancy, and vivid,
memorable characters.
Young Merlin’s adventures are filled
with foreshadowing of the Arthurian tales that revolve around him – nods to
T.H. White’s The Once and Future King stand
out with particular prominence. And they continue the positive character
development that will shape him into King Arthur’s wise mentor. Like J.K.
Rowling with Harry Potter, Barron isn’t afraid to let his teenage wizard be
moody, arrogant and not always likeable – and then sends him on a journey not
only into the depths of the Otherworld, but into the depths of himself, forcing
him to realize his own dark side and learn much-needed lessons in compassion
and humility. Stock lessons they might be, but their value never decreases; and
while feminist critics might complain about female characters’ suffering and
(near) deaths being used to teach Merlin those lessons, that issue is balanced
by young heroine Rhia displaying formidable heroism in her own right. Boys and
girls alike who love high fantasy should enjoy this book from cover to cover.
Curriculum
Ties:
*Arthurian
legend
*Welsh mythology
*Fantasy worlds
Challenge
Issues:
*Violence
*Disturbing imagery
Why
This Book?
For
anyone who enjoyed The Lost Years,
this second book of the Merlin Saga is an outstanding follow-up
that will make readers eager for even more.
No comments:
Post a Comment