An ALA Best Book for Young Adults. "[A] spellbinding twist on the Round Table legend . . . a standout in this enormous canon."- Publishers Weekly(starred review)
The newly crowned King Arthur is unsure of himself; worse, the people are unsure of him. Too many people want the throne, and treachery is everywhere. Merlin must do something before the king is betrayed, or murdered, or-worst of all-gets married. So Merlin magically places a sword into a slab of rock, lets it be known that whosoever removes the blade will rule all of England, and invites any man who would dare to try to pull out the sword. After a bit of showmanship, Arthur will draw the blade (with a little magical help, of course), and the people will rally around the young king. Except someone else pulls the sword out first . . .
A BooklistEditors' Choice
ABA's Pick of the Lists
A Parent's GuideChildren's Media Award Winner
"Yolen takes elements of Arthurian legend and makes them her own in this involving novel."- Booklist(starred review)
"[A] page-turning tale of magic and adventure, betrayal, loyalty, and love."- School Library Journal(starred review)
"A subtle, many-layered tale . . . It is, as the book's ending tells readers, 'an old story but a good one,' and Yolen does it honor."- VOYA(5Q-highest rating)
Autorentext
Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children's book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.