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Karen T
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| Posted: June 13 2007 at 9:42pm | IP Logged
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I loved reading about King Arthur and anything about it when I was a teen (and still do). Last week we watched Camelot, the movie (I'd seen the play on stage but never the movie before). Ds14 has loved LOTR, Narnia, Redwall and lately the Eragon books (I haven't read those).
I'd like to find some good Arthur books for him and remembered that I'd liked the Mary Stewart books when I was younger, but I don't remember how old I was when I read them. I checked the first one out of the library and started re-reading it and have come across a few things I'm not crazy about him reading (this is still in Merlin's coming-of-age). I know Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon has some pretty explicit scenes esp regarding the seduction of Arthur by Morgana so those are out.
I also checked out The Once and Future King but don't remember if I ever read that one. is it OK? Any others?
Karen T
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margot helene
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| Posted: June 14 2007 at 9:11am | IP Logged
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What a timely topic for me since we were just at the library yesterday and I had to send my 14 year old ds back in to return a book on Uther Pendragon and Merlyn that he had found in the adult stacks. It's too bad - what a wonderful cycle of tales and they have to muck them up with sex scenes.
I, too, read the Mary Stewart series, but I think I was in high school and my mom and sister and I all read them at the same time. I don't remember if there were any tricky parts.
I LOVE Once and Future King. As opposed to the Disney movie Sword in the Stone, which was based on part 1 of this book, Merlyn's teachings to Arthur are about the common good and self-sacrifice. Great themes for discussion in there!! In the third part, however, when the trouble with Guinevere comes along, the book becomes very dark and full of despair. It is a real "tragedy" in the classical/Aristotelean sense. I can't remember any particular tricky scenes, though I was wrapped up in the story and might have been swept along with them. I do remember thinking at the time that this was not a book for kids, at least not that third part . . . but how could you read it and not read the third part! Perhaps you could preview just that part.
Another Arthur series to consider is Howard Pyle's King Arthur books. They are a bit moralistic, but I like them. (Story of King Arthur and His Knights; Story of the Champions of the Round Table; Story of the Grail and the Passing of Arthur)
Margot
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: June 14 2007 at 9:23am | IP Logged
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We just read Pyle's series and enjoyed them. We haven't read any others yet, because of your same concerns, Karen. I am looking forward to other responses.
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jugglingpaynes
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There is a shorter version of T.H. White's "Once and Future King" called "The Book of Merlyn," which revisits Merlyn's teachings when Arthur is in his last days. It rehashes a lot of the original animal lessons he had as a boy, but I found it a much easier read as a teenager than "The Once and Future King." I had my daughter attempt the "Once and Future King" when we were working on the middle ages, but she got bored with it and never finished. I think The Book of Merlyn is a little bit easier for younger readers to digest.
Peace and Laughter,
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Matilda
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| Posted: June 15 2007 at 7:06am | IP Logged
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Any thoughts on whether or not these books would be appropriate for a 9 year old boy? He reads many levels ahead of his age, but is still only 9.
Thanks!
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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Lorri
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| Posted: June 15 2007 at 8:05am | IP Logged
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I read "The Once and Future King" when I was around 14. I remember being very upset by the chapter where Gawain, Gaheris and the rest of the G brothers killed the unicorn. I thought it was awful.
Unfortunately, I think most King Arthur books are written for adults. You just can't past the violence of the times and the Arthur-Morgan, Guenevere-Lancelot thing.
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marihalojen
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Have you considered The Seeing Stone Trilogy byKevin Crossley-Holland ? Marianna and I read the first book the last time we touched on the Middle Ages.
From Wikipedia: The story is a contemporary retelling of the Arthurian Legends, told by Arthur de Caldicot through a first-person veiwpoint, as he follows the events leading up to King Arthur's rise to power as King of England through his seeing stone.
The book was awarded the Guardian Children's Fiction Award, the Tir na n-Og prize, and the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize bronze medal. It was also shortlisted for the Whitbread Awards.
I enjoyed it.
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cathhomeschool
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In the Pyle series, Merlin does get "seduced" by Vivien, but it is not detailed. It mentions that Merlin noticed beauty in women (or something like that) and that Vivien was beautiful. She pretended to love him in order to learn his secrets, and once she had learned all his secrets, she imprisoned him. The Lancelot/Guenevere thing is even less "graphic" (but just as sad!). Is that enough info to decide whether or not it is appropriate for your 9yo, Matilda?
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Matilda
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| Posted: June 15 2007 at 9:13am | IP Logged
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Yes, thank you! Right now, girls only come in sister and cousin form and he can't stand to see anyone kiss (no matter how innocent). I don't think we will approach these stories for a while.
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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donnalynn
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For a family read-aloud we read "The Knight of the Cart" by Constance Hieatt - this is a story about Sir Lancelot and all the kids loved it ages - 5, 7, 10, and 12. Check your local library as I think this is out of print.
Dover Books has "The Story of King Arthur and Other Celtic Heroes" by Padraic Colum - I don't think you can ever go wrong with Padraic Colum!
For age nine and younger I would also recommend the "The Barefoot Book of Knights". These aren't just Arthur stories but stories of knights from around the world. My boys 5 and 7 love this book but I've actually seen it recommended for ages 8 and up.
Donna
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Lara Sauer
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I would like to recommend a series of books that I found at the library recently written my Gerald Morris. He is a Lutheran minister I believe from Wausau, WI. He has rewritten many of the Arthurian legends. I have read all of his books and really have no complaints about them. I guess there is a slightly harsh treatment of many of the priests in the books, but there are also others who are described as virtuous. There are at least 6 or 7 books in the series and the hardcover versions have great artwork on the covers. My two oldest sons, 14 and 12 thoroughly enjoyed all of them as did I. I think at least some of them could be read by younger children provided the parent read them first. I hope some of you find this helpful! All the best!
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J.Anne
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This is not a book, but I just finished listening to King Arthur / Junior Classics read by Sean Bean and I loved it. It was innocent enough, though there's some parts of the story you just can't get around. They were as vague as possible. I think it's probably a bit too old for my six year old, but I really enjoyed the CDs.
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Leonie
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We loved The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper - a sequence of five books, weaving the myths and stories of King Arthur and Merlin wth children living in the UK in the 1960s. I read a couple of these aloud when my youngest was 8.
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Karen E.
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| Posted: July 29 2007 at 7:36pm | IP Logged
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margot helene wrote:
I LOVE Once and Future King.
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Oh, I love it, too, and have been trying to decide if I'll have my 13 yo read the whole thing this year as we dip into the Middle Ages. Thanks, all for your input. I'm not the Karen who asked, but one who can benefit. 
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Karen E.
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Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Arthurian books appropriate for 14 yo
