By T A Barron
As a librarian in the 1990s I read a LOT of young adult literature. Some of it is preachy or becomes outdated quickly, but many books are well-written and memorable, appeal to a wide audience and stand the test of time.
This delightful epic adventure provides an explanation for the origins of the mysterious Merlin. As a 12-year-old (initially called Emrys), he has little memory of his early childhood. But he senses he has strong powers and that we was born somewhere other than his present home in Wales. He feels compelled to leave the woman who is caring for him (who may not be his actual mother) and find that place. Parts 2 and 3 of the book describe his adventures on the hidden island of Fincayra. He discovers his father, a Darth-Vader like figure, and is saved when a friend offers his life for Merlin's, a Christ-like sacrifice that brings new life to the whole island. Many interesting friends help him along the way, including a brave little owl whose name becomes the boy's.
This title was named YA Book of the Month for January 1998. It is the first in a series on Merlin.
I heard T A Barron speak at the American Library Assoc conference in NY in 1996 (that may have been just prior to this book's publication). He was a likable speaker who confessed he'd received so many rejection letters from publishers that he had papered a room with them! (Moral to the story: never give up!) He continues to publish children's and YA literature.
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