The+Book+of+Three

= //The Book of Three// by Lloyd Alexander =

Taran, Assistant Pig Keeper of Caer Dallben, dreams of adventures like the ones he reads about in books. In Prydain, the kingdom where Taran lives, magic is not unknown. In fact, Hen Wen, the pig he cares for at the farm can tell the future. But, Taran's days are hardly magical, filled mainly by chores. When Hen Wen runs off in a fright one day, Taran chases after her into the woods unaware that he's about to embark upon the great adventure he's been longing for. In the woods, Taran discovers the Horned King, the great enemy of Prydain, and his army preparing to invade. He also meets his hero, Gwydion. Together they must battle the forces of evil to save Prydain. Along the way, they face countless challenges and setbacks, assembling a bizarre cast of characters to help them in their quest. These include Gurgi, a strange hermit creature, the sassy Princess Eilonwy, Fflewddur Fflam a bard and teller of tall tales, and a dwarf named Doli.
 * Plot: **

In the end, Taran and his friends save the Kingdom and recover Hen Wen. They are each given a gift of their choice as a thank you by the King. His friends all choose magical gifts and powers, but Taran chooses simply to return home to the farm in Caer Dallben, wiser for his adventures and ready to appreciate the quiet pleasures of his home.

**Personal Reflections:** Based on Welsh mythology//, The Book of Three// by Lloyd Alexander will feel familiar to anyone who has read J.R.R. Tolkien or any works based on Arthurian legend. However, it would do Alexander a disservice to call his novel Tolkien for kids. Alexander's great imagination is in evidence on every page. Plot twists, narrow escapes and luminous details abound. //The Book of Three// also has something Tolkien could use a dose of: humor. This is an epic adventure tale that understands hereos and heroines need to laugh to make it through grave dangers. Alexander is not an especially great stylist, but he excels in creating truly human characters. Taran in particular is almost unlikeable, he's so brash. But this makes him easy to relate to. He makes mistakes, a lot of them, like we all do. But, he learns from them and finds a way to be better. //The Book of Three// is the first in Alexander's Prydain chroncicle and Taran's transformation over the course of the five-novel series is a remarkable coming-of-age tale. //The Book of Three //is a perfect introduction to high fantasy for tweens. Action, adventure, magic, strange creatures and laughs abound. And with both strong male and female leads in Taran and Eilonwy, this series will appeal to boys and girls alike. **Genre: ** Fantasy, Adventure, Hero Tale

**Reading Level:** Ages 10-14 **Series Information: ** //The Book of Three //is the first novel in the Prydain Chronicles. The rest of the series includes: //The Black Cauldron//, //The Castle of Llyr//, //Taran Wanderer// and //The High King// **<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Awards: ** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">American Library Association Notable Children's Books <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">School Library Journal Best Books of the Year <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Links of Interest:** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">LLoyd Alexander's author page at MacMillan **<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Citation: ** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Alexander, L. (1964). //The book of three//. New York, NY: Henry Holt.