T.A. Barron
In the intervening years since Tom Barron started writing full time, he has created many books including The Lost Years of Merlin series. He is now on another tour, this time featuring the second book in The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy. Having the opportunity to meet Tom is a really inspiring experience as he is the living embodiment of the ideals he captures in his writing. He told me that his twenty years of full time writing and life experiences have been the background preparation necessary for the depth of tragedy and loss coupled with triumph and gain that appear in The Great Tree of Avalon books. For the last five years (through seven re-writes) he has endeavored to create a saga set in the same mythic world as The Lost Years of Merlin series. The second book, Shadows on the Stars, is a complex interweaving of over 83 characters, each with their own physical appearance, motivations, psyche and inner secrets-no small accomplishment. The depth and scope of The Great Tree of Avalon series is on a truly epic scale as is The Great Tree itself: "stretching from the earth to the very heavens, with roots that are whole continents, and branches that are direct routes to the stars."
Even though it was just a "stock signing" fans waited patiently for Tom to arrive and "awesome" was whispered as he walked through the door. As gracious as I remembered him being from other appearances, he immediately began to speak to the children who gathered around him-as bards of old must have been surrounded by their eager listeners. He talked to them about writing and about what it means to be a hero and about the power of story. The tour includes two weeks in Europe, where his books have been very well received. As modest as usual, he told us that what really impresses him is that this crossing of geographic and cultural boundaries speaks of the power of story not his ability as a writer. While I agree that story does speak powerfully across ages, genders, oceans, and continents; I also know that T. A. Barron is a gifted writer who speaks to the deepest heart of all of his readers.
Each child left clutching books that will open new worlds and propel them on adventures unlike any they have experienced before. One fellow had already started reading and had to be "steered" by his mother out to the car. Now that is the power of story coupled with great writing!
I met T. A. (Tom) Barron while he was touring 23 cities in five weeks to promote his series of books about the early years of Merlin. A graduate of Princeton and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, Tom had a successful business career in New York. But his love of writing and the pull of the stories about Merlin drew him to Colorado where he decided to devote all of his time to writing. Working at home has given him a chance to spend more time with his wife Currie and their five children. Tom said that it just wouldn't have been possible without her support and confidence.
The books took many years and there were plenty of rejections. He spent three years without a contract working with Patty Lee Gauch at Philomel who encouraged, questioned and helped him bring his books to the point where they could be published. The first was Heartlight in 1990. This was followed by The Ancient One and the Merlin Effect. It was during the research for the latter that Tom became totally enamored with Merlin and his time. It was a period of religious upheaval, plagues and the fall of the Roman Empire. Tom's stories are steeped in Celtic and Druid mythology.
For Tom, Merlin is a metaphor of a medieval tapestry-who was this person, what shaped him, what were his hopes, fears, and doubts? In the projected series, all of these threads will come together to create the whole man whose adult life is filled with great responsibility as the mentor to King Arthur. The first two books, The Lost Years of Merlin (1996) and The Seven Songs of Merlin (1997) delve into the young wizard's life. In the Lost Years, the boy Emrys, learns who he really is and also learns to accept himself and wins the name Merlin. In the Seven Songs, Merlin learns about his special gifts; he learns to love and wants to help save the world. Tom wants people to read his books and say "Aha, I now know this fellow for the first time."
Tom's books are winning praise and awards which has put Tom even more on the speaking circuit. Part of his message to young adults is the following advice "if you have a chance in life to do what you love-then you will probably do well." For Tom writing books is the way he wants to spend his life; he feels compelled to write, and his books are certainly doing well.
Contributor: Marilyn Courtot
Be sure to visit his expanded, extremely informative web site: www.tabarron.com
Reviews
Child of the Dark Prophecy
T.A. Barron
Avalon is the land between Heaven and Earth where all creatures live in harmony. It was created years ago from a magical seed planted by the powerful sorcerer Merlin which grew into the Great Tree. For all this time, Avalon has been a peaceful place, a sensational place of mystery and wonder. However, its future is much less certain. Seventeen years ago, Tamwyn and his beloved "brother" eagleman Scree were born during the Year of Darkness. It was a time of great fear for the people of Avalon, for it was the year that the Child of the Dark, with the power to destroy Avalon, would be born. The land's only hope would be another child, born the same year, Merlin's true heir. Although Tamwyn and Scree do not yet know it, their lives are intricately entwined with the future and fortune of the enchanted land. So, too, are the lives of Elli, a Drumadian priestess and Brionna, an elf maiden. In this, the first book of T. A. Barron's latest epic series, the four are drawn together as Avalon's danger becomes evident. They meet the Lady of the Lake, battle an evil sorcerer, and struggle with their individual fears as they search for answers to Avalon's survival. The author has created an engaging world and populated it with likeable heroes. This series is sure to capture readers' imaginations as his earlier "Lost Years of Merlin" epic has. The Great Tree of Avalon ; book. 1 2004, Philomel, $19.99. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Sep. 1, 2004; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Nautilus Book Award Finalist 2005 Young Adult United States
ISBN: 0-399-23763-1
The Hero's Trail: A Guide for a Heroic Life
T.A. Barron
With a preface by Robert Coles
Heroes come in many forms. The author would like kids to look at a large number of heroes and see themselves. The stories of bravery are grouped by categories. Peter of Holland and Pocahontas were "Heroes on the Spot." Many of the stories are about ordinary kids who are heroes because they saved a brother from drowning or lead siblings out of a house that was on fire. The "Survivor Heroes" include a six-year-old boy who wandered off and survived in the wilderness for two months and Anne Frank, whose spirit has survived through her diary, an international best-seller. The "Heroes Within" are girls like Wilma Rudolph, who had polio but became the fastest woman runner in the world. Another runner who heroically overcame great misfortune was Glenn Cunningham. Ryan Hreljac who raised money to build a well and a school in Africa is one of the "Heroes to Others Far and Near." This is a nicely balanced collection of stories that remind us we have the ability to not only make the best of our circumstances but to help others as well. 2002, Philomel Books, $14.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Kristin Harris (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Booklist Book Review Stars, Oct. 15, 2002; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Nautilus Book Award Winner 2004 Children's Non-Fiction United States
ISBN: 0-399-23860-3
High as a Hawk: A Brave Girl's Historic Climb
T.A. Barron
Illustrated by Ted Lewin
Young Harriet recalls her first climb with her mother, and the wonderful feeling as they reached the top. Her mother had told her then of her ambition to climb Longs Peak in Colorado with the guide and founder of Rocky Mountain National Park, Enos Mills. Now eight years old, Harriet steels herself for the difficult climb ahead. Her mother has died, and she has persuaded Mills to guide her as her tribute to her mother. There are surprises and pain along the way to the final wonder at the summit. The exciting, inspirational story is based on the real Harriet Peters and her successful journey. Lewin's dramatic watercolors fill the double pages with detailed naturalistic scenes along the climb. The human actors give some sense of scale to the landscapes, while depicting some of the painful efforts needed to reach the top as they pass the rocks, cliffs and dense forests. There is a photo of the real Harriet along with background facts about her, Moss, and the area. 2004, Philomel Books/Putnam Young Readers Group, $16.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Sometimes it takes a death to inspire us to greatness. As bonneted eight-year-old Harriet misses her mom, she triumphantly conquers pain and doubt to fulfill a dream to reach the summit of Long's Peak. The story is based on an historic climb in 1905 when Harriet Peters, the youngest person ever to climb Long's Peak, and Enos Mills, a world famous guide, reached the top at 14,255 feet. Enos Mills campaigned steadfastly against mining interests to preserve this spectacular place and ten years after this, his favorite climb, it became the Rocky Mountain National Park. With this wise, strong, Scotsman, Harriet "scrambled up a rocky ridge, encountered boulders--hundreds of them, and ...snow up to my knees" to reach the top. Ted Lewin's watercolors are magical. He uses light to capture the suspense and beauty of the climb. He paints the mystery and fear of the dark forest and the surprise of the "bugling sound" of a "great bull elk bound(ing) out of the trees." The joy of success explodes in the light blue of the sky, the upturned arms and the soaring hawk on the last page. Barron's prose is inspirational as he tells of the child heroine and wonders about her impact on Mills. His story stirs a desire to climb and see this great work of Mother Nature so one can more than imagine the "string of lakes gleaming like a blue necklace" from the summit, to feel As High as a Hawk. 2004, Philomel, $16.99 Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Sue Stefurak (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2005; H. W. Wilson; United States Teachers' Choices, 2005; International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Nautilus Book Award Finalist 2005 Children's Illustrated United States
ISBN: 0-399-23704-6
The Lost Years of Merlin
T. A. Barron
T.A. Barron asked the question, "What was the great Merlin like as a child?" and from that sprang this first book of a five-book series that explores the answer. The author has created a world rich in characters and settings, which allows young Merlin to begin his journey to great power. As the novel opens, a boy without a name, without a home, and without a memory is determined to find all three. Emrys, as he calls himself, discovers that he possesses a magical power stronger than himself. When he uses this power for hate, he suffers by losing his eyesight. He soon discovers that he has a second sight that allows him to see in a different way. Because he is determined to continue his quest to find the three things he desires, Emrys goes to the land of Fincayra, an island thought to exist only in myth. There Emrys finds some answers and a purpose to his quest. This book is wonderful because the conflict facing Emrys is not only from outside forces but also from within. The plot line is convoluted, detailed, and gripping. This is a great read-aloud book for late elementary and middle school students. 2002 (orig. 1999), Philomel Books/Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, $5.99. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Sarah Beasley (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-441-00930-1
ISBN: 0-613-23013-2
The Lost Years of Merlin
T.A. Barron
This book traces the legendary wizard's life from the moment he finds himself washed up on a beach with no memory of his past. He's even lost his name. He's picked up by Branwen, who wants him to believe he's her child. He finds his way to the magical island of Fincayr, where his powers are tested. By hard work and great good fortune, he finds all that was lost. This is a good read for older children and adults who haven't given up the magic of Arthurian legends, and a great read-aloud for younger kids. 1996, Philomel, Ages 9 up, $19.95. Reviewer: Judy Silverman
ISBN: 0-399-23018-1
The Mirror of Merlin
T.A. Barron
Book four of T. A. Barron's "The Lost Years of Merlin" series finds fifteen-year-old Merlin exploring the Haunted Marsh, the least known and most feared place on the legendary Isle of Fincayra. Accompanying him is his friend Hallia, a beautiful girl who can morph into a deer. There is a blight on the land, and young Merlin and Hallia are determined to restore order on the island. They are befriended by a delightful creature called a Ballymag, and a mysterious youth named Ector, who helps lead the pair to the Flaming Tree and the Seventh Wise Tool, which had been believed to be lost forever. Besieged by the evil sorceress, Nimue, Merlin escapes through a magic mirror, where he must confront his deepest fears--as well as the living image of his future self. Merlin travels through time in order to rescue Fincayra; on the way he learns more about his destiny--to become the greatest wizard of all time. 1999, Philomel/Penguin Putnam, Ages 10 to 14, $19.99. Reviewer: Christopher Moning
ISBN: 0-399-23455-1
The Seven Songs of Merlin
T.A. Barron
The seven songs of Merlin, by T. A. Barron, is volume two of the "Lost Years of Merlin." Merlin, who now knows his name and who he is, must "bear the whole weight of the world for a time" as he fights to save the land of Fincayra. This volume may be a little difficult to read if you haven't read the first book. But it leaves the reader wanting to see the third volume. For ages 12 up, younger if the child has read some fantasy, and especially adults who love stories about Merlin. 1997, Putnam, Ages 12 up, $19.95. Reviewer: Judy Silverman
ISBN: 0-399-23019-X
Tree Girl
T.A. Barron
A lonely child looks for a mother. Starved for affection, she struggles through nearly insurmountable odds, making up a life, talking to animals, trees and birds. The premise is a familiar one, and requires from the author a new viewpoint, new struggles and a new "something" to keep readers from skipping 50 pages and missing nothing, or simply closing the book without finishing. Barron has found that "something." The brave, resourceful character, Rowanna, called Anna, has been raised by the old man she calls "Master," and she knows no other parent. He says he found her at the foot of an enormous willow tree deep in the forest, and that her mother was killed moments before by the ghouls that haunt the woods. That is why he confines her to the cottage; although there are trees and hills right outside, she is forbidden to visit them. She makes a tree-friend, "Burl," and imagines his branches hug her, tease her, smack her. She rescues a tiny bird and calls him "Eagle." She wanders farther into the woods every day, looking for the willow that sheltered her. She makes another friend--a bear cub. When the bear communicates that his name is Sash, he seems to become a sandy-haired boy, who says he is neither bear nor boy, but a tree spirit, a drumalo. He can take her on the two-day journey to the High Willow, when the Master is on a fishing trip or if he'll be gone on All Hallows Day, then that's when they'll go. Anna can hardly wait to find out what happened to her mother. In the woods, she feels free for the first time and decides to climb to the Willow on her own. Anna suddenly realizes that is a drumalo too, which is not very surprising to the reader. But the Master has followed her, and as she curls up at the Willow's roots he grabs for her. She must fight the Master now if she really wants to be with the tree, and when he is injured she must decide whether to save his life even though he has threatened hers. A discussion of this story could involve deciding what it means to be human. Fun to read and not frightening at all. 2001, Philomel, $14.99. Ages 10 to 15. Reviewer: Judy Silverman (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002; Bank Street College of Education; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2003; Nominee; Kentucky
West Virginia Children's Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades 3-6; West Virginia
ISBN: 0-399-23457-8
Where is Grandpa?
T.A. Barron
Illustrations by Chris K. Soentpiet
The day Grandpa dies, the two brothers and sister try to help their father face his father's death. The mother begins by remembering the day she met him, and how comfortable she was with him. The older children take turns talking about Grandpa, remembering the good times, until it's the young narrator's turn. He doesn't really feel like talking, and claims not to remember the wonderful things he and Grandpa did together. What he wants to know is, "Where is Grandpa now?" The father says "heaven," but that's not quite enough for the child. He needs a more detailed explanation, and somehow the father manages to overcome his own grief and give a lovely description of "any place where people who love each other have shared some time together." The child lists all the places he and Grandpa have been, and concludes that yes, that's a good idea. The father and son almost smile, and begin to heal. A touching story, with beautiful illustrations, appropriate for any family. No religious restrictions apply. A gentle way to help a family remember a dearly loved grandfather. 2000, Philomel, Ages 6 to 10, $15.99. Reviewer: Judy Silverman
ISBN: 0-399-23037-8
Updated 2004
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