The Lost Years of Merlin

Bibliography: Barron, T.A. (1996). The Lost years of Merlin. New York: Philomel.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading Level/Interest Age: 14-16

Reader's Annotation: Twelve year-old Emrys doesn't remember who he is or where he comes from, nor is he aware that he will one day be one of the greatest wizards of all time. Right now, he is both excited and frightened by the new powers he is developing as he undertakes a journey to discover his past and release a kingdom from the grip of an evil power that has blighted it for decades.

Author: Thomas Archibald Barron, known as "Tom" to his friends and family, was born on March 26, 1952 in either Colorado or Boston, MA. He was a Rhodes Scholar and holds degrees from Princeton, Oxford, and Harvard universities. After receiving an M.B.A. from Harvard, Barron became a business man in a small New York City venture capitalist firm for a time before leaving to devote himself to writing full time in 1989. To date, Barron has over twenty titles to his name and more coming out all the time, including several children's picture books and nonfiction works.

Plot Summary: "'Spat out by the sea, the boy lay on the rocks, as still as death. Even if he survived the day, he had no home. No memory. And no name.'

So begins the tale of a strange young boy who, washing up on the shores of ancient Wales, is determined to find his real home and his true name. One day he will become the greatest wizard of all time, but he knows nothing of this now.

At the knee of the mysterious Branwen, who claims to be his mother, the boy learns lore of the Celts, Druids, and people even more ancient. Yet the secret of his identity seems always to escape him. To discover the truth, and the secret of his own powers, he runs away, voyaging to the mist-shrouded isle of Fincayra, an enchanted land between earth and sky that is being destroyed by blight. It is there he meets the forest girl Rhia, the brave little giant Shim, and the wicked Rhita Gawr. He discovers that the fate of this land and his quest are strangely entwined…. If only he can solve the riddle of the Dance of the Giants." (jacket flap)

Critical Evaluation: Barron is in complete control of this story. Even after reading the cover material, I came to the novel with preconceptions about who Merlin is and how he acts. As a result, I was confused by this kid names Emrys. I kept expecting him to do something wizard-like. Instead, he is a mixed up adolescent in a small Welsh village. From this perspective, the novel felt more like Historical Fiction than Fantasy. After awhile, though, I realized that Barron was intentionally crafting this perception. He makes Merlin real because Emrys is realistic and has feelings that readers can identify with. Barron also lets readers experience the mystery of his powers at the same time and in the same way that Emrys does. He has no teacher or guide, so the source, extent and meaning of his powers are unclear and frightening as much as they are exhilarating. This aspect makes the story almost take on an allegorical sense, standing in for the changes that occur as one comes of age, and it is an effective frame. The other characters in the novel are not as fully formed as Emrys, with the possible exception of Rhia, but readers are unlikely to care as they endeavor with Emrys to struggle come to grips with the outside world and the part he has to play in it.

Curriculum Ties:

Book Talk Ideas:
• focus on Emrys's relationship with Branwen
• focus on Emrys's memory loss and quest for identity
• adapt his journey to Fincayra
• focus on the development of his magical powers in scene with flower

Challenge Issues: violence, use of magic

Challenge Defense:
• Explain library selection policies
• Provide reviews of the book from reputable sources
• Explain library challenge procedures
• Offer challenge form

Why was this text included in this project? Read as part of author study paper for LIBR 265. I’m also a big fan of fantasy and of Arthurian legend, so it appealed to me on a personal level.