Mice of the Round Table #1

October 17, 2016
Descended from some of the bravest swordsmice ever to wear chainmail, young Calib Christopher lives alongside the human Knights of the Round Table, eating their crumbs and pledged to help defend the castle. That duty is tested when the timid mouse is selected to compete in the Harvest Tournament, a competition that leads to knighthood. When a beloved elder is assassinated during the competition’s first challenge, paws immediately point at a rival animal pack that lives outside the castle walls. Could war return to Camelot? Above the stairs, Queen Guinevere and Lancelot’s son, Galahad, face a parallel threat while King Arthur and his ablest knights are away. In this first book in the Mice of the Round Table series, debut author Leung subtly points out how heavy a burden one’s heritage can be by showing Calib and Galahad’s uneasy relationships with their status as favored sons. Though the plot is action-packed and battle-driven, Calib proves his worth by cautioning against making assumptions about the enemy and urging cooperation. Redwall fans will feast on this. A Paper Lantern Lit property. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Stephen Barbara, Foundry Literary + Media.

A "brave, strong, and wise" mouse plays a pivotal part defending Camelot and its inhabitants. Calib Christopher imagines nothing more "glorious than becoming a knight himself and following in his grandfather's and father's pawsteps." When an unknown assassin murders Calib's grandfather, Camelot mice suspect animals from Darkling Woods. After discovering the Sword in the Stone, which appears at "Camelot's darkest hour," and encountering a magical white wolf, Calib realizes his grandfather's assassination was part of a greater plot threatening Camelot. Somehow he must prevent the mouse army from mistakenly attacking Darklings and uncover the truth. Calib's story alternates with that of 11-year-old Galahad, Sir Lancelot's son, who arrives at Camelot while his father and King Arthur are away. As the "last defenders of Camelot," Calib unites Darklings and Camelot mice against invading weasels while Galahad rallies those in the castle to fight invading Saxons. Leung creates a fascinating parallel world of mice living alongside Camelot's famous human inhabitants and neatly laces the action-driven plot with colorful animal and legendary Arthurian characters. Spot art adds to the Round Table feel. A winning new adventure featuring a stalwart warrior mouse, heroic knights, and magical Camelot. (Animal Fantasy. 8-12) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-The sword in the stone, knights, battles, and bravery bring to mind the Knights of the Round Table and their adventures in Camelot. In Arthurian retellings, the focus traditionally falls on gallant heroes such as King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, and Merlin, but in this tale a colony of mice, flying squirrels, moles, and more take center stage. Calib Christopher comes from a long line of well-respected mice who, in different ways, have all risked their lives for Camelot. Calib has been entered in the Harvest Tournament. Before the test can even take place, Calib's grandfather, Commander Yvers, is viciously murdered. Calib soons sets off on a quest in which he encounters deadly grizzlies, luminous wolves, and the Darklings, the wild forest animals, in hopes of preserving not only his royal rodent society but all of Camelot itself. Leung employs classic language, with regal terms to re-create the timeless feel of Camelot. While her vivid descriptions and attention to detail are reminiscent of Brian Jacques's "Redwall" and Avi's "Dimwood Forest Tales," the plot is much more simplified and predictable. VERDICT An additional purchase for larger middle grade collections in need of epic animal fantasy.-Mary-Brook J. Townsend, Episcopal Collegiate School Library, Little Rock, AK

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