Igraine the Brave

Twelve-year-old Igraine longs to become a knight, but her family of magicians can't understand her dream. When life at the family castle is threatened by the dastardly Greedy Osmund, Igraine's skills in horsemanship and swordplay are pressed into action. Narrator Xanthe Elbrick has just the right touch for Igraine, whose courage and determination overshadow her youth and inexperience. Elbrick employs a superb range of accents for Igraine's various sidekicks. She portrays Igraine's older brother with a delightful combination of teenage scorn and begrudging pride. Igraine's parents, who have accidentally turned themselves into pigs, are simultaneously supportive and "piggy." Elbrick's effortless-sounding enunciation keeps the action lively but lighthearted. N.M.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Starred review from September 10, 2007
Igraine's parents are magicians who own the coveted Singing Books of Magic. Brother Albert has joined the family business, but Igraine finds magic incredibly boring—she pines for the excitement of knighthood. Then, on her 12th birthday, the vast castle next door is taken over by Osmund the Greedy, who wants the books for himself. At the same moment, Igraine's parents inadvertently turn themselves into swine, and their daughter happily volunteers for a quest to retrieve the red-headed giant's hairs they need to become human again. Funke's inventive re-imagining of the knight-in-shining-armor story benefits from its playful details—rainbow-colored smoke wafting out of the spell room, gargoyles who breathe fire from the turrets, stone lions that roar at strangers. Equally enjoyable are the family dynamics: though brother and sister begin as typical antagonists, they work together when their home is imperiled. Igraine's parents don't understand her aversion to magic, but respect her desire to forge her own path. Along the Funke continuum, which travels from silly picture books to the dark, ambitious fantasy of Inkheart
, this falls closest to Dragon Rider
, aimed squarely at elementary school readers. The author, whose career began in illustration, provides her own line drawings, witty images of the singing books (they have faces, hands and feet), and atmospheric spreads with inset text. While children will want to see the pictures up close, an abundance of action and humor make this satisfying story work as a read-aloud too. Ages 8-12.

October 29, 2007
Falling into the Funke-lite category of fantasy (more Dragonrider
than Inkheart
), young listeners, especially girls, will be eager to find adventure with the irrepressible heroine of this sprightly adventure. Igraine longs to leave boring life at Pimpernel Castle and be a famous knight—unheard of, of course, for a girl. But when the magic of her sorcerer parents goes awry and they turn themselves into pigs at the very moment that nefarious necromancers gather to attack, Igraine is called to undertake a courageous and crucial quest. British actress Elbrick makes 12-year-old Igraine’s frustration and exasperation palpable without sounding overwrought. And by giving the protagonist a youthful, yet confident and strong, vocal delivery, she helps listeners truly believe in Funke’s characterization of Igraine. Additional solid portrayals—a sorrowful knight with an Americanized accent, a mostly friendly giant and singing books of magic, go far to create a lighthearted and colorful setting. Ages 8-up. Simultaneous release with the Scholastic/Chicken House hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 10).

December 1, 2007
Gr 3-5-Young fans of knights and magic will rejoice in Cornelia Funkes tale (Chicken House, 2007) of adventure, bravery, and chivalry. Igraine was born into a family of magicians but has no desire to learn magic. She dreams of becoming a famous knight to liven up her boring castle life. For her twelfth birthday, she unexpectedly gets her wish when her familys castle is attacked by their greedy neighbor who is trying to steal her familys singing magic books. Since her parents have accidentally turned themselves into pigs, its up to Igraine and her novice magician brother to save the castle. Xanthe Elbricks smooth narration adds plenty of flavor to this fanciful tale. Her British accent heightens the medieval charm and her unique voices for the many characters are engaging and amusing.Karen T. Bilton, Mary Jacobs Memorial Library, Rocky Hill, NJ

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.