The Battle for the Castle

May 1, 1993
Gr 5-8- -Two years have elapsed since young William battled the forces of evil in The Castle in the Attic (Holiday, 1985). Now turning 12, he's miserable because he thinks his friend has outstripped him in bravery, for Jason has "jumped the trains," which is the local male rite of passage, while he has failed. In the previous story, his family's former housekeeper gave William a model castle and a magic token through which he entered its inner world. Now that he is maturing, she again presents him with the token, and he and Jason return to the castle. William is welcomed back and he soon learns that there is again great danger in the land. A monstrous army of rats, behind a gigantic leader, is ravaging the land, eating everyone in sight. William is pressed into defending the castle and destroying the rats. He has to rely on his wits and his courage, for the magic token has been stolen; in the process, he learns that he does not have to jump trains to prove bravery. William and Jason offer contrasting models of what constitutes heroism. Some readers will wonder how the rats came under the spell of their demonic leader, but others will just enjoy the adventure. -Virginia Golodetz, St. Michael's College, Winooski, VT

September 1, 1993
Gr. 4-7. In a sequel to "The Castle in the Attic" (1985), William receives a magic token for his birthday, along with a note about love, courage, and loyalty and a reminder that his new age, 12, is appropriate for becoming a squire. Since this same token whisked him back to medieval times in the previous episode, William and his friend Jason try it again and, entering the castle in the attic, find themselves caught up in a wild drama involving an ancient chant that foretells the return of evil. Along with young Gudrin and her Uncle Dick, among others, William and Jason lure hordes of deadly rats into the castle while they wait for Sir Simon to return and rescue them. This well-crafted story is a beautifully blended mixture of fantasy and adventure, with a forceful and thoughtful underlying theme of courage. Readers who have not read the first book will find this story satisfying on its own, and many may clamor for further adventures created through the powers of the small token. ((Reviewed Sept. 1, 1993))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1993, American Library Association.)