The Camelot Code: Geeks and the Holy Grail

by Mari Mancusi

Overview

Sophie must embark on her first official mission as a companion in the action-packed sequel to The Camelot Code!


In the second book in the Camelot Code series, Sophie is now tasked with protecting the spirit of King Arthur throughout the ages, so it's no surprise when she and Stu get sucked in to another Arthurian adventure: get the Holy Grail into King Arthur's hands so he can drink from it and recover from a deadly illness.

It's not easy, especially since Merlin's apprentice, Emrys, has accidentally turned the Grail into a gassy, fire-breathing baby dragon. And Merlin is the only one who can change it back. But Merlin's on spring break in modern-day Las Vegas (at the Excalibur, of course). And Sophie's super-popular (not to mention super-annoying) future stepsister, Ashley, has invited herself along for the ride.


From sneaking a baby dragon through airport security to the ultimate showdown with the sorceress Morgana, deep in the land of Faerie, this new Camelot Code adventure will test not only the two geeks' courage, but also their very friendship. Spring break just got epic!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781368023108
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	10/06/2020
Series:	The Camelot Code , #2
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.60(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Mari Mancusi always wanted a dragon as a pet. Unfortunately, the fire insurance premiums proved a bit too large and her house a bit too small, so she chose to write about them instead. As a former Emmy Award-winning TV news producer, she now works as a full-time author, having published more than two dozen books for kids, teens, and adults. When not writing, Mari enjoys traveling, cosplay, watching cheesy (and scary) horror movies, and playing video games. A graduate of Boston University, she lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Jacob, daughter, Avalon, and their two dogs. Visit her at marimancusi.com or follow her @marimancusi.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Once and Future Geek:

"A highly imaginative twist on the legend of King Arthur, complete with time travel, programming, and fierce friendships, the Camelot Code is the perfect pick for tweens who love medieval lore and geek culture in equal measure!"—Christina Soontornvat, author of The Changelings series

"Arthurian legends just leveled up in this hilariously geeky, modern, and clever take on The Sword in the Stone. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court meets Ready Player One for the middle-grade set."—Julie Leung, author of The Mice of the Round Table series

"Boys and girls will ditch their video games and be sucked into the delightful world of (future) King Arthur and his unlikely saviors, Sophie and Stu. An absolute delight!"—Jen Calonita, author of the Fairy Tale Reform School series

"Imagine The Sword in the Stone with a dash of Freaky Friday and a pinch of World of Warcraft—this funny, fast-paced adventure is chicken soup for the geek's soul."—Zack Clark and Nick Eliopulos, authors of The Adventurers Guild series

"A wholesome, modern twist on the classic legend that could provide a gateway for newer readers and fun for the gaming set."—Kirkus Reviews

"Cinematic and epic in scale. . . . A delightfully unexpected amount of detail from Arthurian lore. . . . Fast-paced, downright fun novel."—Booklist

"Dashes of romance, bullying, social anxiety, family stresses, commentary on middle school social structure, and bits of history and Arthurian lore all combine to create a though-provoking adventure story. . . . Blending elements of several genres, this story will be appealing to many different types of readers."
—School Library Journal

"Impeccably incorporates contemporary and video-game elements into the original King Arthur story, creating an enjoyable and seamless narrative."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2019-06-23
Following series opener The Once and Future Geek (2018), 21st-century video gamers Sophie and Stu dive into another time-travel misadventure in Arthurian legend.

The newly crowned King Arthur is sick, and only a sip from the enchanted Holy Grail can cure him. Morgana attacks the cup's protectors, leaving Nimue, the young druid of Avalon, to seek refuge in Merlin's cave. Unfortunately, only his apprentice, Emrys, is there. Green in magic skills, Emrys accidentally turns the Grail into an extremely flatulent baby dragon. Uh-oh. It's just Sophie's luck that her first mission as a Companion, pledged to guard "the once and future king throughout the annals of time," would come during a bridesmaid's-dress fitting for her dad's imminent remarriage—and that her soon-to-be stepsister, Ashley, a glitter-obsessed cheerleader, is pulled along for the ride. Stu joins them later, agonizing over "the right moment" to tell Sophie about his upcoming move across the country. On their quest to restore the Grail and heal the king, the kids travel to both an Arthurian-themed resort in Las Vegas and the fabled land of Faerie. Nimue's braided black hair and brown skin are a break from the otherwise default-white cast. Retrograde appeals for boys to aid "damsels in distress," especially if they're pretty, sound sour notes. Witty quips, copious pop-culture references, and the occasional snatch of gamer-speak aim this effort at novice genre readers.

A Volume 2 for readers who like their fantasy light. (Fantasy. 8-13)

Kirkus Reviews