The Squire's Tale

by Gerald Morris

Overview

First in the medieval fantasy series set in Camelot. “This Arthurian adventure is all heart—and humor.”—Publishers Weekly
 
Growing up an orphan in an isolated cottage in the woods, young Terence never expected much adventure. But upon the arrival of Gawain, his life takes a surprising turn. Gawain is destined to become one of the most famous knights of the Round Table. Terence becomes Gawain’s squire and leaves his secluded life for one of adventure in King Arthur’s court. In no time Terence is plunged into the exciting world of kings, wizards, knights, wars, magic spells, dwarfs, damsels in distress, and enchanters. As he adjusts to his new life, he proves to be not only an able squire but also a keen observer of the absurdities around him. His duties take him on a quest with Gawain and on a journey of his own, to solve the mystery of his parentage. Filled with rapier-sharp wit, jousting jocularity, and chuckleheaded knights, this is King Arthur’s court as never before experienced.
 
“The author leaves some tantalizing questions, and the tale is filled with knightly derring-do.”—The Horn Book
 
“Well-drawn characters, excellent, snappy dialogue, detailed descriptions of medieval life, and a dry wit put a new spin on this engaging tale.”—Booklist
 
“If your readers are looking for some notable swashing and buckling with a little chivalrous slapstick thrown in, this retelling of Arthurian legend is the book for you.”—The Bulletin
 
“There are plenty of sword fights and flashes of sorcery to delight readers, while the plot moves at a swift clip.”—Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547348766
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	12/15/2020
Series:	Squire's Tales Series , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	226
Sales rank:	891,667
Lexile:	700L (what's this?)
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	10 - 11 Years

About the Author

When Gerald Morris was in fifth grade he loved Greek and Norse mythology and before long was retelling the stories to his younger sister and then to neighborhood kids. He began carrying a notebook in which he kept some of the details related to the different stories. The joy he found in retelling those myths continued when he discovered other stories. According to Gerald Morris, “I never lost my love of retelling the old stories. When I found Arthurian literature, years later, I knew at once that I wanted to retell those grand tales. So I pulled out my notebook . . . I retell the tales, peopling them with characters that I at least find easier to recognize, and let the magic of the Arthurian tradition go where it will.” Gerald Morris lives in Wausau, Wisconsin, with his wife and their three children. In addition to writing he serves as a minister in a church.

Editorial Reviews

Jousting, questing and otherwise comporting themselves in the usual fashion of Arthurian knights, Sir Gawain and his companions also exhibit emotional sensitivity and a goofy sense of humor in this medieval comedy. In his first book for young readers, Morris follows Terence, an orphan raised by a magical hermit, as he becomes squire to young Gawain. Through a series of battles and adventures, Terence remains true to his lord. As Gawain learns to love women for their souls instead of for their pretty faces, Terence discovers he has special talents of his own. A knight seems to gain honor by racking up a high body count, and the battle scenes are often funny; for example, Gawain earns his place at the Round Table by killing one rude, hungry and murderous knight while armed only with an empty stew pot. Although women do not quest or battle, Morris refreshes gender roles: Terence is a great cook, ugly women find love and Sir Gawain even cries. This Arthurian adventure is all heartand humor. Ages 10-14. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 5-9-Terence, the squire in question, is not Chaucer's but a 14 year old of unknown parentage in Arthur's England, raised in the woods by a wizard who can see the future clearly but is foggy about the past. Gawain, not yet of the Round Table, comes across the boy and, needing a squire, takes him along. The story then follows the nobleman through Terence's eyes. New adventures weave through the familiar, threaded on the story of the loathly damsel, here called the "ugly woman," one of the strongest of the Gawain legends. The entertaining action moves rapidly through encounters with fools and villains to Gawain earning knighthood and the love of a smart and worthy woman. His squire, who has recurring visions and contact with an interesting shape-changer, eventually learns the mystery of his own birth and his destiny. Overall, this is a good story, well told, both original and true to the legend of Gawain, counteracting his lesser position in Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. Readers who savor swashbuckling tales of knighthood will enjoy this adventure. Librarians will find a great choice of comic and breathtaking quests for booktalks.-Helen Gregory, Grosse Pointe Public Library, MI

School Library Journal

An altogether different view of the feats of the often-vilified Sir Gawain, nephew of King Arthur, casts the famous knight in a more flattering light. Told from the point of view of the boy Terence, who is acquired accidentally as Sir Gawain's squire, we observe Sir Gawain's strength of character, kindness to animals, chivalry toward ladies, and subversive sense of humor. Many of Sir Gawain's well-known adventures, including the story of Pelleas and Ettard, the loathly lady, and his friendship with Sir Tor (although not the story of the Green Knight), are woven into the narrative-but with some twists. The author has also taken some liberties with the standard Arthurian canon by the addition of imaginary figures, such as a great magician, Ganscotter, superior even to Merlin, and Terence himself, revealed finally, to his own surprise, to be a powerful sorcerer as well. The author leaves some tantalizing unanswered questions, and the tale is filled with knightly derring-do. Both Sir Gawain and Terence are remarkably engaging figures, holding our attention and affection.

Horn Book Magazine

A 14-year-old boy lives the adventure of being a knight's squire in this novel based on the legends of Camelot. Terence seems a typical youth of medieval England, except for the rumors that he has faeries for parents and a guardian who "remembers" the future. When Sir Gawain offers Terence the chance to become his squire, and to teach him how to become a knight, the lad agrees and soon the pair are on the road. Morris packs his story with plenty of familiar faces, including King Arthur, Merlin, and the Lady of the Lake, and the narrative is constructed of events drawn from Arthurian legend. There are plenty of sword fights and flashes of sorcery to delight readers, while the plot moves at a swift clip. Although the tale ends long before Terence earns his knighthood, he does learn the true identity of his parents, especially his father, Ganscotter the Enchanter. An author's note discusses the sources for the novel, providing plenty of additional territory for budding Arthurians to explore. (Fiction. 12-14)

Kirkus Reviews