Song of the Sword

Gr 7—10—Two years after her mother has disappeared, and two foster homes later, 15-year-old Ariane moves in with her Aunt Phyllis in small-town Regina, but any hope of normalcy is soon dashed. Mean girl Felicia and her "coven" of followers target Ariane, and she experiences troubling visions and then hears mysterious chanting from the water. She discovers that she is a descendant of the Lady of the Lake and learns that she has no choice but to try to find the scattered shards of the sword Excalibur before Merlin, in the human form of computer mogul Rex Major, can find them and restore his broken powers. Stumbling upon Ariane as the Lady of the Lake reveals herself to her, Felicia's nerdy brother becomes entangled in the quest. As Ariane and Wally travel throughout Canada trying to locate the first shard, they are pursued by ruthless Rex Major, who will stop at nothing to get the power to rule both Earth and the Faerie world. When Ariane learns that her mother also descended from the Lady of the Lake, she wonders if her disappearance is tied to this mysterious and dangerous mission. This is a fantasy of epic proportions, with the perfect blend of suspense; well-developed, likable characters; and a touch of sarcastic humor. Ariane and Wally find four shards and the hilt of the sword, ensuring readers that this is just the beginning of the fantastical journey.—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA