The Death Catchers

Gr 5–8—In this exciting fantasy, Arthurian legend journeys to the Northern California coast to a community where Morgan le Faye's daughter settled more than 1000 years ago. Writing her story as a letter to her teacher as an argument for why she should pass English despite not having turned in her final project, 14-year-old Lizzy tells how she discovered that she was a Death Catcher like her grandmother, able to see people's impending deaths and prevent them. When she discovers that Morgan's sister Vivienne le Mort is planning to kill Drake, a boy at her school and the last living descendant of King Arthur, and thereby bring about the end of the world, she risks her own life to thwart these plans and save him. Her need to maintain absolute secrecy despite the fact that Drake's name is etched on her wrist while he is under the threat of death lends the story a sense of teenage reality as well as suspense. There is a gentle and sweet romance between Drake and Lizzy, and they are interesting and likable. Lizzy's quirky grandmother is carefully drawn, even though her colloquial speech (dropped "g's" and a plethora of "ain'ts") wears thin. The fantasy elements, specifically the transplanting of the Arthurian myth and the idea that Doomsday will affect the whole world, are not entirely believable, but the realistic aspects of the story are strong enough to carry readers along. This first book in a series will be enjoyed by a wide range of fantasy lovers.—Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City