Reviews (2)

Phenomenal Fantasy Adventure!
Right up there with the very best of J.R.R. Tolkien, this book (and this trilogy) has everything any fantasy reader could want. I gulped this book down instantly, and now I've started a second read. There's just so much adventure, humor, and rich meaning in this book! This is T.A. Barron's best ever -- and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. (My vote is a return to Avalon!)

Avalon: A magnificent creation
"You know, Tamwyn, you have your own inner flames, though they cannot be seen.And the most powerful fires reside in the soul."And what a magnificent creation Mr. Barron has brought forth through his own powerful flames!This book--the third in The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy--is incredible.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Avalon (Legendary place)    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    9. Magic    10. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    11. Wizards    12. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (75)

Fun Fantasy For All Ages
The second installment of the Lost Years of Merlin finds him fighting not only for his own life, but also the lives of 2 people close to him.He must solve the mysteries of the seven songs and come to understand their meanings before he can be of any use to those who desperately need him.The perils are many, the rewards are spectacular.
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK!!!!!
This is a wonderful sequel to the already great 1st book, the lost years of merlin.
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK!!!!
This is a wonderful sequel to the already great 1st book, the lost years of merlin.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Fantasy    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Arthurian    8. Merlin (Legendary character)    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Wizards    11. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Reviews (36)

The Wings of Merlin
I read The Wings of Merlin, by T.A.Barron. This is a fantasy book, fourth and last book of the Lost Years of Merlin series.
The Wings of Merlin - By L.E.A
I love this series. Although I am not a huge fan of fantasy books this book captivated me with an entertaining plot and wonderful characters. I have something else to say if you haven't read the other 4 books you won't know about a lot of things so before you read this you need to read the other books.Well hope this helps you!

The Kid's Review
Imagine a young, new wizard. A spirit tells him that his world would be destroyed if he doesn't gather the people of his world to one spot. Oh yeah, all the humans, animals, and creatures are separated by hate. This is the problem Merlin faced. When Merlin got a message from the spirits, he acted quickly. Gathering the people of Fincayra isn't an easy task, especially in two weeks, so Merlin gets some help from Rhia. As he gathers the people, he has many adventures including saving orphans, defeating Slayer, and connecting the Forgotten Island back to the main land of Fincayra. When everyone is gathered, they fight for their world. After succeeding, Dinatius comes to tell them that because of their deeds, the humans get to earn their wings back, but Merlin refuses his wings and goes back to Earth. The Wings of Merlin is a great book full of adventures.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Fantasy    3. Fantasy - Historical    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile fiction    6. Merlin (Legendary character)    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Wizards    9. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Reviews (9)

As fantastic as its first part
T.A. Barron's imagination is truely great. This book is the 2nd of a GREAT Trilogy.
Book Two is amazing!
This book was amazing! Simply amazing. I loved every part of it. The strong characters were portrayed well, and I felt like I knew them like I had grown up listening to their tales. This book gave me so many different feelings, I was frustrated, sad, and happy, right along with the characters. This book is wonderful, and I'd recommend it to any reader, any age that could handle it. The best ages for this book would probably be 12 to until you lose your eyesight. There's no sexuality or foul language. This book was excellent and I can't wait for the third one in the trilogy to come out!

The tradition continues in grand fashion!
Back for the second installment of "The Great Tree of Avalon" series are Tamwyn, Elli, Brionna, Scree and Nuic. The voyagers we all came to know in the first book have now become a close-knit group ... until they discover they have to separate and go on their own journeys to save the great world of Avalon. Armed with Merlin's staff, Tamwyn ventures through the trunk of the Great Tree looking for his lost father, Krystallus Eopia, who he became separated from when he was young. Along the way he encounters mystical creatures, some new, and some old with a twist.Tamwyn battles everything on his dangerous climb from giant termites to fire angels to waterfalls-until he reaches Merlin's knothole, which gives him a close and exhilarating view of the stars. Barron describes this scene vividly, and it is my favorite moment in the book. It compares favorably to laying your eyes on the Colorado Rockies for the first time, or the Grand Canyon, or any other of life's great natural monuments. Not long after he finds the knothole, Tamwyn discovers the truth of his father and why the stars in the constellation resembling Merlin's staff have gone out.Elli, in the meantime, takes a crystal of elano from the Lady of Lake, and will dive into the world of Shadowroot, the dark side of the Great Tree. There she will battle the sorcerer Kulwych, to destroy the corrupted crystal of elano that he wields for his warlord spirit master Rhita Gawr. And as for the last adventurer, the eagleman Scree, he confronts his own kind to lead them away from the war in which they were enlisted to aid Kulwych. There is one surprise in Scree's quest he regrets learning too late, and it will forever haunt him. Barron's rich portrayal of the Avalon world is described with even greater detail in this new installment, and will give readers' memories a grand story to cling to for decades to come. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Avalon (Legendary place)    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Arthurian    9. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    10. Magic    11. Science Fiction / Fantasy (Young Adult)    12. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    13. Wizards    14. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (39)

YAY! The best book EVER!!!
It's a really good book for you book gobblers out there like me. But I stress: IT IS NOT THE SEQUEL TO THE LOST YEARS OF MERLIN!!! That is a completly different sereis by the same author, although it has the same sorta "king aurther" time period. TA Barron is a exelent writer (ya, he's up there with Chistopher Paolini from Eragon) and I suggest this book who wants aventure, romance, and humor. (Plus, you gotta love fantasy!)

What a Great Book!
I actually read the Lost Years of Merlin Series AFTER I read the first Avalon book, and I loved them both! The Great Tree of Avalon was hard to put down because the plot was engaging and you felt like you really KNEW the characters. The relationship between elli and Tamwyn is funny, there are cool magical creatures, and The villain really is evil! I've been dissappointed with villains in other books that don't even do anything bad. The guy with white hands and his burly accomplice really scared me! I would recommend it for anyone 10 years old and up. (My mom liked it too!)

Nikole's Review
This is my first time reading a book by this author. At first it was confusing because it kept going back and forth between characters. When they all met up with each other it really was hard to put down the book. I love all the creatures in this book because it shows creativity. The author is a great writer because I can picture what the characters look like. When it ended I couldn't wait to read the 2nd one.
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Subjects:  1. Avalon (Legendary place)    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Fantasy    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Arthurian    10. Magic    11. Science Fiction / Fantasy (Young Adult)    12. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    13. Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / General   

Reviews (43)

Redwoods!!!
This is a story about a girl who is with her great aunt Melony.She is visiting her for a while because her parents are of on a trip.While she is getting the mail two boys start chaseing her!!!The reason is because they want her aunt's packege because thy want the legal papers in it that way she can't get them and sue them for tring to cut down the achent redwood grove in the lost crater.They end up going into the lost crater to try and stop them.They get up early so they can have some time to look around and look at all the trees.they stop at the Achent One and Aunt Melony leaves her walking stick there acadentaly!
The Ancient One
Wonderful book and wonderful author. Highly recommend all of the author's books.

Kate's Crater
In the book The Ancient One by the world renowned author T. A. Barron you step into a whole new world with the girl Kate from the first book Heartlight. Kate is visiting her aunt in Oregon. There Kate is caught up in the struggle over the Lost Crater. The villagers want to cut down the forest that grows inside the crater for jobs and her aunt who wants to save the forest for a national park. Her Aunt Melanie has an ancient walking stick which seems to be able to do strange things. One of them throwing the teenagers Kate and Jody into the crater ancient past.
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Subjects:  1. Conservation of natural resources    2. Fantasy    3. Fantasy - General    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Fantasy    6. Time travel    7. Fiction / Fantasy / General    8. Children's 9-12   

Reviews (39)

The Fires of Merlin was my Homework ,
"The Fires of Merlin" was about the great adventures that Merlin had when he was a kid. This book was the third of five books in the Lost Years of Merlin series. This book deals with Merlin losing his power. He had to confront an evil dragon that his grandfather had put into a deep slumber. To add to all this, there were ancient bat-looking creatures that stole magic. They were supposedly extinct. There was an evil group on the island that wanted to destroy all magic. The evil group started to raise the bat-like creatures. The group and their bats were responsible for what happens to Merlin's powerful necklace. If you want to find out what happens to Merlin and if he finds his power read the book yourself.

The Fires of Merlin

WHAT a RIDE!!!! WOW!!!!
Extraordinary ride through a magical journey with unique creatures with an imagination that nevers stops!!! Very moving and speaks to the heart!!!
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Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Fantasy - Epic    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile fiction    7. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Arthurian    8. Merlin (Legendary character)    9. Wizards    10. Fantasy    11. Fiction / Fantasy / Epic   

Reviews (6)

High As A Hawk
This story was enchanting. The illustrator's illuminating pictures really helped bring this story to life. The descriptive language in this story made it easy to imagine that you(the reader)are right there climbing the towering peaks. The fact that this is a true story makes it that much more enjoyable to read. Until reading this book I was not familiar with this author or illustrator, but now that I am I will be looking for more of their work, it is great!

High as a Hawk
It is a wonderful book for all ages!As a 4th grade teacher is is full of figurative language that I can use to teach students.It is also a wonderful story of
How high can you go?
It all started with her mom's dream to climb Longs Peak in Colorado.After Harriet's mother died, Harriet, her Pa, and Mr. Mills started the grand adventure to conquerer Longs Peak.After her Pa could no longer go on with the journey, Harriet decided she would not give up; she wanted to live her mother's dream and see the hawk soar.Her and Mr. Mills continue until Harriet no longer has the will to go on.One more climb over the top is all she can manage.Finally, all of her pain and tiredness goes out of her arms when she spreads them open on the summit copying the great hawk she sees soaring through the sky.A great use of color, Ted Lewin, depicts the mountains with oranges and purples.The colors throughout this book are magnificient and give the reader a sense of dept and realness.This is a great book that proves that no matter what, no person shall give up on their dreams. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Longs Peak (Colo.)    7. Mills, Enos Abijah,    8. Mothers and daughters    9. Mountaineering    10. Nature & the Natural World - General    11. Juvenile Fiction / Nature & the Natural World   

Reviews (15)

A wonderful book
I read this book when I was twelve years old, and I loved it. T.A. Barron is one of the greatest authors to come along since Madeleine L'Engle and Lloyd Alexander. His books sit alongside the greats.

Butterfly to the Stars
If you long for the days of the Heinlein juveniles or the Time series of Madline L'Engle, then this book is for you. Not Spectacular.
If you look up a list for the top ten worst science fiction books ever, chances are you will see this book on that list. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Fantasy    4. Fantasy - General    5. Fiction    6. Grandfathers    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Science fiction    9. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Reviews (5)

A must for parents and counselors
Where's Grandpa? touches the heart of anyone who has ever suffered the loss of a loved one or tried to explain loss to a child.The family remembers the wonderful times they have had with Grandpa but the child still wonders, "But where, exactly is he now?"The illustrations are wonderful and compliment the story.This book shows a sensitive way of dealing with bereavement.

Where is Grandpa?
This story is about a kid,his family and his Grandpa.His Grandpa dies and he wonders where he went.I recomend this book to anyone who doesn't mind sad endings.

A Touching Story
This is the touching story of a boy who has lost his grandfather.After the family finds out about the death of grandpa, they spend the remainder of the story sharing special memories of him.The boy asks, "Where is Grandpa?" and the father goes onto explain about heaven. I truly enjoyed this book. This would be a wonderful story for children and parents to share together.I am sure the special memories in the story would cause parents and children to remember special memories shared with their grandparents.The illusatrations are fantastic and they help to create the overall mood of the story. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Death    4. Family - Multigenerational    5. Fiction    6. Grandfathers    7. Grief    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Social Issues - Death & Dying    10. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Multigenerational   

Reviews (3)

A "Heroic" guide
"Heroism, then, is about character." Fantasy writer T.A. Barron takes a brief but inspiring look at heroism in "The Hero's Trail: A Guide For a Heroic Life." Don't expect a parade of government leaders and superstars-who-rose-up-from-their-backwater-farm stories. Instead he presents smaller, more intimate stories about real-life people from all cultures and walks of life. Hero's Trail
When you think of a hero, someone like King Arthur, Han Solo, or Clint Eastwood comes to mind. Yet, it is more often than not someone who you might not notice who is truly a hero. In this book, the author concisely illustrates from legend and reality the true nature of a hero, defining the qualities of perserverance, kindness, and courage, etc. that set a hero apart from the crowd. While many of the people he uses will be familiar, such as Esther, Princess Leia, Anne Frank, for example, some of the real life heroes are people that have been ignored. He presents role models for not only children, but for all people to strive and emulate in their lives. You never know when you might be called upon to be one, for as one of his examples, Princess Leia said, "They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naturally, they became heroes."

Encore!
The Hero�s Trail, by T.A. Barron, is a book about a series of people who, through strength, morality, and perseverance, manage to become heroes. Primarily dealing with ordinary people who turn into heroes when the time is right, it involves such people as Tiare Marie Wells, who saved the life of a ice fisherman who would�ve otherwise drowned and Ben MacDonald, who survived in the wild for over two months by living with a female badger. It also deals with people who overcame massive obstacles to do what they loved, such as Stephen Hawking, who overcame ALS to become one of the most renowned scientists in the world. It also details fictional characters such as Peter of Holland, who plugged a dyke with his finger and saved his entire village and Frodo, who risked everything to save his land from Sauron by destroying The One Ring.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Family - General    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Lifestyles - Country Life    6. People & Places - General    7. Social Issues - Values & Virtues    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Situations / Values   

Reviews (36)

The Wings of Merlin
I read The Wings of Merlin, by T.A.Barron. This is a fantasy book, fourth and last book of the Lost Years of Merlin series.
The Wings of Merlin - By L.E.A
I love this series. Although I am not a huge fan of fantasy books this book captivated me with an entertaining plot and wonderful characters. I have something else to say if you haven't read the other 4 books you won't know about a lot of things so before you read this you need to read the other books.Well hope this helps you!

The Kid's Review
Imagine a young, new wizard. A spirit tells him that his world would be destroyed if he doesn't gather the people of his world to one spot. Oh yeah, all the humans, animals, and creatures are separated by hate. This is the problem Merlin faced. When Merlin got a message from the spirits, he acted quickly. Gathering the people of Fincayra isn't an easy task, especially in two weeks, so Merlin gets some help from Rhia. As he gathers the people, he has many adventures including saving orphans, defeating Slayer, and connecting the Forgotten Island back to the main land of Fincayra. When everyone is gathered, they fight for their world. After succeeding, Dinatius comes to tell them that because of their deeds, the humans get to earn their wings back, but Merlin refuses his wings and goes back to Earth. The Wings of Merlin is a great book full of adventures.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Fantasy    4. Fantasy - Epic    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile fiction    7. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Arthurian    8. Merlin (Legendary character)    9. Wizards    10. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Reviews (184)

Pleasurable read!
I was bedridden with a very bad cold. My 9 year old son found this book for me to read. I had nothing better to do other than lay up and read. I began reading the book, thinking I'll get bored with it.
The greatest wizard to ever live!!
This is the first book by T.A. Barron that I have read.I will most definitely seek out the rest of this series.The Lost Years of Merlin starts with Merlin, aka Emrys, and his mother washed up on the beach with no memory of why they are there.Merlin's mother is fleeing something but will not tell him what it is.She is an odd woman who uses the art of magic to heal people.Some call her a saint, others, a witch.It just depends on which side of the fence you are standing on.Merlin discovers his own wizardly abilities, with disasterous results.He also realizes he must leave his mother and seek the answers to his past, as well as the direction of his future.
Wonderful story of Merlin's origins
This book tells the origins of Merlin, the magician in the King Arthur stories.The book starts with a young seven year old boy and a woman washing up on the rocky coast of Wales.He takes a good whack to the head on a rock and has no memory of his life before this point.Five years later, at the age of twelve, young Emrys, which the woman says is his name, starts to develop magical powers.He has very little control of these new powers and they terrify him.After a terrible accident, in which young Emrys' face is burned and his eyes are left sightless, he decides that he must seek out the answers to the questions of his origins.While on this quest, he encounters a great evil, which must be overcome.This is well-written classic good vs. evil story and I enjoyed it very much. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Fantasy - Epic    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile fiction    7. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Arthurian    8. Merlin (Legendary character)    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Wizards    11. Fiction / Fantasy / Epic   

Reviews (5)

The lost years of Merlin set.
These are great books to get into.The authors style is definately different from most books but once you are hooked, you are hooked, the series starts out dramatically and with excellent visualization. once you start, it doesnt let yiou go until you are through.

Modern fantasy classics
T.A. Barron breathed new life into the Arthurian fantasy genre with his "Lost Years of Merlin" series, a trilogy that expanded into five books and a sequel series. "The T.A. Barron Collection" brings together the first three books of the "Lost Years" series, with all its imagination and mythic magic.
One of the Best Books
this book is great! its almost as good as Harry Potter series, almost. this book is exciting and it'll make you read at the edge of your seat, it's that good! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children's stories, American    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile fiction    8. Merlin (Legendary character)    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Wizards    11. Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / General   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/All Ages    2. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    3. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (32)

Enjoyable, fast-paced half-breed fantasy
This book starts out like realistic fiction, and gradually melds into the type of fantasy that most readers associate with Barron. The protagonist is a likable one - the adventuresome thirteen year old Kate. A lot of the book is about Merlin, and readers of Barron's Merlin series will recognize a few of the Arthurian names that are mentioned. Some of the fantasy parts were a little unbelievable - even for a fantasy; Barron handled them a bit awkwardly - but you're still happy to follow Kate. All in all, the novel moves quickly, is interesting, and has a neat premise and a lot of cool ideas.

Strong "Effect"
T.A. Barron has said that writing this book spurred him to begin his epic "Lost Year of Merlin" saga. That said, "The Merlin Effect" is a book that is only similar to his high fantasy series because of... well, Merlin. The old wizard is only one source of magic and mystery in Barron's third entrancing novel.
A New Take On Merlin's History
This week I would like to talk about the new T.A. Barron book THE MERLIN EFFECT.Read more

Subjects:  1. Buried treasure    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Fathers and daughters    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile fiction    8. Merlin (Legendary character)    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Editorial Review

Like a mythic, more mystical Read more

Reviews (11)

Unbelievable!
*warning, major spoilers*
WOW!
I loved reading Tree Girl. You feel like you're really there. I have dreams about this book. If I could put up more stars,I would.

Tree Girl
T.A. Barron wrote a wonderful book, Tree Girl that will blow you away. In the book you meet a little girl named Anna. She lives with her grumpy old father Mellwyn in a little one room cottage by the sea and forest. All day long Anna will play with Old Master Burl, the tree in her back yard. Through the friendship she has with Old Master Burl, she became inspired to meet the High Willow in the forest to unlock the secrets of the past.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    7. Spirits    8. Trees    9. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Subjects:  1. Fiction - Science Fiction    2. Science Fiction - General   

Reviews (3)

A Teen's Point of View
These books are really great! Each one is better than the next and the overall effect is wonderful! Every fantasy fan should definitely read these. There's magic, romance, adventure and more, and the stories are really well written.

Get the whole story!
This set is a fantastic way to get the full Lost Years Of Merlin Story. T.A. Barron originally intended this series to be a trilogy and so some of the books are marked this way. To get the full story you need all FIVE books. Trust me, you will be sad if you stop at book 3.
A classic in the making
With the publication of T.A. Barron's "Child of the Dark Prophecy," it seems appropriate for the "Lost Years of Merlin" series to be rereleased as a box set. Beautifully written and laced through with Celtic myths, T.A. Barron's five book cycle is a thrilling fantasy ride that fills in the gaps of Merlin's youth.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    3. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Counting