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Original poster

King Arthur storiees and novels for ten plus?

33 replies

Katiepoes · 16/04/2020 10:48

Hello all, can anyone help me? My ten yearold daughter has been watching Merlin and is fascinated with the legends, I remember reading them around that age but would like some recommendations. She's a confident reader, does anyone have any suggestions? It can be novels or tales, help?

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PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 11/06/2020 14:50

I wouldn't give Mists of Avalon to a ten year old without reading it first, it has a threesome in it, and a bit where an older woman tried to seduce a young man. And a couple of other "not quite sex scenes".

Hippofrog · 10/06/2020 19:25

There was a Merlin mini series in the late 1990’s with Sam Neill, it’s on you tube and well worth watching.

Hippofrog · 10/06/2020 19:23

The Mists of Avalon is a lovely book

Furballs35 · 10/06/2020 19:21

Green Smoke by Rosemary Manning.

cbriggs210 · 07/06/2020 11:28

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SorrelForbes · 06/06/2020 12:22

The Whispering Knights by Penelope Lively was one of my favourites at that age.

GnomeoNameo · 21/05/2020 16:29

"Here Lies Arthur" by Philip Reeve, which won an award (the Carnegie??)

and "Robin of Sherwood" by Michael Morpurgo. Both terrific.

Squiz81 · 28/04/2020 22:38

Mightier than the sword by Clare Bevan, l loved it when I was about that age.

Star555 · 21/04/2020 00:57

As a child I read Roger Lancelyn Green's book and loved it! I've heard good things about T H White but not read Sword in the Stone. Would also recommend Rosemary Sutcliff's Arthurian novels: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary_Sutcliff#Arthurian_novels

Emeeno1 · 16/04/2020 13:00

We have the one by Michael Morpurgo, Arthur High King of Britain, which we enjoyed.

www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/book/3052/Arthur-High-King-Of-Britain-by-Michael-Morpurgo.html

1066vegan · 16/04/2020 12:53

Just treated myself to The Changes on dvd. I wonder if it's as good as I remember from when I was a kid.

ElfDragon · 16/04/2020 12:03

Grr fat fingers. I’ve replaced them a few times!

ElfDragon · 16/04/2020 12:03

TimeIHadaNameChange - there was a BBC adaptation? Omg, I will now spend far too long trying to hunt that down!

My gut feel was that the books were a tad old, but not in any major way. They are my favourite Arthurian books, I’ve had to replace the whole series a few tones as I’d read them so much!

sakura06 · 16/04/2020 11:49

Not quite King Arthur, but fantasy for children 'Chronicles of Prydain' by Lloyd Alexander; 'The Snow Spider' (Magician Trilogy) by Jenny Nimmo and Alan Garner's books.

counciltaxquery · 16/04/2020 11:44

Sharan Newman's Guinevere series are very good and show a bit of a different take on the story.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 16/04/2020 11:41

I was ten when the BBC version of the Mary Stewart books was aired and read all the books soon after. They are a tad old but they didn't scar me. Really need to reread them, it's been too long.

Patte · 16/04/2020 11:40

Seconding Roger Lancelyn Green as the best straightforward retelling (I would start with his one), and The Once and Future King as an excellent less straightforward retelling.

hopelesschildren · 16/04/2020 11:36

Ah yes T.H. White is the name I couldn't remember

Original poster
Katiepoes · 16/04/2020 11:34

I have the Susan Cooper series stashed away, I found a set at a jumble sale, I don't think she's ready and I don't want to put her off (sad mistake made with Ballet Shoes. Sob.) Rosemary Sutcliffe I'll add to my list too.

I suspect I will have to read them all to be sure. What a hardship Grin

OP posts:
QueenRefusenik · 16/04/2020 11:25

Rosemary Sutcliffe's version is also great, start with The Sword and the Circle. Roger Lancelyn GreenAlso Bernard Cornwell though that might be a bit old (IMO the Mary Stewart version might be a bit old for 10 too, certainly the 3rd and 4th ones, but obviously depends on the 10yr old!).

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 16/04/2020 11:24

1066vegan Great minds think alike...

justdontatme · 16/04/2020 11:22

And Rosemary Sutcliff also wrote an Arthurian set I think - the Shining Company, The Light Beyond the Forest.

And a more adult one called Sword at Sunset that was my favourite book when I was 10.

1066vegan · 16/04/2020 11:21

Cross posted!

1066vegan · 16/04/2020 11:20

Once she's read some of the above, she could go on to other books which include characters from Arthurian legends eg Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series or Peter Dickinson's Changes trilogy.

Sittinonthefloor · 16/04/2020 11:19

King Arthur by Antonia Fraser was my favourite book at your daughters age. I’ve still got my battered copy, all held together with crispy old sellotape. I might re-read it now!