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ARTHUR AND GUEN by Jon Koons

ARTHUR AND GUEN

An Original Tale of Young Camelot

by Jon Koons & illustrated by Igor Oleynikov

Pub Date: May 1st, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-525-47934-5
Publisher: Dutton

A boy named Arthur meets a spunky princess named Guenevere in the woods, when both are supposed to be at a tournament. They race and tumble about in the woods, but run into an unsavory lot who threaten their lives. From the waters of a lake an arm rises with a sword Arthur catches and uses to best the bad guys. Merlin appears, telling them it is not yet time and casting a spell so they will forget each other. The language is awkward, clichéd or forced by turns, and veers wildly between contemporary idiom and faux medievalism, even dipping into what must be inadvertent sexism. While Guen is described as adventurous herself (and beats Arthur in that race), one of the bandits runs off “screaming like a little girl.” Oleynikov’s illustrations are nicely amusing, however, and it is fun to watch Guen’s long braids come apart until she has wild gold locks hanging down her back. This small bright light aside, the whole never comes together in any satisfying way. (Picture book. 6-8)