Brand-New Page

January 1, 2011

Gr 2-4-This installment finds Roland settling into the king's castle, but not without several mishaps along the way. First, he inadvertently angers the resident bully with his mere existence. Mean spirit that he is, Hector engineers a plan to oust the page from the king's domain: he releases the ruler's new elephant from its enclosure and blames the deed on Roland. Though the boy is able to coax it back into its area, this act of bravery isn't enough to tame the king's misplaced wrath. Fortunately, a sentry witnesses the true culprit in the act, and Roland is not only cleared of blame, but also hailed as a hero. Readers will learn bits of interesting information, such as the meaning of words like "bailey" and "cockentrice." They will also delight in having a character whom they love to hate-Hector is so unequivocally evil that readers will be cheering when he finally gets his comeuppance. And though he is punished in the end, Roland does not rub it in his face, even when he has the opportunity to do so. Goofy cartoon illustrations keep the mood light, even during tense parts of the story. A solid choice for children who are ready to make the leap to chapter books, especially if they have an interest in medieval lore.-Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY

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