IGRAINE THE BRAVE

The author of Princess Knight (2004) offers a longer tale along the same lines, here in its first English translation. Uninterested in becoming a magician like her parents and older brother, Igraine delights in feats of arms. Though a spellcasting error—that transforms her parents into non-magical pigs—casts a shadow on her 12th birthday, she is dazzled by the suit of magic armor they present her. It arrives just in time, too, because shortly thereafter, thuggish Osmund the Greedy arrives at the castle gates with an army, intent on seizing the resident library of talking grimoires. Will the castle’s magical defenses hold out long enough for Igraine to steal a fast horse from under Osmund’s nose, find a giant willing to give up the hair necessary for a parent-restoring spell, rescue an unaggressive dragon from hunters and help a sad knight who teaches her the rules of chivalry to defeat Osmund’s supposedly undefeatable Castellan? Do you doubt? Illustrated with pen-and-ink sketches of Igraine in action, plus many tiny tomes sporting stubby limbs and animated faces, this engaging read, or read-aloud, is “joust” the ticket for all young fans of non-gender-specific knightly valor. (Fantasy. 9-11)