I loved this book as a child and it is truly great upon a re-reading now. This is a classic in the field, boasting superb writing and an intelligent plot. Young Gaylen is sent out into the kingdom to poll the people, in order to help the Prime Minister, who is writing a dictionary, find a definition for the word "delicious." Little does anyone suspect at the outset that this simple goal will cause civil war, as the Queen's unscrupulous brother Hemlock fans the flames in order to overthrow the king. Meanwhile, a little mermaid named Ardis has been sad for hundreds of years. Gaylen must figure out how to save the day. A marvelous tale, with subtle messages, that children will enjoy. 4th grade and up.