Merlin: The Young Merlin Trilogy, Book Three

The Young Merlin Trilogy #3

by Jane Yolen

In flight from the magic visions that plague him, Merlin falls into the hands of the wodewose--wild folk who, according to legend, live in the company of wolves and devour children. But far from being wild, the wodewose are an enormous family of the unwanted, the abandoned, and the homeless. For once Merlin has found a place where an orphan like himself belongs. The triumphant conclusion to the Young Merlin Trilogy.

Genres: Fantasy, Arthurian, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Young Adult

112 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1997

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great conclusion to the trilogy. Not only was there good character development, but there was also enough action and suspense to keep the story moving along at a good pace. As always, the author's note was both interesting and informative. I highly recommend this trilogy to anyone interested in an alternate view of what Merlin's young life may have been like.

[Oni · Rating 4 out of 5]

huwaaa..demikiaaann

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending to a fantastic series! Perfect for young readers through elementary school. They're short and magical, so anyone in that mood would appreciate them.

[Nina Braden · Rating 4 out of 5]

JF, 1998

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I repeat
I am stupid. It took me until the last chapter to know for sure if they were talking about Arthurian Merlin.

[Jeanette Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our family enjoyed this whole series

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one less than the others. Oh well.

[Snapdragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

.More reviews like this one on my blog Snapdragon Alcove

The books in the trilogy are Passager, Hobby, and Merlin. I will review all three books in one review. The reason for this is that all three books could have been one book. The story would have flow more smoothly and the side character given enough time would have been more developed.

Take what happen between the first and second book; years have gone by. Merlin has gone from eight to twelve. Instead of telling that these years went by, show these years Merlin spin with his new family. That way when they die in the second book there would be a more emotional impact.

The whole story is entertaining, and I do like how the story of the white and red dragon are brought into the story. I know why these books couldn’t been one book. Each book is around 90 pages long, add it all up to 270 pages. I have seen kid books that are 300 to 500 pages. If this was a 300-page book, then there 30 more pages that can be used to tighten up the story.

As for large books being too intimidating for kids. Let them figure that out for themselves. Don’t tell a kid a book is too hard for them.

Anyways this whole series is two stars. The third book is the best out of the three books. Only by a margin.

[Bix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merlin, escaping from the city and haunted by visions, finds himself among the wodewose – the wild people of the forest. Marked as a dreamer, he has to flee even this community of outsiders, accompanied only by a child whom the wodewose predict will one day be a king. The third and final book in Yolen’s young Merlin trilogy."

CIP: "Young Merlin, now twelve years old, begins to come into his magic while being held captive by a band of wild folk."

SLJ: "Gr 4-8--Merlin echoes the tone and rhythms of Passager (1996) and Hobby (1996, both Harcourt), brief novels with medieval yet timeless settings, written in stark but poetic language that will challenge some readers... Yolen's three books fit together as seamlessly as the chapters of a single volume. Without the other installments, Merlin is merely an episode in the life of the young and future wizard (albeit an important one). Read together, this trilogy presents a logical tale taking Merlin from early abandonment down the road to his much more well-known future."

PW: "These three books make up the author's Young Merlin trilogy, imagining the childhood and coming-of-age of the famous wizard of Arthurian legend. Ages 9-12."

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fearing that Fowler and his vicious dog are on his trail, Merlin travels deeper into the woods. In a beautiful meadow touched with sunlight and filled with green grass and beautiful flowers, Merlin hears the bay of a hound. Then he hears two or three more; it's a wild pack pursuing his scent. Sighting the nearest tree, Merlin runs. The long, luxurious grass hampers his progress. Just as the dogs are about to pounce, a hairy beast grabs him and leaps into a nearby oak tree. The beast is a Wodewose, a wild man. Merlin mesmerizes the dogs into leaving their chase. The wild man leaves, too, but blazes a recognizable trail. Merlin follows. The wild folk women recognize him as a dreamer and put him in a cage. Merlin dreams about their fate at the hand of King Uther and his army. When Merlin escapes with the help of Cub (Artus), they see the army headed for the wild folks’ meadow.

[Zach Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merlin by Jane Yolen is an exciting book about a young Merlin and a part of a trilogy. It is written at a 5th grade level and would appeal to students that enjoy the Harry Potter series. It involves a young Merlin (future famous magician) who has troubling visions and dreams related to his magical abilities and premonitions. He wanders into a forest where a wild tribe of outcastes lives, including other abandoned and pariah children. At first, he feels at home and is relieved to find a place where he belongs. However, his visions and dreams make him an outcast among outcastes and he is again on the fringe. He meets another wild child who is predicted to become king, and they develop a solid friendship. This book would be a great Sustained Silent Reading addition to a class’s library, especially since it is part of a series.

[Mj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Revisiting my favorite books from childhood, it is easy to get lost between the fond nostalgia and the natural degradation of memory. I remember furiously reading this trilogy as fast as I could get my hands on them. However with each book in the trilogy, I realize that I remember less and less about the story.

The first book (Passager) is the most memorable to me as an adult, but by the time I finally got to Merlin, I just don't really hold any memory of the series anymore. Part of that could just be my weighted disinterest in the King Arthur mythos, and part of that is probably fifteen years of other books separating me from this one. Whatever the reason, I want to revisit the series someday and see if it holds up to my childhood wonder.

[Ayu Prameswary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penutup dari serial trilogi merlin kecil. Yang menarik, Jane Yolen memasukan seni menjinakan elang dalam serial ini, juga mengambil nama jenis-jenis elang sebagai karakter sang tokoh. Nama Merlin sebenar adalah jenis elang terkecil dari Inggris. Walau kecil, kepakan sayap elang jenis Merlin sangat kuat hingga jarang gagal menangkap mangsanya. Sementara, Hobby – nama yang dipakai pada buku kedua – adalah falcon atau elang betina yang dilatih untuk memburu burung-burung kecil. Sedangkan nama yang dipakai pada buku pertama, Passager, adalah elang muda yang ditangkap dari alam liar dan dilatih oleh penjinak elang.

[Liana · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the things that I really loved about The Young Merlin series is the writing style. It's so beautiful, and it stays fresh from the beginning to end! I really enjoyed reading all three books, but I had a hard time getting into the storyline - especially for this book, Merlin... It was ok, but I wish there was more character time for further development. :)

Like the second book in the series, I think this book would be better for older children, because of some disturbing scenes and mild violence.

[Aristyanto Heri Trimawan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Akhrinya Hawk-Hobby telah masuk ke dalam hutan. Tak lama kemudian dia dikejar oleh anjing-anjing sampai di pandang rumput. Syukurlah, ada seorang Manusia Liar yang menyelamatkannya. Hawk-Hobby mengikuti Manusia Liar yang telah menyelamatkannya itu sampai ke perkemahan para Manusia Liar. Di sana dia bertemu Cub, anak Manusia Liar yang kelak akan menjadi Raja Arthur.

Buku ketiga dari trilogi The Young Merlin ini lebih seru daripada prekuelnya. Anyway, alhamdulillah udah ane selesai baca ketiga buku dari trilogi The Young Merlin.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the final installment of the Young Merlin series, Merlin flies from the Duke’s court and ends up in the forest again, but in the company of the wodewose. His dreams ostracize him among the wodewose. He runs off and is followed by Cub, a young wodewose, who is named Artus by Merlin--the future Arthur of Round Table fame.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting conclusion to this rather unique series. Basically a serialization of a novel in three books or a series of connected short stories.

I enjoyed the writing and the characterization but the effect overall is amorphous. Sort of an imagining of Merlin's early life but that leaves the rest to the myths and legends already out there.

Will have to think about this a bit more ...

[Andrea Renfrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiddo wasn't as thrilled with the series toward the end. She wanted to see Merlin grow up and do awesome things. As an adult, I loved it. I thought it lingered nicely in the blurry lines between history and mythology. Lovely series. We tucked it away in our Middle Ages box to revisit in a few years when we repeat our studies of this era. (Classical Homeschooling model.)

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last in the Merlin trilogy. Merlin meets up with the woods people, and narrowly escapes disaster (as he does in each book). At the end the author explains the many Merlin myths and how she took pieces from them to create this trilogy. This is a nice introduction for the young reader.

[Kristin Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

very short. finished it and hobby within 24 hours of each other. it's rather sad that merlin is portrayed as helpless and homeless. the ending was a little off, and it should have another book following it. but hey! it's a book, and I finished it. :)

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this series kind of stinks. All three of these books were just like this:

Boy gets chased by dogs
Boy meets people
Boy changes his name to some type of bird name
Boy leaves

And I still have no idea about Merlin's past. Now I've got to read other books to learn about Merlin.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This trilogy has been short but a good read nevertheless. It is a great way to be introduced, and excited, about all the books out there written on Merlin, Arthur, Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table.

[Loralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in the Young Merlin Trilogy neatly ties Yolen's story of Merlin's youth with the history and legend of King Arthur.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Merlin Discovers his powers of magic at age 12. Book three of a trilogy.

[Sharon Skinner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Quick read.

[Miss Kodok · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hasil hunting di PBJ 2009.

[Nivasilyev · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Merlin books & this one is ok

[Rosalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still love her style of writing, it makes you feel like you know the characters and the story is more real.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rented this book at my school library and made the horrible mistake to rent this one instead to the second one. But I really enjoyed it. I recommend this book to people who like Arthurian legends.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come.