Young Guinevere

by Robert D. San Souci

When enemies lay siege to her father's castle, young Guinevere braves the perils of the local forest to seek help, paving the way for a fateful meeting with King Arthur and the fulfillment of the prophesy of her childhood. Reprint.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fantasy, Arthurian, Fairy Tales, Fiction, Mythology

32 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1993

About the author

Robert Daniel San Souci (October 10, 1946 – December 19, 2014) was a multiple award-winning children's book author, who resided in San Francisco, California. He often worked with his brother, Daniel San Souci, a children's book illustrator. He was a consultant to Disney Studios and was instrumental in the production of the film Mulan, for which he wrote the story. He studied folklore in graduate school. He died after suffering a head injury while falling from a high height in San Francisco in December 2014. He was only 68 years old.

Reviews

[Set · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a different take on the Arthurian legend and one with the perspective of Guinevere since infancy. Her childhood was embellished and her last days were changed to a less cruel original ending. The whole prophesy of the witch was unnecessary and her heroism at the enchanted woods is out of character for a medieval lady. The images are nice but it would have been nice if she were a platinum blond considering that her name means White fairy.

[Amalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story - Just ok. 3 Stars
Illustrations - 5 stars!

[Christa Vella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as a little girl. Each time I re-read it, I confirm that it is possibly one of my favourite books of all time. The captivating illustrations and well-researched storytelling transport the reader to a richly-described Arthurian setting.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent addition to my Arthurian collection. One of two (mists of Avalon the other) I’ve found that has Guinevere’s perspective.

[Isabel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an OK book. I loved the colors in the illustrations, but the images were a little lacking. A bit too cartoony and relied heavily on front views. The illustrator seemed to have trouble with profile shots. The story was clear and offered a pretty good version of the possible story of Guinevere's childhood days. It sort of lacked the magic and mystery I'd've expected from this genre, though.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books from my childhood. I used to spend ages staring at the pictures and reading it over and over again. It inspired many of my playtime adventures in my backyard while growing up. I love it so much that when my copy came up missing I got the hardback edition to replace it.

[Shayna R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always thought this book was wonderful, with beautiful illustrations. However, when I was young, there was one or two illustrations that scared me because they were about hunting and someone got hurt, so if your child is a bit sensitive to this sort of thing, I would maybe save it for a few years.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The early years of Guinevere, when an old woman predicted her marriage to Arthur, through her rebellious youth in which she braved the dangers of the woods on her own to her young adulthood in which she manages to reach Arthur to let him know her father's castle is under attack.

Beautiful illustrations.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. I could easily see the Book of Kells influence. I love illumination. The depicted embroidery was lovely. I wasn’t overly impressed with the story but the language and syntax had a sweet lilting quality.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story and paintings.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have liked to have more of a childhood for young Guinevere.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great children's book. AMAZING artwork.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Guinevere. This did a great job of considering her POV when Arthur falls for her. She's not just an adulteress - she's got a Diana streak and is wise and brave.

[Lauren Luttenberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a tale of young Guinvere and what she did to make her life unique.

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always loved this book as a kid and it holds up fairly well in adulthood. It is a simplified version of Guinevere's early life from the King Arthur legends. I do love the illustrations, but I think the story is a bit too simple and disjointed in parts. Overall though, it's one of those 90s/early 2000s picture books I will always have a fondness for.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Nice art--I didn't find it particularly compelling at first, but then I read about the illustrator's inspiration taken from the Book of Kells and the Bayeux Tapestry, which made me take more interest in it. The story itself is a nice adventure with lovely mythic touches woven in. I don't know much about Arthurian legend, and when the author noted that he took inspiration from/pieced this tale of young Guinevere together from bits and bobs in various songs, legends, poems, etc. it made me wish for citations so I could see how he came up with it, which parts he imagined up himself, which ones have basis in legend...I think that would be neat! The author's note at the end that notes Guinevere's role in the destruction of Camelot made the feminist in me recoil a bit at the woman-blame-iness of it, but like I said, I'm not super up on Arthurian legend. Either way, too long for library storytime with my pre-Ks, and even with older kids I might leave off that final author's note during a group read aloud--let them discover it/more of the legend on their own! Half the fun of reading is finding out that stories are bigger on the inside. :)

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are a bit flat and the text never really grabs you.

Also, the “love” story is very forced. Am I the only one creeped out by the middle aged Authur leering at the young teen Guinevere?

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely art and a good story, a sort of prequel to the Guinevere of King Arthur tales. She begins as a strong female protagonist, but ultimately becomes a maiden defined by Arthur and marriage. It's too bad that her agency erodes as the book ends.

[Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a good short story on what Guinevere's life might have been like as a youth. No mention of her mother or any siblings. Also, not sure about the use of peacock arrows when there were no peacocks in the story.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! So enchanting! My 6-year old keeps reading it over and over. It's the perfect companion for learning about the legends of King Arthur. Can't wait to read a whole lot more by this author.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abridged cassettes, too short!

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing. Text does not ring true, and illustrations are sometimes awkward in depiction of human figures.

[Britt ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pretty obsessed with this book as a kid, and spent a lot of time poring over the illustrations and daydreaming about mythical forests.