Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Michael Morpurgo. Illustrations by Michael Foreman. Walker Books Ltd. 2004 ISBN: 978-0744586466.

Plot Summary: King Author's court is shocked when a giant green Knight rudely interrupts their feast and demands some exchange axe blows with him. Gawain, known as the best of Knights agrees to take part in the challenge. Although he slices off the giants head, the green knight picks up his head and informs Gawain that he must come to him in a year and a day to receive his blow in exchange. Later that year, on his way to meet the green knight, Gawain stops at the castle of a hospitable lord an his beautiful lady. He spends three nights there being well treated by the lord and wooed by his beautiful wife. He manages not to give into the temptation of the lovely wife but does take from her a gift she offers of a green magical best that will protect him. He meets the green Knight at his chapel and discovers all is not what it seems.

Critical Evaluation: This is an excellent rendition of the traditional tale. The author has done a great job of making the legend accessible to the tween age group without taking away from the moral or the details of the tale. The illustrations are beautifully done and capture the mood of the story effectively.

Reader's Annotation: Gawain is challenged by the magical Green Knight. He is honor bound to fulfill his promise to journey to the Green Knight's chapel and has an adventure on his way to what he believes is certain death.

Genre: Myth/Fantasy
Interest Level: 8-12 years old
Curriculum ties: History, Literature
Booktalking Ideas:
Focus on Gawain's choice to return to meet his fate.
Focus on Gawain resisting the beautiful wife of his host.
Challenge Issues: There are no challenge issues with this book.
If any arise, it could be recommended that the Arthurian mythology could be research as well as other versions of the same legend.
Selection Process: I wanted to include some illustrated stories.