Igraine The Brave

Cornelia Funke, despite living on a different continent, has a great deal in common with Shannon Hale (see other reviews); she writes bright, ambitious young women as central characters, usually heroines, and gives them marvelous adventures in which to prove and build themselves. You may know Funke from her wonderful Inkheart and Inkspell novels, but in this shorter, younger book, we find a simpler, sillier and utterly charming story. Igraine, like many of the young readers who identify with her, wants to be a knight -- an urge which, even as an adult, I totally understand, because who doesn't want to ride a charger and be able to wield a sword? Remarkably and delightfully, she succeeds in both familiar and unexpected ways. This is the show more perfect novel for readers who might be a little young for the darker themes of the Ink books, but still want to experience fantastic characters and adventures. show less

I enjoyed this so much more than I expected to. The cover art is really unappealing. I like the British one so much more. Apparently this was originally published in German in 1998 but only just translated. I can see some of my second graders picking this one up after we finish [book: The Castle in the Attic].

Read this one to my not-quite-5yo. I liked the concept more than the execution. Maybe it's the translation? Or maybe it's that the erstwhile girl-knight is still trained by a male knight, who rescues female princesses, from male villains. And all the magical creatures and animals were pretty much all gendered male, unnecessarily IMO.

But Igraine herself, and her relationship with her older magically adept (mostly) brother, is quite charming. And a lot of the details (like the neighboring noblewoman's penchant for spicy mead) were charming.

Read this one to my not-quite-5yo. I liked the concept more than the execution. Maybe it's the translation? Or maybe it's that the erstwhile girl-knight is still trained by a male knight, who rescues female princesses, from male villains. And all the magical creatures and animals were pretty much all gendered male, unnecessarily IMO. [return][return]But Igraine herself, and her relationship with her older magically adept (mostly) brother, is quite charming. And a lot of the details (like the neighboring noblewoman's penchant for spicy mead) were charming.

Narrated by Xanthe Elbrick. Twelve-year-old Igraine longs to be a courageous knight of honor but for now she's just a twelve-year-old practicing to be a knight. Her courage comes to the test when, after her magician parents accidentally turn themselves into pigs, the castle comes under siege by Greedy Osmund who is intent on acquiring the magicians' magic books. On a quest to get strands of a giant's hair to help change her parents back, Igraine meets the Sorrowful Knight. Together the two are instrumental in saving the family castle from Greedy Osmund. Although I found the magicking a little too plot-convenient at times, I did enjoy narrator Elbrick's lively interpretation. Her British accent gave the story extra-medieval flavor!

Igraine dreams of being a famous knight like her great-grandfather, but castle life is boring. Until the nephew of the baroness-next-door plans to capture the castle for their singing spell books. At the moment of the siege, her parents mistakenly turn themselves into pigs. Aided by a Gentle Giant and a Sorrowful Knight, Igraine must be brave, and save the day -- and the books.

This was a fun book to read with the boys. They really liked it and didn't want to skip reading nights which is a sign of a good book. The writing was simple and clear and the story amusing and the main character and her older brother were capable and brave. Recommended for the 8 to 12 year old set.