From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9–In this first installment in a new series, Barron reimagines the legendary world of Avalon as a gigantic tree, with a separate realm located on each of its seven roots and stars hanging in the unseen branches far atop its trunk. A crippling drought has brought the realm to the verge of warfare, and 17-year-old Tamwyn and his bickering companions seek the advice of the fabled Lady of the Lake. Tamwyn fears he's the child of the Dark Prophecy, foretold centuries ago as the one who would destroy Avalon, and he wants desperately to change his destiny and save his beloved world. With its mixture of high fantasy and slapstick humor, the tale resembles Barron's "The Lost Years of Merlin" series (Philomel) and Lloyd Alexander's "Chronicles of Prydain" (Holt). Despite loads of goofiness and violence, the plot moves rather slowly through lengthy introductions of the large cast and descriptions of the Great Tree. While the characters and setting are interesting, this is clearly the prologue to a much longer saga: all beginning, with no middle or end. The story will appeal most to devoted fantasy readers, particularly fans of the "Merlin" series, who will recognize details from the earlier books and try to guess how the epics will converge.–Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
Enter a world of magical delights with a cadre of characters ranging from fairies and tree spirits to an eagle-man with a startling screech. Narrator Richard Easton portrays them all with a range of vocal expression worthy of an epic tale. Listeners are transported to the realms of Avalon as Easton uses myriad voices to skillfully weave this story of three young people, two boys and a girl, one of whom is the rightful heir of the great wizard Merlin. Combining the best in fantasy and adventure, Barron's book is also a mystery because another of the trio is the dreaded child of the Dark Prophecy, who is preordained to destroy this beautiful world. Easton's recounting builds excitement and wonder for listeners as the three search for the secrets of their interwoven destinies. D.P.M. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Gr. 6-12. Barron builds on his popular Lost Years of Merlin saga, creating an elaborate, richly detailed world spread out on the seven roots of the Great Tree of Avalon, which grew from "a seed won by Merlin on his journey through a magical mirror." The story begins in Avalon's year 1002, when it appears that the Lady of the Lake's Dark Prophecy is coming true and the only hope of saving Avalon lies in finding Merlin's true heir. The fates of two boys born 17 years earlier and raised as brothers are intrinsically bound to the prophecy: Scree, the orphaned eagleboy charged with guarding Merlin's staff, and Tamwyn, who fears he is the Dark Child destined to destroy Avalon. Liberally laced with humor and wit, the first book in The Great Tree of Avalon series effectively introduces and fleshes out remarkable characters, both human and nonhuman. It also vividly sets the scene through the adventures of various beings who eventually come together in a desperate quest to stop the evil that threatens Avalon and its denizens. Even readers unfamiliar with The Lost Years will relish this fine debut of a promising new fantasy series. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Isabel Allende, author of House of the Spirits and Daughter of Fortune
This is a brilliant epic tale with memorable and glowing characters-a real gift.

Dr. Jane Goodall, U.N. Messenger of Peace, Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute
The Great Tree of Avalon opens a door into a mythical, magical world. I was transported and I was enthralled.

Robert Redford, Actor, Director, and Conservationist
Barron's fascination with and appreciation for nature shines through in his rich and inventive tale, The Great Tree of Avalon.

Book Page
. . . tree is cultivated and nurtured by T.A. Barron, author of numerous fantasy books and possessor of a fabulously fertile imagination....

Book Description
Long ago, the great wizard Merlin planted the seed that would become the peaceful world of Avalon. Now, though, Avalon is suffering from mysterious droughts. Then the very stars begin to lose their light, and it seems that the Lady of the Lake's dire predictions are about to come true. The fate of Avalon now rests with Tamwyn, a wandering wilderness guide; Elli, an apprentice priestess; and Scree, a young eagleman. One of them is the true heir of Merlin, the only person who can save Avalon . . . and one of them is the dreaded child of the Dark Prophecy, fated to destroy it. As in his acclaimed epic The Lost Years of Merlin, T. A. Barron has created a radiant, richly imagined world, full of high adventure and un-forgettable characters.

FROM OUR EDITORS

As the great stars begin to dim, it seems that the Lady of the Lake's dire omens are about to fulfilled. The fate of Avalon now rests in the hands of three young people: Tamwyn, a wandering wilderness guide; Elli, an apprentice priestess; and Scree, a young eagleman. One of them is the true heir of Merlin, and one of them is the dreaded child mentioned in the Dark Prophecy. A haunting Avalon epic from the author of The Lost Years of Merlin.

ANNOTATION

In accordance with prophecy, Avalon's existence is threatened in the year that stars stop shining and at the time when both the dark child and Merlin's heir are to be revealed.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Long Ago, Merlin Planted a magical seed that beat like a heart-a seed that grew into the Great Tree of Avalon. For centuries, this world has flourished as a land of wonder and mystery, a link between Heaven and Earth, a place where all creatures could live in harmony.

Now, though, Avalon reels from brutal attacks, mysterious droughts, and stranger evils yet. Then one night, just as the elusive Lady of the Lake predicted, all the stars in the sky suddenly go dark. The fate of Avalon now rests with three young people: Tamwyn, a homeless wilderness guide; Elli, an escaped slave turned priestess; and Scree, an eagleman with a startling secret. One of them is the true heir of Merlin, the only person who can save Avalon ... and one of them is the dreaded child of the Dark Prophecy, the person fated to destroy it. This novel, like T. A. Barron's Lost Years of Merlin epic, creates a radiant, richly imagined new world, full of high adventure and unforgettable characters. And, like all books by T. A. Barron, it is at once deeply moving, masterfully written, and profoundly true.

FROM THE CRITICS

- Book Page

Enter the world of Avalon: a wondrous land where all manner of creaturescoexist around a great tree. Grown from a seed planted by none other than Merlin himself, the tree is cultivated and nurtured by T.A. Barron, author of numerous fantasy books and possessor of a fabulously fertile imagination.... In The Great Tree of Avalon, the inextricable links between the land, air, water, and sky are evident. And the fact that even Avalon-a giant, soaring tree that bridges the celestial and the earthly-can be weakened, draws a strong parallel to the possible consequences of environmental damage in our own world.

Booklist

Barron builds on his popular Lost Years of Merlin saga, creating an elaborate, richly detailed world spread out on the seven roots of the Great Tree of Avalon, which grew from "a seed won by Merlin on his journey through a magical mirror." The story begins in Avalon's year 1002, when it appears that the Lady of the Lake's Dark Prophecy is coming true and the only hope of saving Avalon lies in finding Merlin's true heir. The fates of two boys born 17 years earlier and raised as brothers are intrinsically bound to the prophecy; Scree the orphaned eagleboy charged with guarding Merlin's staff, and Tamwyn, who fears he is the Dark Child destined to destroy Avalon. Liberally laced with humor and wit, the first in The Great Tree of Avalon series effectively introduces and fleshes out remarkable characters, both human and non-human. It also vividly sets the scene through the adventures of various beings who eventually come together in a desperate quest to stop the evil that threatens Avalon and its denizens. Even readers unfamiliar with The Lost Years of Merlin will relish this fine debut of a promising new fantasy series. (Starred Review)

Publishers Weekly

Barron's (The Lost Year's of Merlin) new entry in his Arthurian mythos explores the legend of Avalon, "the Great Tree [that] stands as a bridge between Earth and heaven, mortal and immortal." The opening scene lays out the novel's central conflict: a pair of kidnappers attempt to take from its branches "an eagleboy," who in the process becomes orphaned; ensuing events lead Merlin to come to the rescue of the eagleboy as well as a human child and its mother. The magician makes veiled mention of a Dark Prophecy and asks the woman to raise the orphan, Scree, alongside her own son, Tamwyn (meaning "Dark Flame"). In the next chapter, 17 years later, the mother is dead, and the boys, separated, search for each other. The author then introduces Elli, also an orphan, who becomes apprenticed to an arrogant priestess deemed "The Chosen One" for her visions of the Lady of the Lake. Readers meet Elli just as the Dark Prophecy is beginning to come true, and Elli must help the priestess find Merlin's true heir in order to save Avalon before the foretold enemy destroys it. At times the narrative repeats itself, in order to telegraph to readers vital information. But the thickening plot and the three key characters-Tamwyn, Scree and Elli-as well as a captivating supporting cast of sprites, fairies and assorted changelings will keep the pages turning. Arthuriana fans will also delight in Barron's bonus revelations, as he ties in identities of the Lady of the Lake and others with Avalon's history. An epilogue hints at a sequel. Ages 10-up. (Oct.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Heidi Hauser Green

Avalon is the land between Heaven and Earth where all creatures live in harmony. It was created years ago from a magical seed planted by the powerful sorcerer Merlin which grew into the Great Tree. For all this time, Avalon has been a peaceful place, a sensational place of mystery and wonder. However, its future is much less certain. Seventeen years ago, Tamwyn and his beloved "brother" eagleman Scree were born during the Year of Darkness. It was a time of great fear for the people of Avalon, for it was the year that the Child of the Dark, with the power to destroy Avalon, would be born. The land's only hope would be another child, born the same year, Merlin's true heir. Although Tamwyn and Scree do not yet know it, their lives are intricately entwined with the future and fortune of the enchanted land. So, too, are the lives of Elli, a Drumadian priestess and Brionna, an elf maiden. In this, the first book of T. A. Barron's latest epic series, the four are drawn together as Avalon's danger becomes evident. They meet the Lady of the Lake, battle an evil sorcerer, and struggle with their individual fears as they search for answers to Avalon's survival. The author has created an engaging world and populated it with likeable heroes. This series is sure to capture readers' imaginations as his earlier "Lost Years of Merlin" epic has. 2004, Philomel, Ages 12 up.

KLIATT - Michele Winship

In book one of what is sure to be an epic series, Barron introduces readers to his fantasy world of Avalon, taking creative liberties with its Arthurian roots. Barron's Avalon is a great tree spanning heaven and earth whose roots form seven different realms—Woodroot, Waterroot, Stoneroot, Mudroot, Airroot, Fireroot, and Shadowroot—each with its own unique inhabitants and landscapes. In this first book, a prologue sets the tone. A child is born in the year of darkness who will destroy Avalon unless the heir of Merlin can save the world from ultimate destruction. The main character is Tamwyn, born in the year of darkness, who longs to travel the different realms of Avalon. He finds himself thrown into the entourage of a haughty, soon-to-be high priestess and her companions who are seeking the wisdom of the lady of the lake to save them from the prophecy. Acting as a wilderness guide, Tamwyn leads the group of humans and elementals through the realms, all the while troubled by his growing powers and the knowledge that he may be the child of the Dark Prophecy who is destined to destroy the world he so loves. Hovering in the background is Tamwyn's adopted brother Scree, an eagleman also born in the year of darkness, who has hidden out for many long years, guarding what he believes to be the staff of Merlin, making him Merlin's true heir. Or is he? Barron's fantasy is rich with interesting characters and fascinating landscapes, sure to please fantasy readers looking to travel deep into another world. KLIATT Codes: JS—Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2004, Penguin, Philomel, 444p. map., Ages 12 to 18. Read all 7 "From The Critics" >

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

This is a brilliant epic tale with memorable and glowing characters-a real gift. T.A. Barron writes about ecology, compassion, feminism and peace with a light touch and a sense of adventure. I smiled, shed tears, and was thoroughly entertained. The story stayed with me, and renewed my hope for humanity. — Isabel Allende

T.A. Barron's The Great Tree of Avalon takes its readers on an extraordinary journey -- a vivid story of adventure, chance and fate, and moral exploration. This lively, entrancing tale is truly a parable for us today, as we pursue our own lives, our own search for purpose and understanding. Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Children of Crisis — Robert Coles

The Great Tree of Avalon is a landmark fantasy, built on a scale both epic and intimate. Here the island of Arthurian myth becomes a giant tree, each of its seven roots a richly imagined realm. Whether this world lives or dies depends on three appealing young heroes, whose quests prove that the secrets of nature and love are the strongest magic of all. Professor of English, Princeton University and author of Walking With Thoreau, — William Howarth

T.A. Barron's fascination with and appreciation for nature shines through in his rich and inventive tale, The Great Tree of Avalon, which takes us on an extraordinary adventure through a damaged but magical world and reminds us of the fragility and wonder of our own natural surroundings. — Robert Redford