The Denver Post: Colorado Kids
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Story Behind The Book
For over 15 years, I taught The Once and Future King to my high school honors freshmen. When I would ask what they knew of Guinevere, many had heard nothing about her. For those students who had heard of her, all they remembered was that she cheated on Arthur with Lancelot and brought down Camelot! I searched for stories of Guinevere, but found nothing that I felt did her justice. So, I decided to write her story myself: Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend tells the story of a twelve-year old girl who finds herself promised to an older man, King Arthur.
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Reviews
<p><strong style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:13px;">Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend<br /> Reviewed by Galia Popov (age 11) for Reader Views (8/09)</strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><em>Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend</em> by Cheryl Carpinello is about the childhood of Queen Guinevere from the legendary Camelot....<em>Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend</em> by Cheryl Carpinello informs the reader about what it would be like to be a princess in an early medieval castle. Specifically, a princess who is about to be betrothed to the most legendary king in England’s history: King Arthur. The afterword, glossary, additional reading, and the other extra notes in the back are a helpful addition to the story. This book would probably be best for ages seven though ten, but could be enjoyed by older or younger kids. This book is an appealing new take on an old legend.</span><br /><br /><strong style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Guinevere Comes Alive as Thirteen-Year Old Prospective Bride in Children’s Novel— Tyler R. Tichelaar, Ph.D.</strong><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">, author of the award-winning novel </span><em><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Narrow Lives</span></em> <span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">and <em>King Arthur's Children</em></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">There is no end to the number of novels being written about the Arthurian legend, and exciting new children’s author Cheryl Carpinello can now be added to the number of writers recreating the legend for new generations with <em>Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend</em>. ...<em>Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend</em> is not a long or complicated story. It is just over one hundred pages, but it is a pleasant reading experience. It does not try to accomplish too much, but rather it is one of those rare books where the author understood that less is more and fully delivers in making each page valuable and interesting. The sighting of a unicorn in the book is an example of this—the delicate handling of the scene leaves the reader as much in awe as Guinevere over the magical beast. ...Carpinello manages to create a unique and original version of Guinevere’s childhood.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Carpinello is obviously enthusiastic about sharing the Arthurian legend with young readers. Her biography states that “The focus in her writing is on reluctant readers.” I felt she provided enough magic and detail to appeal to readers of all ages, especially in her realistic portrait of Guinevere coming of age. I also appreciated her short, educational section at the book’s end, including a discussion of the King Arthur Legend, a glossary, discussion questions, and some additional reading. The book is suitable for readers, depending on their reluctance or proclivity to read, from about third grade through middle school, although as an adult, I enjoyed the book thoroughly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">...<em>Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend</em> is a novel sure to win readers’ hearts and add to the many fans of the King Arthur legend.</span><br /><br /><strong style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">BlueInk Reviews, May 2010</strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">In this sweet introduction to the lore of Camelot, a</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">spirited young Guinevere struggles to accept her destiny. Just before</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">her 13th birthday, as she prepares to become a queen, Guinevere slips</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">off into the forest with 7-year-old friend Cedwyn to hunt for a rabbit</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">she hopes will bring her luck. She stumbles into mischief instead, and</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">by day's end, her father King Leodegrance is beside himself, fearing</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">that she will one day rule as brashly as she plays. Then at night</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Guinevere sees a unicorn in the forest and is told by an enchantress</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">and wizard Merlyn that the unicorn has come to die so that its blood</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">can be used to heal the sick. Guinevere’s heart goes out to the</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">unicorn, and she longs to be as selfless. But when her father later</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">tells her she must wed King Arthur for the greater good, she struggles</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">to be as altruistic as the unicorn and accept the fact that her life</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">is no longer her own.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">As author Carpinello spins this tale, her writing often sparkles, and</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Guinevere and Cedwyn endear with their sincerity and spontaneity.</span></p>