Igraine the Brave
by Cornelia Funke, published 2007
“Twelve! And I haven’t had a single real adventure. How will I ever get to be a famous knight?… I’m going to die of boredom, you wait and see! Maybe not overnight, but definitely before my next birthday!”
I love this children’s book. It has all the elements of fun, especially if you are a fan of books about knights. Laced with references to heroes from King Arthur’s tales, such as the Woeful Knight, and Pelleas, we meet Igraine, a magician’s daughter who longs to be a knight, and gets her chance.
There’s humor, adventure, magic, and wonderful heroes and heroines in the mix of this children’s book. The parents get turned into pigs by mistake; the sorrowful knight gets to fight a longed-for battle, and Igraine becomes a real heroine. The writing is superb.
I have been unable to read many of Cornelia Funke’s other award-winning books because they are a bit too intense for me, so I am so glad she created books like these. They show her great skill and are suitable for those of us with less tolerance for darkness and evil! It’s a great children’s book for girls who are coming of age, though I would hope some boys would love it too.
Other Books by Cornelia Funke
Emma and the Blue Genie
Dragon Rider
The Thief Lord
