Sword of the Rightful King

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults. “[A] spellbinding twist on the Round Table legend . . . a standout in this enormous canon.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
The newly crowned King Arthur is unsure of himself; worse, the people are unsure of him. Too many people want the throne, and treachery is everywhere. Merlin must do something before the king is betrayed, or murdered, or—worst of all—gets married. So Merlin magically places a sword into a slab of rock, lets it be known that whosoever removes the blade will rule all of England, and invites any man who would dare to try to pull out the sword. After a bit of showmanship, Arthur will draw the blade (with a little magical help, of course), and the people will rally around the young king. Except someone else pulls the sword out first . . . 
 
A Booklist Editors’ Choice
ABA’s Pick of the Lists
A Parent’s Guide Children’s Media Award Winner
 
“Yolen takes elements of Arthurian legend and makes them her own in this involving novel.”—Booklist (starred review)
 
“[A] page-turning tale of magic and adventure, betrayal, loyalty, and love.”—School Library Journal (starred review)
 
“A subtle, many-layered tale . . . It is, as the book’s ending tells readers, ‘an old story but a good one,’ and Yolen does it honor.”—VOYA (5Q—highest rating)