The Young Merlin Trilogy

The Young Merlin Trilogy #1-3

by Jane Yolen

This is the legendary story of Merlin--from his abandonment by his parents at the age of eight to the discovery of his powers at twelve. Together, these three novels reimagine the origins of the greatest wizard of all time, giving readers a Merlin at once more human and more magical than any that has appeared before.

Genres: Fantasy, Arthurian, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Magic

259 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

A children’s book for sure (so not very much going on) but I am a sucker for some Merlin content and I actually liked the history and the explanation of the book better than the book itself

[Meghann · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so bland. As I read it I got the impression the author had no idea what she was doing. Her struggles to be deep about the meaning of names lacked in meaning and significance, even though it seemed like she wanted it to be a big part of the books. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy, which I would consider this book to be. Or trying to be anyway. The little splurges of it came off just as the names did. It was supposed to be exciting finding out he had powers, but they didn't seem like powers at all. The jumping of this book was to quick that you didn't get to learn about the character who almost seemed invisible. He had no personality, the only thing defined about him was magic. She also hurt herself by making it three stories. If I had only gotten the first book I would have taken nothing away from it. So little happens I could have read that first book and not even felt like I read the book, more like I just read the preview on the back.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

So uneventful and kinda boring. It's said to be three books in one, but I pity the person who buys the books separately as nothing really happens until the third one!

[Carli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book for a book report, so I had to read it all and I remember crying so much because I hated this book so much and didn’t want to finish it.

[Stephanie Fachiol · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story may be simple, but the language is poetic and moving.

The overall plot of The Young Merlin Trilogy followers the titular wizard from his reintroduction to society after living in the wild, to the realization of his dreams and magic. The story is split into three parts: Passager, in which Merlin readjusts to living in society after living feral; Hobby, where he begins to understand his significant dreams and meets the classic Duke Vortigen; and Merlin, where his adolescent journey comes to a close with hints as to his future.

There is nothing truly unexpected or new to the story, but it serves as a passable Arthurian tale. In truth, Passager is mostly irrelevant, serving mostly as an introduction to Merlin’s character, rather than showing any real progress in his journey. However, like the other two parts, it is filled with beautiful language. Each sentence is carefully constructed; some are more austere, and others are vivid and lyrical. The depiction of Merlin’s dreams throughout the other two parts are also unique and nuanced.

Like any Arthurian adaptation, famous characters appear, but may have their roles switched around—Vivian, Ambrosius, and “Cub” come to mind as the greatest examples. Other than Merlin, most of the characters suffer a flat characterization, but in a trilogy that takes up a little over 250 pages, it’s to be expected.

It’s a quick read, but other than the beautiful prose, it doesn’t offer anything new in the way of Arthurian tales.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume includes all three books of the Young Merlin Trilogy (Passager, Hobby and Merlin). All three books together tell the story of Merlin's childhood from the age of eight to twelve. From an abandoned boy in the woods to a farm then to travelling entertainers and finally back to the woods again, young Merlin learns about life, people and his own powers as a dreamer/sorcerer. Beautifully and tenderly written, and a joy to read - I highly recommend this re-telling of the Arthurian legend.

[Amanda Lammers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have loved everything about Merlin/King Arthur since I was young. This trilogy about young Merlin was all about how Merlin came to be. It was interesting to see how Merlin became a great wizard. Most Arthur stories about about the knoights and Arthur himself. It was refreshing to read about a different character from the same old stories.

Not to mention Jane Yolen who wrote all the 'How Do Dinosaurs..' books and 'Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast'.

[Maren · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t care for the book really much. It wasn’t that good of a story and when in parts in was meant to be deep, it really wasn’t. I read this as an assignment, and I didn’t want to finish it. Initially, I thought that this was going to be an amazing book, be cause who doesn’t like Merlin? Right? It sounds better in the blurb then in the book. Unnecessarily long and all the chapters aren’t talking about really anything. Like there had to be a certain amount of pages written.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps this should have been titled "The (Very) Young Merlin Trilogy." We first meet Merlin as a child of eight, abandoned in the woods of ancient Britain. We follow him until the age of 12, when he discovers that he possesses true magic powers, and meets the lad who will eventually become the legendary King Arthur.

An interesting narrative by a talented author.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific example of why, even as an adult, children's books should not be forsaken. Written in a mature, yet approachable style that children can understand and adults can appreciate. This is a good introduction to Arthurian fantasy or a primer for kids who want to learn more about Merlin but are not quite ready for Mary Stewart. Recommended.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy some of Jane Yolen's books but others I don't enjoy quite so much. This was one that could have been better. It would have been better to have stuck to one time period. And the fact that Yolen made Merlin know the word 'cell', even though there was no way he could have known it. Nor did Robin Hood fit into Merlin's life, certainly not as an older man.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeugdsentiment.. Ik liep al een tijdje met het boek in mijn hoofd, sinds ik voor het eerst in mijn leven een wilde valk had gezien, maar ik kon er de vinger niet op leggen. Tot ik het per toeval tegenkwam! Het heeft me opnieuw gefascineerd zoals het dat vijftien jaar geleden ook heeft gedaan.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

it what good for and it was amazing

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this trilogy. It was well-written and an interesting take on Merlin.

Content: clean- a few swear words, some violence

[Alexis Bonnema · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have been obsessed with this book when I was 11-13ish. As it is, it was a quick read I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this tightly-structured children's re-imagining of the legends of Merlin, a wild boy abandoned in the woods at age 8 learns to survive like an animal. Then, taken under the wing of a kind falconer named Master Robin, he finds his true name and learns to be human again. But a new tragedy sends him out into the world alone, equipped with little more than a growing awareness of his own strange powers, starting with dreams that come true, if only "on the slant."

Merlin has brushes with deadly danger, including a scoundrel who wants to sell him as a slave. He takes refuge with a traveling conjurer named Ambrosius, prophesies the downfall of a certain Duke Vortigern, gets thrown in with the wild folk of the woods, witnesses a terrible massacre by the forces of Uther Pendragon, and befriends a younger boy who will one day be King Arthur - all before the age of 12.

Jane Yolen, an extremely prolific writer of children's books, a noted authority on folklore, and the author of yet other books about Arthur and Merlin (The Sword of the Rightful King, for example), pieced together fragments of the confused body of Merlin lore in a way no other author has done - though, to be sure, two interpreters of this ancient legend seldom agree on much more than the starkest outline. This rather short book is a blend of the familiar and the strange, or rather a strange blend of familiar elements, packaged in the form of three very, very short books titled Passager, Hobby, and Merlin, which separately deliver such tiny bites of Merlin's story that they really only seem complete when bound together in one volume. Indeed, that is how I read them, and how I recommend reading them.

There is a sense of ritual in the prologues and epilogues that bind the parts of this trilogy together. There is also a disturbing sense of darkness running beneath the surface of these stories, calling for the most mature and subtle readers in the "Ages 8 to 12" audience to whom the trilogy is marketed. Youngsters impressed by Yolen's knack for talking to them on their own level, without underestimating their abilities, might want to check out this list of some 200 other books to her credit. They include Wizard's Hall, a pre-Harry Potter school-of-magic adventure; Armageddon Summer, a novel co-written with Bruce Coville about two teens in the middle of standoff between a millennialist cult and the FBI; the "Young Heroes" quartet, co-authored with Robert J. Harris and based on ancient Greek legends; and the "Seelie Wars" series, co-authored with Adam Stemple, about the realms of faerie. Space does not permit even to list all the types of stories she has written. Go find about them for yourself!

[Dlora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought these books because I love how Jane Yolen writes. I didn't realize they were so small (about 80 to 90 pages each; I read them all in one evening), but I should have guessed because they are written for an elementary-age reader. But I loved them anyway. They are a fun coming-of-age adventure story on the basic level for the young reader but also a fascinating blend of all the Merlin legends that the adult readers pick out. And I almost liked the after notes, which told about the various source materials that Yolen blended together, as much as the stories themselves. In book one, Passager, there are great details about falconry. In book two, Hobby, you learn about traveling performers. In book three, Merlin, you learn about the Wodewose, or the people who live wild in the forests, and the practice of leaving young children in the woods if the family can't support them. Basically the story follows young Merlin from the age of eight when he was abandoned in the woods to the discovery of his magical powers at age twelve. I recommend the trilogy to children and adults, and especially to fans of the King Arthur legends.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first book of this trilogy (apparently, it really was first published as separate books, but they are all so slim, I still find it hard to imagine). Yolen's characteristic evocative prose breathes life into her feral child vision of Merlin, and it is fascinating to watch his survival story and the patient way Master Robin the falconer tries to tame him.

Unfortunately, the other two books couldn't live up to the first one's promise. As Merlin grows out of the animal-wildness of his early childhood, he fails to develop much of an actual personality. Besides a little foreshadowing and various hints to readers who know their Arthurian lore, there's incredibly little to actually tie this character to King Arthur's Merlin (the very end of the third book tries a little, but the attempts are half-hearted and don't seem to jive very well.) It feels like an independent low-low-fantasy tale set in medieval England, and on that basis, the characters and story just don't have enough to make them stay interesting.

[Ingrid Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it was my recent watching of the British series Merlin on Netflix or my newly re-awakened love of all things Merlin and King Arthur. But whatever it was, I loved this book!

Jane Yolen presented an interesting, thought-provoking and well presented account of how Merlin might have been as a young boy, abandoned in the woods (as apparently many children were in those days) and left to fend for himself. During the course of reading this book, I felt as though I were there, cheering for Merlin as he struggled and overcame obstacles a child should never have to encounter.

I enjoyed his discovery of how his dreams did indeed come true and his staunch, but wise, understanding of how his own interpretations of his dreams were more accurate than those of the adults in his life. But my favorite was at the end and transformation of Cub to Arthur.

Jane Yolen has a new fan and I very much look forward to reading more of her books.

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The fact that I got this as an omnibus means a lot. If these were presented to me in single book form, I would not have read them. They would have automatically be deemed too short.

This is something that showed up in the book. It wasn't one continuous story where the breaks could be smushed into one book. It was multiple books, with just a continuous character. Because of this shortness character development and plot were really lacking. I was looking for something like I am Morgan LeFay or a Rise to Power movie I watched on Hitler. This character was really lacking. Plus, by trying to integrate multiple stories she doesn't get a common thread. Multiple stories can be present, but they have to be more mushed together.

Also, although there was a correct translation of man-bear, the elements concerning man-bear were much too powerful for my liking.

Mostly my fault, I didn't notice the size of the individual books.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Young Merlin Trilogy is three seperate books for 9-12 year olds. I like Jane Yolen's approach to story telling and found them to be interesting at an adult level as well. The vocabulary was more advanced than I remember from when I was 9-12 but since part of reading is learning new words I don't think that should stop anyone. These would make an excellent read aloud. I read all 3 (silently) in a couple hours.

Merlin is abandoned at age 8 in the woods by his mother who we infer is a Nun. He lives for 1 year as a feral child then he is found by a falconer. The stories go on to detail what happens to his foster family, how his prophetic dreams begin and he discovers his magic. His life is not easy or happy. Yolen weaves in interesting tidbits of history with a fresh look at the story of Merlin.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

These 3 books (sometimes in a bindup as a single book) are quick reads about Merlin’s early life. Passager begins with Merlin at age 8 as a wildboy who has been left alone to live in the forest. He follows a man (Robin) home who adopts him and tames him. Hobby begins 4 years later with Robin’s house burning down and Merlin’s travels to the nearest market town where his dreams predict trouble for the ruling Duke. Merlin falls in with a traveling musician, where he learns the difference between tricks (the magician) and real magic (what Merlin has). Merlin begins just after the end of Hobby, with Merlin hiding in the forest and discovering a tribe of wodewose (wild people). A boy (named Cub) in the tribe attracts Merlin’s attention. After an angry army takes out the tribe, Cub, now named Man Bear or Artur, and Merlin go off together.

[Kiri · Rating 3 out of 5]

According to goodreads, I read this book in September of 2009. I found it recently on my bookcase and had no memory of it, so I read it again. Definitely worth it! It's a quick read, and engaging.

There are so many Merlin/Arthur stories and tellings and re-tellings out there that it's sometimes hard to keep them straight. This one gives a fascinating glimpse into a possible-world young Merlin as he makes his way in the world and discovers some prophetic dream powers. However, the book is more substantially about human interactions and experiences than other-worldly trappings, and that's the part that keeps you reading. Enjoy!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy how Jane Yolen writes, she takes you into the story as if you are one of the characters. The story is about Merlin, the magician, as a young lad. He is abandoned in the forest at seven years old and lives in the forest for a year until he follows a falconer home and becomes part of their family. There isn't much magic performed in the book, but it sets the background of Merlin's youth and how he is introduced to the young Arther. It was a fun read, took a couple of hours to read. But interesting none the least.

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Yolen, you are a genius and a magician.

I love the character of Merlin and have read a fair amount of Arthurian fiction over the years. My favourite depiction of Merlin used to be Nikolai Tolstoy's 'The Coming of the King'. But this is my new favourite. In an economical 260-odd pages of elegant, ecovative prose Yolen takes us deeper and more authentically into a lived-in, nuanced picture of Britain just before the rise of Arthur, includes references and re-imaginations of various aspects of the Arthur legends but also remains true them in the ways that matter most.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really three books in one, but they're such short YA books that I don't feel right counting this volume as three. Yolen offers a unique perspective on the Arthurian legend, with this tale of Merlin's origins. Yolen's writing is lovely, as usual, but overall this felt kind of slight and I really wished that the book was longer and more in-depth. It ends up feeling more like the taste of a story instead of like three novels.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great trilogy-in-one book for those highly interested in Merlin, King Arthur, and different perceptions of the 'Knights of the Round Table.' Jane Yolen weaves a magnificent tale in "The Young Merlin Trilogy," using her own writing style, imagination, and research to bring the story of Merlin to life in a different way than those before her. He is perceived with more humanity, thus connecting himself to readers as they begin to experience his conflicts and wish the best for his future.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is three novels in one, and it took me a while to get into it. I think part of the reason for that is because it depicts the wizard Merlin differently than any portrayals I have ever seen. However, one thing I did like about it was the boy Merlin's evolution, from eight-year-old child to twelve-year-old child. You could see the changes in him as he matures and comes into himself. However, I don't know if this is a book I would read again in a hurry.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem o a book

Beautifully written, this story about the early years of the great magician is itself magic.
Jane Yolen takes you into the mind of the young boy left alone in the woods for his powers and with him, we marvel as he discovers the world of men and his own powers.

A poem to the resilience of the human spirit.

[Angelica Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this trilogy of the story of Merlin the books were little but full of adventure! I have to say the last chapter of the of the last part of the trilogy (Merlin) was my absolute favorite! The trilogy had a great ending!