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The Letter for the King

The Letter for the King

Author:

Tonke Dragt

Illustrator:

Published by:

Pushkin Children's

First Published:

23 Oct 2013

Ideal for readers aged

9-12y

My Review

We discovered ‘The Letter for the King’ during lockdown, and it was such a gift! Recently translated into English, it’s a dutch classic – and deservedly so! Set in a kingdom roamed by knights and villains, it’s the story of a young aspiring knight, Tiuri, and his unlikely quest to deliver a message to King Unauwen, the contents of which are unknown to him. His determination, perseverance, and bravery, despite many setbacks and the pursuit of his enemies at every stage, make for a gripping read. With echoes of ‘The Lord of the Rings’, what shines through the story is that it’s not his size or age, but what’s in his heart, and the loyalty of his friends, that enable him keep going, even when his destination seems totally out of reach.

Heads Up!

As you would expect in a tale of medieval style adventure, there is some bloodshed, and peril a-plenty, but the focus is on the virtue and valour of Tiuri throughout and the violence is not gory or gratuitous.

Publisher Review

The fate of a kingdom depends on just one person... When sixteen-year-old Tiuri answers a desperate call for help, he finds himself on a perilous mission that could cost him his life. He must deliver a secret letter to the King who lives across the Great Mountains a letter upon which the future of the entire realm depends. It means abandoning his home, breaking all the rules and leaving everything behind even the knighthood that he has dreamed of for so long. He must trust no one. He must keep his true identity secret. Above all, he must never reveal what is in the letter.
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