Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	The Sword of the Rightful King
	Author:	Yolen, Jane
	Date Published:	2003
	Genre:	Fantasy
	Grade Level:	6 - 8
	Booktalker:	Sam Marsh

Booktalk:
"Greetings friend leaf bearer," said Merlinnus to the old oak. "I am troubled and only your good advice will salve me." " So many want to claim the throne and be named in Arthur's stead. So many angry people. What am I to do? I must make them follow the boy and do his bidding. History, both past and present demands it. No one else knows of his royal blood but me, even though his looks shows his lineage, and I do not mention it because it puts his father's reputation is disrepute . . . not that his father's reputation needs much help there." "Should I have expected gratitude for setting the boy on the throne. Should I have expected imagination from him? Can I dare hope he will fight to retain a crown he finds so heavy? And . . . he thinks himself unworthy!" "Bless me, I did expect it. I did hope for it. My brain must be rotting with age." "He works hard, loves the people, weeps for the poor, cares for the needy and longs to right wrongs. He is a good king and could become a great one. But, he is missing vision which could make him a great king." "Perhaps you are right to be silent, tree. I've no other witness to his heritage and who would believe it anyway. They would say it is a trick of my conniving. And..." "Arthur must prove his worth. Sword and stone. It will work, I am sure. But, how do I convince Arthur?" "I would rather just say, 'Arthur--do this and be done with it.' But then he would learn little, and he still needs to learn so much for when I am gone and can no longer teach him. And, time is the one commodity of which I have so little." "I had hoped he would wonder about that sword stuck in the stone. I am rather proud of it actually. It was not really a dream, you see." "Yes, yes, I said it was a dream. I shall have to build the thing for him to understand and let some wandering shepherd find it so I will not be connected to it . . . at least not directly." "They call what I do magic, but we know better, old friend. It's a little lore, a little light and a lot of patience. History doesn't change with a finger snap, but little by little." "Of course I am proud of the sword in the stone, and he will be . . . eventually. But, you are right. Arthur needs something more than sitting around ruling on quarreling dukes and silly cooks and all. He needs to fire up these silly tribes and give them a reason to rally around him to become a High King of all Britain. He needs . . . "