A Dog In King Arthur's Court

Gr 4–6—In this smart romp, the young deerhound Cavall and his brother Glessic navigate the adventure and intrigue of King Arthur's court. Danger lurks as King Arthur dotes on Cavall and the arrogant Glessic shadows Mordred. Through his escapades and with help from mentors like Merlin and Lancelot's scent-hound, Cavall learns the difference between privilege and entitlement, and between aggression that stems from self-defense, need, or "evil." Mackaman skillfully shapes her dog-characters through their sensory experiences. They "talk" through whines and yips as well as through the slant of a tail or the lowering of a head. Readers recognize Cavall's curiosity and emotional intelligence as he literally sniffs out Arthur and Gwenevere's affection through their mingled smells, or recognizes the scent of maternal fear coming off an attacking bear. Alongside the canine excitement, Mackaman is equally sensitive in representing humans. Arthur comes off as kind and secretly anxious about his leadership, while the pack mentality of the kennels is mirrored at the Round Table. Despite Arthur's goodwill and Cavall's loyalty, the hound wonders why Morgana lives in a scary forest when her son lives in the palace. Emotionally volatile Mordred is full of affection for his mother, resentment for his father, and ambition to be recognized as a ruler. Cavall's curiosity about Mordred promises further adventures to come. Watch for sly references to T.H. White's The Sword in the Stone.