The Letter For the King

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

THE BESTSELLING CLASSIC: Join a boy’s epic quest against evil in this “gripping, delightful” historical fantasy based on Arthurian legend—for readers ages 8-12 (Guardian)!

Gorgeous cover and package design presents a perfect collectable classics library for young readers

The fate of a kingdom depends on just one person...

He must trust no one.

He must keep his true identity secret.

Above all, he must never reveal what is in the letter.

It is the dead of night. Sixteen-year-old Tiuri must spend hours locked in a chapel in silent contemplation if he is to be knighted the next day. But, as he waits by the light of a flickering candle, he hears a knock at the door and a voice desperately asking for help. A secret letter must be delivered to King Unauwen across the Great Mountains - a letter upon which the fate of the entire kingdom depends. Tiuri has a vital role to play, one that might cost him his knighthood.

Tiuri's journey will take him through dark, menacing forests, across treacherous rivers, to sinister castles and strange cities. He will encounter evil enemies who would kill to get the letter, but also the best of friends in the most unexpected places. He must trust no one. He must keep his true identity secret. Above all, he must never reveal what is in the letter... The Letter for the King is the thrilling story of one boy's battle against evil, set in an enchanted world of chivalry, courage and true friendship.

Story Locale:Medieval fantasy setting

Series Overview: Part of the Pushkin Children’s Classics series; exceptional children’s storytelling from across the globe, in a fun and striking new series design. Featuring thrilling adventures, magical tales and charming capers, this series includes such authors as Erich Kästner, Tonke Dragt and many more to come.

About the Author

Tonke Dragt wrote and illustrated books of adventure, fantasy and fairy tales. She was born in 1930 in Jakarta. When she was twelve, she was imprisoned in a Japanese camp, where she wrote her very first book using begged and borrowed paper. After the war, she moved to the Netherlands with her family, and eventually became an art teacher. She published her first book in 1961, and a year later this was followed by her most famous story, The Letter for the King, which won the Children's Book of the Year Award and has been translated into sixteen languages. She was awarded the State Prize for Youth Literature in 1976 and was knighted in 2001.

Author Residence: The Netherlands (deceased)

Author Hometown: Amsterdam, The Netherlands