The Invisible Tower

The Invisible Tower
Nils Johnson-Shelton
HarperCollins, 2012 333 pages
Grades 4-8
Adventure/Fantasy
The Otherworld Chronicles series #1

Twelve-year-old Artie stops at a gaming store to pick up a new controller for his sister Kay, who is scheduled to compete in a gaming competition. The strange proprietor seems to know Artie already. It is revealed that the owner of the store is actually THE Merlin and he is stuck in his store called the “Invisible Tower”, which is really a prison with a labyrinth of magical rooms underneath. Merlin informs Artie that he is a reincarnation of King Arthur and must go to the "Otherworld" to retrieve the Sword in the Stone that will eventually lead to Excalibur and the freeing of Merlin from evil forces. Accompanied by his sister Kay and the legendary Tom Thumb, as well as other new friends, Arthur crosses over to Otherworld where he encounters dragons, sorcerers, and vicious wolves. This alternative land holds many secrets, including the whereabouts of Kay's missing mother and the key to free Merlin from his prison. Does non-assuming Artie have what it takes to fulfill his destiny?

This first book in a trilogy was recommended to me by one of my young patrons. He said it was the best series he has ever read, so, naturally, I had to check it out. This book is a great choice to give to video gamers and adventure/fantasy kids. Artie discovers this new alternative world through gaming and both he and his sister excel in challenges partly because of their gaming skills. I love that it relies heavily on Arthurian legend and for the most part modernizes the original story. This will bring new fans to the legends, who may be inspired to tackle older versions. Artie is a typical, likable boy, who readers will relate to. The characters are not fully developed, but this is forgivable in that it is an adventure story and has the pacing and mood of a graphic novel or video game. Underneath the sword play and magic there are mysteries. The author reveals a few, yet leaves threads to dangle to encourage readers to pick up the next installment. Arthur's sister, Kay, is a fierce warrior in her own right and lends the book some "girl power", welcoming female readers. It is refreshing to see siblings working together instead of competing. An exciting story with a lot of substance sure to please a variety of young readers. Give to fans of Percy Jackson and Gregor the Overlander.