WOW!
Vivi Conway and The Sword of Legend is the book I did not know I had been waiting for. It is the book Esther has been waiting for. As a family who love Arthurian legends and devoured every episode of BBC’s Merlin through lockdown, this is, as Elle McNicoll perfectly puts it, “a remarkable, heart-pounding, reinvigorated story of the myths you think you know.” While Esther’s favourite character is the brave autistic heroine, Vivi, mine is Gelert, the cantankerous ghost dog, protector, advisor and faithful friend to Vivi and her new friends, the calonnau.
This story is a brilliant blend of Welsh mythology and a modern magical adventure.
Written by an autistic author the autistic protagonist is perfectly and beautifully written. Esther loves the way autism is described in the book and how Vivi shares her feelings and how she experiences the world. She loves the conversations that Vivi has with her family and friends. This book has hooked Esther and she cannot wait for Vivi’s next adventure. She sees a lot of herself in Vivi. This brilliant book has been a real mirror for Esther and window for the rest of us to glimpse some of how Esther feels and sees the world around us.
Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend is written by Lizzie Huxley-Jones with stunning artwork by Harry Woodgate.
This is such a special middle grade book. Here’s The Blurb
“Vivi Conway has grown up listening to stories about magic, monsters and myth. She always wanted to be in one. But now that she’s drawn a sword from a lake (yes, that sword), she’s not so sure she wants to be a hero.
With a group of new friends, and a ghostly dog named Gelert (who can talk), Vivi is thrown into a legendary adventure that will take her from Wales to London to the mysterious Unlands. It’s not easy coming to terms with a magical destiny, and sometimes it’s even harder to find true friendship …”
This is a truly inclusive middle grade novel. A heady mix of real life drama and fantasy adventure. This is a seamless blend of mythical creatures, magical talismans, coming of age and the highs and lows of friendship. Through their conversations Vivi’s friends share with readers the effects of bullying, how racism. ableism and homophobia have affected their lives. This own voices novel has a brilliantly diverse cast of characters through which Lizzie Huxley-Jones does not shy away from issues that affect young people in the world today. The LGBTQ+ and disability representation is wonderful. A reflection of the characters our young people meet in their lives everyday. This book is a fast paced adventure story filled with warmth and humour and tender moments between family and friends. It has EVERYTHING for everyone. This is a story about being proud of who you are, standing up for your friends, fighting for what you believe to be right and finding the magical power within yourself to stand up to others. All of these things happen in parallel in the real world and the fantasy world and it is incredibly effective.
I love the hints of a tween romance developing within the friendship group, I love how the new friends slowly learn to trust one another and open up to each other. I love the relationship between Vivi and her two mums. I love the emphasis throughout the story on friendship, teamwork, building each other up and being better together.
This story paints a beautiful picture of how different personalities work well together within a tribe.
I love that young readers can see through the adventures in this story that science can be fun and useful. There is a brilliant scene where the children and their teacher are exploring and getting excited about sound in science club. Throughout the pages of this book the children are discovering and harnessing their magical abilities and their everyday skills as they prepare to play their part in a battle of Good vs Evil.
What a book! My review does not come close to doing this one justice. You just have to read it! The best book I have read so far this year and I cannot wait to be reunited with Vivi, Dara, Stevie and Chia in 2024. Until then …
Vivi Conway and The Sword of Legend is the perfect springboard for a whole host of learning opportunities at home and in the classroom. We think this book is brilliant for inspiring children to –
Explore sound in science
Study Welsh mythology and the legends of Arthur
Research Gelert, Rhiannon, Nimue and Ceridwen
Answer these questions –
If you had a magical power what would it be and why?
If you could be a person from myth or legend who would you be and why
If you could have a magical object from myth or legend which would you choose and why?
If you had to battle a creature from myth or legend, who would you choose and why?