shighley's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe it's because I generally read books for older students, but this was too cartoonish and simplistic for me. I did like the major plot reveal in the end, but overall, it did not stand out for me. I read this because I had seen the book on some mock Newbery lists.
misssusan's review against another edition
3.0
2020 reread:
same hat! completely forgot i'd already read this actually till i saw this review, clearly not the most memorable morris work. 3 stars
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september 2015 read:
honestly, at this point i'd really like to know when morris is going to write a story about sir britomart
like i'm just saying, it would be super nice to get a female knight story? and knight's tales already showed that he loves mixing in faerie stuff with arthuriana! SIR BRITOMART THE FAITHFUL FOR 2015
anyways. just had to let that out, i've read a lot of dude povs lately and my soul cried out for a girl
so sir gawain the true basically retells the story of gawain and the green knight. it's a decent retelling
3 stars
same hat! completely forgot i'd already read this actually till i saw this review, clearly not the most memorable morris work. 3 stars
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september 2015 read:
honestly, at this point i'd really like to know when morris is going to write a story about sir britomart
like i'm just saying, it would be super nice to get a female knight story? and knight's tales already showed that he loves mixing in faerie stuff with arthuriana! SIR BRITOMART THE FAITHFUL FOR 2015
anyways. just had to let that out, i've read a lot of dude povs lately and my soul cried out for a girl
so sir gawain the true basically retells the story of gawain and the green knight. it's a decent retelling
Spoiler
but i'm actually really disappointed he had gawain figure out what was up and return the green mantle? like for me the point of the green knight story is it's where gawain fails to resist temptation, the power of it comes from that moment of weakness and subsequent repentance. but maybe morris thought was too harsh for a kid's book, idk3 stars
lagobond's review against another edition
5.0
Not as funny as the other three books in the series, though I did laugh out loud a couple times. But once again, the hero is a smart cookie who completes his challenging task with poise and grace.
We are treated to interesting characters, daunting adventures, a dash of silliness and a good measure of seemingly intractable dilemmas with unexpected solutions. The focus of the story is on the importance of good manners and friendship, especially when contrasted with the kinds of things people tend to value instead -- like "heroic deeds" or winning pointless contests. Refreshingly, there's no preaching and moralizing to be found.
I love the entire series. Highly recommend for kids age 5 and up.
We are treated to interesting characters, daunting adventures, a dash of silliness and a good measure of seemingly intractable dilemmas with unexpected solutions. The focus of the story is on the importance of good manners and friendship, especially when contrasted with the kinds of things people tend to value instead -- like "heroic deeds" or winning pointless contests. Refreshingly, there's no preaching and moralizing to be found.
I love the entire series. Highly recommend for kids age 5 and up.
pwbalto's review against another edition
4.0
These Knights Tales are perfect bridges from First Chapter to full-on Chapter. Not only do they fit the bill developmentally, but they are so appealing, with their wacky old-fashioned-y illustrations by Aaron Renier (The Unsinkable Walker Bean, Spiral-Bound) and humorous appellations. Sir Givret the Short? Sir Gandefere the Nearly Undefeated? AND, as if that weren't enough, they serve as a gateway to that richly scenic path that may eventually lead a young reader to The Once and Future King.
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/02/adventures-sir-gawain-gerald-morris-aaron-renier-review.html
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/02/adventures-sir-gawain-gerald-morris-aaron-renier-review.html
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Gerald Morris is a master at retelling King Arthur stories! This is the third book in his series, The Knights' Tales, aimed at younger readers. Like the others, this is written in easy flowing prose making it accessible to readers new to chapter books. The generous humor sprinkled throughout adds to the tales, while still holding true to the original Arthurian legends. This volume is no exception. I will eagerly await more in this series!
beebliobibuli's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing, I really did enjoy it, especially the end!
librarybrods's review against another edition
5.0
A refreshingly funny book I think a lot of students will love!
pkadams's review against another edition
4.0
Finally a early reader that is enjoyable and should appeal to boys! There is some buzz that this book is a contender for the Newbery. I would be thrilled, but worry this story isn't the typical middle reader type that wins. Morris does a great job of telling the Arthurian tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The humor and modern interpretation of the chilvaric code makes the story accessible to a modern, young audience.
groundedwanderlust's review against another edition
3.0
Very much in the same vein as the other two books in this series. Kind of silly, and not at all on the level of Morris' other Arthur series. I give this book 3 stars for an older audience, but 5 stars for a younger audience (6 or 7 and younger). This series would be perfect for a first introduction to King Arthur.
mike__m's review against another edition
4.0
These get better with each new story in the Knights' Tales series. Gawain's story is better than Givret's, which was better than Lancelot's. I'm looking forward to Balin's book, to see if the trend continued. Gawain's tale adds some twists to the story, as well as filling out Gawain's character. A nice multi-layered retelling for a J-novel. As with the others in the series, the irony and humor are good-natured, and the violence is mostly comically harmless -- a neat trick in a story framed in decapitations by ax!