Calling on Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede

It comes as a surprise to no one in the Enchanted Forest that the Wizards are up to trouble again. And this time they’ve really outdone themselves. Somehow they managed to sneak into the palace and steal Mendanbar’s sword. Now they are able to suck up magic in the forest again, and when the sword begins to leak magic, they’ll suck it up from it too. Mendanbar cannot leave the forest, so Cimorene, Morwen, Kazul, and Telemain mount an expedition to regain the sword. Tagging along are two of Morwen’s cats, and a six foot floating blue donkey, who used to be a normal sized white rabbit. An odd bunch, to be sure, but they have to succeed, or the entire Enchanted Forest will be destroyed by the wizards.

It was great to read the story from Morwen’s point of view. She is so practical and sensible, yet funny. And her cats are an absolute hoot. Such personalities: just like cats really act, and probably for many of the same reasons. Wrede is such a clever author, introducing new ideas and odd characters every book so the story never gets too common place, but also keeping some old ideas that we need to see. The characters change, but not too much, and the story is as lively as ever. You wonder whatever possessed her to create a character like Killer (the former rabbit), but if you roll with the punches it doesn’t really matter.

Sometimes I wonder why adult books can’t be more like this. But I know that most adults wouldn’t like the sense of the ridiculous that comes along. I appreciate serious stories myself, but it seems to me that young adult/children’s writers don’t get enough credit for their masterpieces. Their plotlines are cooler and tidier than some adult authors, their characters are just as interesting, their writing as good, yet the acclaim is not theirs. But I give thanks to them, because without them, I might not have started to read so much fantasy. I proclaim this to be ‘Appreciate Children’s Authors Day.’ Go out and hug one if you can find them.