The Traitor King

by Todd Mitchell

Book Overview

Family secrets lead to a fantasy world in this dazzling fantasy debut from Todd Mitchell. Darren and Jackie Mannahan thought they lived in an ordinarily unhappy family, where some things were never... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1935689509
• ISBN13: 9781935689508
• Release Date: January 2012
• Publisher: Todd Mitchell Books, LLC
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Best book I've ever read!!!

I'm in 5th grade and I read all the time. I've read all the Harry Potter and dozens of other similar books. This book was by far the best! It was scary and exciting and I couldn't put it down. I hope Mr. Mitchell is writing a sequel. T. Griffin

A compelling mystery and fascinating family dynamics

Eleven-year-old Darren Mananann is pretty sure he knows exactly what to expect for his two-week summer vacation at Uncle Will's run-down house in Maine. There will be lots of card games and cocktails for the adults, and no TV or Internet for the kids. Plus he'll have his annoying cousin, Kini, to deal with. At least his eccentric uncle will have set up this year's scavenger hunt, a truly challenging annual event that usually keeps Darren and his older sister Jackie occupied for several days. Darren is especially anticipating the hunt, hoping it will keep his mind off of the disturbing dreams he's been having. But when Darren, Jackie, their parents and other relatives arrive at Uncle Will's dilapidated home, Will is not even there. All they have is a note that reads "Stepped out for a bit...some things came up" and advice about watering the plants and returning books to the library. Darren's mother is convinced that Uncle Will has finally lost his mind, seizing the opportunity to do some long-overdue housecleaning. Soon, though, Darren and Jackie are convinced that Uncle Will still wants them to carry on with the annual scavenger hunt --- and that his cryptic note is actually the first clue. Sure enough, the siblings are soon involved in the most exciting hunt of all, one that will lead them deep into their family history and even bring them into close contact with the scary figures from Darren's nightmares. As they follow Uncle Will's clues, Darren and Jackie begin to suspect that their unusual family might be even more extraordinary than they had imagined. They all seem to have second sight, or "shadow sight," a very useful thing for playing poker, as it turns out. Do Darren and Jackie also have the shadow sight? Why is their family name in the big book of Celtic mythology at the library? Is the librarian more than what she seems? Why has Uncle Will's research into the family story been burned? And who is the skeletal man who shadows their every move? Seeking the answers to these questions leads the siblings far into Celtic mythology, all the way to the mythical land of Tir Na N'Og. THE TRAITOR KING is Todd Mitchell's first novel, and it clearly owes a great debt to some classics of children's literature, including Elizabeth's Enright's SPIDERWEB FOR TWO and Susan Cooper's OVER SEA, UNDER STONE. But that's not to say that Mitchell's book is derivative --- it integrates Celtic mythology well and also includes plenty of original plot ideas. The most appealing parts of the novel are in its first half, as Darren and Jackie work to navigate their uncle's clues and their new knowledge about the Mananann family. These sections include realistic, concrete imagery as well as a compelling mystery and fascinating family dynamics. The portions of the book set in Tir Na N'Og are less robust and vivid, at least until the final confrontation that pits Darren against supernatural elements and even against the decisions of some of his own family. Mit

Adults and older teenagers will love it too!

The Traitor King is one of those rare books that combine day-to-day life conflicts with a world so fantastic one can hardly resist being plunged irresistibly into its depths. It's very rare to come across a fantasy book so entrancing that you almost begin to believe, but The Traitor King does just that. When Darren and Jackie Mananann discover the hidden world and frightening truth about the family, you accompany them on a journey so complex it's hard to imagine that it isn't real. Their journey isn't just one for kids, though children will definitely love it and race through its pages. Adults will be drawn into trying to figure out the complex puzzles and clues and, like me, won't be able to out it down. I read The Traitor King straight through in a single evening and found myself wishing for a sequel so I could continue on this fascinating journey. Review written by Robin, a 16 year old student

Deliciously Magical!

When I was a kid, I'd go into the library every week on a quest for a particular, rare kind of book-- a combination of the best parts of every book I'd read-- an adventure that blended reality and fantasy, where magic seeped into the everyday. There had to be another realm to explore, a mystery that kept me turning pages, ancient secrets that reached their fingers into the present, and a powerful, mythical storyline that resonated long after I finished the last word-- and all grounded in a contemporary world that I could relate to. Every once in a while I'd stumble across something that nearly fit the bill--like Susan Cooper's The Grey King or C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Finally, twenty years later, I've found The Book-- The Traitor King by Todd Mitchell. In this deliciously magical book, the disappearance of Darren's and his sister, Jackie's, eccentric uncle leads the kids on a quest into another world, where they discover that their family has played a pivotal role. The journey involves mystery, suspense, action, betrayals, and ultimately, tenderness, as Darren struggles to find a way to help the beings of both worlds coexist in harmony. During his quest, he uncovers truths about his own family and deals with his relationship with his distant father. Debut author Todd Mitchell has created a rich, satisfying book, brilliantly blending real family emotions with a fantastical storyline. A real treat!

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Every year, the Manananns spend their bucolic summers together at Uncle Will's country house in Maine; a little cabin in the woods with no television or cell phone signal. But this summer is not going to be like the others. This summer, Uncle Will will disappear, and when Darren and Jackie try to find out where he is, they'll also find out the Manannan's darkest secret: the story of the Traitor King. As Darren and Jackie suspected, Uncle Will leaves them some clues on how to find him. But following those clues turns out to be more difficult and more dangerous than they thought. The first clue takes them to the library, where a nervous and weird acting librarian greets them. Then a spooky old man who looks like a skeleton chases them all over town. The last clue will take them to the tallest tree in the woods, the tree that will take them to the incredible and different world ­­­­-- Tavare. What is this new world? And how can it be so different and yet feel so familiar? Will Darren and Jackie find Uncle Will there? Will they ever make it back? You MUST read this book. There's no doubt (and let me assure you of this) you'll be glad you did. And, if you're like me, when you finish, you'll be desperately asking Todd Mitchell for the sequel. To be honest, when I first received this book to review, I was a little worried because I'm not a big fan of fantasy novels. But after reading Todd Mitchell's fantastic debut novel, I have a completely different view about the entire genre. So why did it take me over a month to write this review? The answer is simple: it's because I wanted to find the right words to tell readers just how much I liked it, and how much I enjoyed the author's descriptions, and how after reading them, I could close my eyes and see exactly what he was seeing, and how badly I wanted to go to this wonderful land that he had created, and how much I enjoyed traveling between the worlds of fiction and non-fiction, where reality meets fantasy, and how much I enjoyed the adventures and the tension, and the excitement of this whole new world. I hope I succeeded, and that you won't go another day without visiting Tavare. Reviewed by: Christian C.