Author: Mari Mancusi
Series: The Camelot Code (Book 1)
Publication: Disney-Hyperion (November 20, 2018)
Description: When young Arthur of Camelot accidentally time-travels to the 21st century and Googles himself, he discovers the not-so-happily ever after in store for him once he pulls the sword from the stone. Yes, he'll go from squire to sovereign basically overnight, but he'll also lose the love of his life to his best friend and eventually die in battle. What's a once-and-future king to do? Easy: stay in the future, where he'll actually have a future-and join the football team instead.
Now, with the help of the great wizard Merlin, modern-day gamer-geeks Sophie and Stu find themselves in a race against time to get that sword pulled from the stone and the stubborn soon-to-be-king Arthur back to the past where he belongs. Complicating the plan? Lady Morgana-Arthur's sister and greatest enemy-has traveled to the future as well, determined to take Arthur out and seize the throne. Can Sophie and Stu use their gaming abilities to defeat the evil Morgana and set the timeline right? With the very existence of their friendship, their families, and the world as they know it (including pepperoni pizza!) at stake, they'll use every skill, power-up, and cheat code they know in their quest to save the day.
My Thoughts: Sophie and Stu have been best friends since elementary school. These two have bonded over the Camelot's Honor video game. Now in junior high school things might be changing a little. Stu has signed up for soccer because he wants his father to pay as much attention to him as he pays to Stu's stepbrother Luke. Sophie is a little jealous and wondering if she's going to lose her best friend. She's already lost her mother who told her one night that she had to leave to save the world.
Meanwhile in Camelot, Arthur who is being tutored by Merlin is on the verge of pulling the sword from the stone and having his future changed. He and Guinevere have formed an unlikely but strong friendship since princesses and dishwashers don't usually hang around together. When Guinevere accidentally drops a magical scabbard into the Well of Dreams, Arthur takes the blame and falls into it to try to get the scabbard back.
Arthur, however, likes it in the modern day and, having read his life story on Google, isn't eager to return to his own time. As the world changes around Sophie - no pepperoni pizza, no Camelot's Honor, and no Stu, she has to do all she can to get Arthur back where he belongs.
This is a great combination of middle school life with changing friendships and video games and time travel including a society of people who are determined to keep time on the correct track. There's magic and dangerous deeds aplenty. It is also the first book in a series.
Favorite Quote:
She rose to meet him, her gown and hair still dripping wet. "I'll go with you."I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
"That's really not necessary."
"You saved my life. I'm in your debt."
Stu raked a frustrated hand through his hair. "Do what you want. But don't slow me down. I'm under a major time crunch here."
And with that, he turned and started back up to the bridge, Elaine racing after him eagerly. "Thank you, m'lord. You won't regret it!"
But Stu was pretty sure he already did.
I wish this had stayed away from the complicated romances. There was plenty else going on, but this was otherwise so solidly middle grade that the romance felt weirdly YA. Still buying, though!
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