Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Continuing the masterful reboot of his Squire's Tales for younger audiences, Morris takes his favorite knight from "Sir Gawain the Undefeated" to "Sir Gawain the Once Defeated" and thence to the titular moniker. All the while, he delivers wry and perceptive commentary on both the hazards of reckless vows and the profound importance of courtesy. It all begins when the self-absorbed Gawain slays a dragon and shrugs off the gratitude of the damsel he has just rescued. Shortly thereafter he's tricked into agreeing to let a huge green giant knight cut off his head in a year's time and just after that finds himself locked into a battle (supposedly) to the death with a good friend who is also "undefeated." Being a quick learner, Gawain survives both challenges thanks to his discovery that common sense, good manners and a dash of humility go a long way toward solving problems and minimizing the body count. Enhanced by Renier's lighthearted medieval scenes—including two notable views of the heavily armored Gawain in bunny slippers—Morris' yarn weaves clever turns, knightly violence and chivalric (i.e., human) values in action into an ingeniously integrated retelling of "Gawain and the Green Knight" and other episodes from the Arthurian canon. Worthy reading for all budding squires and damsels. (Fantasy. 9-11)

ALA Booklist

Morris adds to his Knights' Tales series of farcical chivalry-and-derring-do yarns with this take on one of the better-known Round Table legends. After Sir Gawain chops off the head of the fearsome Green Knight, and before fulfilling his vow to let the Green Knight return the favor, he and the other knights spend a year questing about. Arthur tries to teach the dim-witted knights a few lessons in gallantry, but "knights who had spent their whole lives learning swordsmanship and pointy-stick-bashing did not always see how something else could be more important." Renier's irreverent line art makes a noble match to this funny, fractured take on Arthurian lore.

Horn Book

This third series sentry focuses on the adventures of Sir Gawain, King Arthur's full-of-himself nephew and a Knight of the Round Table. There are lots of jokes (some a stretch) in the accessible text and cartoony black-and-white brush and ink illustrations. There are some things to be learned, too, about courtesy, friendship, and loyalty.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Continuing the masterful reboot of his Squire's Tales for younger audiences, Morris takes his favorite knight from "Sir Gawain the Undefeated" to "Sir Gawain the Once Defeated" and thence to the titular moniker. All the while, he delivers wry and perceptive commentary on both the hazards of reckless vows and the profound importance of courtesy. It all begins when the self-absorbed Gawain slays a dragon and shrugs off the gratitude of the damsel he has just rescued. Shortly thereafter he's tricked into agreeing to let a huge green giant knight cut off his head in a year's time and just after that finds himself locked into a battle (supposedly) to the death with a good friend who is also "undefeated." Being a quick learner, Gawain survives both challenges thanks to his discovery that common sense, good manners and a dash of humility go a long way toward solving problems and minimizing the body count. Enhanced by Renier's lighthearted medieval scenes—including two notable views of the heavily armored Gawain in bunny slippers—Morris' yarn weaves clever turns, knightly violence and chivalric (i.e., human) values in action into an ingeniously integrated retelling of "Gawain and the Green Knight" and other episodes from the Arthurian canon. Worthy reading for all budding squires and damsels. (Fantasy. 9-11)

School Library Journal (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

BASYE, Dale E. Fibble: The Fourth Circle of Heck . illus. by Bob Dob. 384p. Random . May 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85678-5 ; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95678-2 ; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89305-6 . LC 2010009460. Gr 5-8 BOWLER, Tim . Fighting Back . Bk. 3. 261p. (Blade Series). Philomel . Apr. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25431-4 . LC number unavailable. Gr 8 Up BRENNAN, Herbie . The Faeman Quest . Bk. 5. 361p. (Faerie Wars Series). Bloomsbury. Jan . 2011. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-476-4 . LC number unavailable. Gr 58 CAINE, Rachel . Ghost Town . Bk. 9. 338p. (The Morganville Vampires Series). NAL . Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-451-23161-1 . LC 2010026742. Gr 9 Up CAST, P. C. &; Kristin Cast . Awakened . Bk. 8. 323p. (House of Night Series). St. Martin's / Griffin . 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-312-65024-7 . LC number unavailable. Gr 10 Up DE LA CRUZ, Melissa . Bloody Valentine . illus. by Michael Johnston. 147p. (A Blue Bloods Book). Hyperion . Dec. 2010. RTE. $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-3449-7 . LC number unavailable. Gr 9 Up DE LA CRUZ, Melissa . Misguided Angel . Bk. 6. 265p. (A Blue Bloods Novel). Hyperion . Oct. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-2128-2 . LC number unavailable. Gr 9 Up DUEY, Kathleen . Following Magic . Bk. 2. illus. by Sandara Tang. 102p. (The Faeries' Promise Series). S &; S / Aladdin . Nov. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-8458-0 . LC 2009045801. Gr 35 FLANAGAN, John . The Emperor of Nihon-Ja . Bk. 10. 432p. (Ranger's Apprentice Series). Philomel . Apr. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25500-7 . LC number unavailable. Gr 59 GIBSON, Marley . The Discovery . Bk. 5. 264p. (Ghost Huntress Series). Houghton / Graphia . May 2011. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-547-39308-7 . LC number unavailable. Gr 7 Up GRAY, Claudia . Afterlife . Bk. 4. 368p. (Evernight Series). HarperTeen . Mar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-128442-7 . LC number unavailable. Gr 9 Up Greenhut, Josh . The African Safari Discovery . Bk. 6. illus. by Macky Pamintuan. 91p. (Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures Series). HarperCollins . Jan. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-06-143001-5 ; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-06-143000-8 . LC 2010022978. Gr 24 HUNTER, Erin . Spirits in the Stars . Bk. 6. 273p. (Seekers Series). HarperCollins . Feb. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-087140-6 ; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-087141-3 . LC 2010021975. Gr 59 JONES, Frewin . The Charmed Return . Bk. 6. 355p. (Faerie Path Series). HarperTeen . Feb. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-087161-1 . LC 2010019301. Gr 7 Up KINGSLEY, Kaza . The Three Furies . Bk. 4. illus. by Peter Mohrbacher. 564p. (Erec Rex Series). S &; S. Aug. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-7990-6 . LC 2009036404. Gr 57 LABATT, Mary . Witches' Brew . Bk. 4. illus. by Jo Rioux. 95p. (A Sam &; Friends Mystery). Kids Can . Mar. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-472-2 ; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-473-9 . LC C2010-904764-8. K-Gr 4 LAFEVERS, R.L. Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh . Bk. 4. illus. by Yoko Tanaka. 400p. Houghton . Apr. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-39018-5 . LC number unavailable. Gr 46 LAFEVERS, R. L. The Unicorn's Tale . Bk. 4. illus. by Kelly Murphy. 160p. (Nathaniel Fludd: Beastologist Series). Houghton Harcourt . Apr. 2011. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-547-48277-4 . LC number unavailable. Gr 35 LUBAR, David . Enter the Zombie . Bk. 5. 192p. (Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie Series). Tom Doherty Assoc / Starscape . Jan. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-2344-6 ; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-2672-0 . LC number unavailable. Gr 46 MAGUIRE, Eden . Summer . Bk. 3. 288p. (Beautiful Dead Series). Sourcebooks / Fire . Mar. 2011. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-3946-5 . LC number unavailable. Gr 7 Up MANCUSI, Mari . Night School . Bk. 5. 244p. (A Blood Coven Vampire Novel). Berkley . Jan. 2011. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-425-24042-7 . LC 2010029806. Gr 10 Up MORRIS, Gerald . The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True . Bk. 3. illus. by Aaron Renier. 118p. (The Knights' Tales Series). Houghton Harcourt . Apr. 2011. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-547-41855-1 . LC 2010006808. Gr 3–6 PEREZ, Marlene . Dead Is Not an Option . Bk. 5. 252p. (Dead Is Series) Houghton / Graphia . May 2011. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-547-34593-2 . LC 2010027407. Gr 7 Up VERNON, Ursula . Lair of the Bat Monster . Bk. 4. 208p. (Dragonbreath Series). Dial . Mar. 2011. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3525-5 . LC number unavailable. Gr 2–4