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Cover of The Summer King

The Summer King

O. R. Melling (2000)

SubgenrePortal Fantasy
Age groupYA 12-17
Content ratingPG
Pages224 (Quick Read (<250))
Setting
CSM age13
Goodreads4.10/5 (3119)
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Content levels

ViolenceMild
Sexual contentNone
LanguageNone

Trigger warnings

Death of a Loved OneGrief

Positive tags

QuestSelf-DiscoveryHopeful EndingAdventureFriendship

Heroine archetypes

Coming-of-Age HeroineReluctant Heroine

Protagonist archetypes

Coming-of-Age Protagonist

Tropes

QuestFaePortal FantasyLost CivilizationHidden IdentityMentor FigureFish out of WaterComing of Age

Themes

Grief and LossFamily BondsIdentityDuty vs DesireCeltic MythologyReality vs FantasyLove and Sacrifice

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Laurel returns to her grandparents' home in Ireland, where she encounters "the roly-poly man," a cluricaun who sets Laurel on a quest to free her twin sister, thought to be dead, to live with her lover in the legendary world of Faerie.

Is The Summer King appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 13 and up.

A quest fantasy rooted in Irish mythology with mild peril and themes of grief over a lost sibling. No sexual content, violence, or strong language—appropriate for middle school and up.

What to know going in

This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include death of a loved one and grief.

Who'll love this

Teens will enjoy the Irish folklore, fairy world adventure, and the emotional journey of a girl trying to save her twin sister from Faerie.

Tags

Celtic FantasyMythological FantasyContemporary FantasyQuest Fantasy