“Barron builds on his popular Lost Years of Merlin saga, creating an elaborate, richly detailed world... Liberally laced with humor and wit, the first in The Great Tree of Avalon series effectively introduces and fleshes out remarkable characters, both human and non-human. It also vividly sets the scene through the adventures of various beings who eventually come together in a desperate quest to stop the evil that threatens Avalon and its denizens. Even readers unfamiliar with The Lost Years of Merlin will relish this fine debut of a promising new fantasy series.”
—Booklist Starred Review

“This is a brilliant epic tale with memorable and glowing characters—a real gift. T.A. Barron writes about ecology, compassion, feminism and peace with a light touch and a sense of adventure. I smiled, shed tears, and was thoroughly entertained. The story stayed with me, and renewed my hope for humanity.”
—Isabel Allende,
author of House of the Spirits and Daughter of Fortune

“T.A. Barron's fascination with and appreciation for nature shines through in his rich and inventive tale, The Great Tree of Avalon, which takes us on an extraordinary adventure through a damaged but magical world and reminds us of the fragility and wonder of our own natural surroundings.”
—Robert Redford,
Actor, Director, and Conservationist

“The Great Tree of Avalon opens a door into a mythical, magical world. I was transported and I was enthralled. Barron's heroic characters came vividly to life as they battled the evil forces threatening their world. I shall not forget them. The story is packed with action and written in riveting prose. And what an appropriate tale for our troubled times, with a message of hope—that wickedness, however mighty, can be vanquished by the true of heart and staunch of spirit.”
—Dr. Jane Goodall,
U.N. Messenger of Peace and
Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute

"Respect for the powers of nature and belief in the power of each individual to make a difference—these are the two constant qualities of T.A. Barron's work."

—Al Gore

“T.A. Barron writes majestic tales, penned in an eloquent and dignified voice. His Trilogy, The Great Tree of Avalon, is sure to please any lover of fantasy or fan of J.R.R. Tolkien or J.K. Rowling.”
—The Allentown, Pennsylvania Morning Call

“Reading T.A. Barron's newest book, I am again reminded why we so love his work. Where else can you find books that so delicately combine mythology, care for the environment, great adventure, and, most importantly, an experience of the fears and joys of growing up? A childhood with T.A. Barron's books is truly enhanced.”
—Chinaberry Book Review

“T.A. Barron's The Great Tree of Avalon takes its readers on an extraordinary journey—a vivid story of adventure, chance and fate, and moral exploration. This lively, entrancing tale is truly a parable for us today, as we pursue our own lives, our own search for purpose and understanding.”
—Robert Coles, M.D.,
Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Children of Crisis

“The Great Tree of Avalon is a landmark fantasy, built on a scale both epic and intimate. Here the island of Arthurian myth becomes a giant tree, each of its seven roots a richly imagined realm. Whether this world lives or dies depends on three appealing young heroes, whose quests prove that the secrets of nature and love are the strongest magic of all.”
—William Howarth
Professor of English, Princeton University and
author of Walking With Thoreau

“The Great Tree of Avalon is one of the top five books I've ever read! It's a tale with clever and intriguing prose and wonderful character development. From exciting and humorous scenes to the discovery of startling secrets, Avalon is an interesting, thought-provoking ride from start to finish. …I would rank Avalon slightly above Harry Potter for its fantastic and vivid characters. It's a book everyone should read, young or old.”
—Magic Tree Books

“Rarely does a young reader's book with its own magic and idealism have such a message for the world today: to respect and revere all life, to protect our fragile environment, and to end the divisiveness that is escalating between individuals, families, communities, and nations. Once again, T.A. Barron, award-winning conservationist and author of 12 novels, has produced a new volume in which readers, young and old, will see the battle lines drawn between the forces of greed, arrogance, and evil, and those of sharing, of compassion and of the will to good.”
—The Vermont Country Sampler

“In Book One of what is sure to be an epic series, Barron introduces readers to his fantasy world of Avalon. …Barron's fantasy is rich with interesting characters and fascinating landscapes, sure to please readers looking to travel deep into another world.”
—KLIATT Reviews

“The thickening plot and the three key characters, along with a captivating supporting cast of sprites, fairies and assorted changelings, will keep the pages turning…. [Readers] will also delight in Barron's bonus revelations.”
—Publisher's Weekly

“I am a long-standing lover of fantasy, but I've found that the genre can get a little standardized with many authors using formulas and/or taking too many cues from J.R.R. Tolkien. However, T.A. Barron's new book is truly original and a captivating read. On the surface level it's a terrific old-fashioned adventure story. But Barron also uses the tale of a made-up fantasy world to reflect profound issues that we face in the real world. This is something that only the very best fantasy novels achieve, and for me it's what makes the genre so fascinating. With its powerful themes of environmentalism, human arrogance, and heroism, The Great Tree of Avalon is a wonderful story that resonates just as much in the real world as it does in its own brilliantly crafted fantasy one.”
—Lily Wilder, age 17 (Review from Amazon.com)

“Enter the world of Avalon: a wondrous land where all manner of creatures coexist around a great tree. Grown from a seed planted by none other than Merlin himself, the tree is cultivated and nurtured by T.A. Barron, author of numerous fantasy books and possessor of a fabulously fertile imagination…. In The Great Tree of Avalon, the inextricable links between the land, air, water, and sky are evident. And the fact that even Avalon—a giant, soaring tree that bridges the celestial and the earthly—can be weakened, draws a strong parallel to the possible consequences of environmental damage in our own world.”
—Book Page

“The Great Tree of Avalon by T.A. Barron is a brilliant epic tale with heroic characters, and packed with action. Using nature as a backdrop, Barron's take on Arthurian myth wields a very strong message of hope, peace, and love.”
—Jessica Wood, Northshire Bookstore

“The Great Tree of Avalon is a wonderful beginning to a new fantasy adventure for readers of any age. …The final confrontation is riveting, and the entire book is a page-turner, something more akin to mysteries than fantasy novels. I highly encourage readers of any age to give it a try. [Then] treat yourself to the five books in The Lost Years of Merlin series: You will not be disappointed.”
—Wolf Moon Press

“Am I living in harmony with our world or helping to destroy it? This question underlies the work of Colorado novelist T.A. Barron. The Great Tree of Avalon is a loose continuation of his first epic series, The Lost Years of Merlin. Barron once again combines an intricate, rich story, complex characters, and breathtaking magical worlds with underlying themes of conservation and environmentalism—themes about which he is most passionate.”
—San Antonio Express-News

“Barron's reimagined Avalon, spread out over the seven roots of the Great Tree grown by Merlin, is both richly conceived and imaginatively drawn: history, lore, topography, and diverse populations are all accounted for. The characters are compelling in their personalities and motivations, and their true natures are in some cases purposely left unclear…. This high fantasy will surely please readers with its epic, myth-laden adventure.”
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“The Great Tree of Avalon is a tale of mythic proportions. This is a fantasy, a genre that T.A. Barron excels in. Barron likens Avalon to a great tree with many branches, each different in surroundings and inhabitants. You'll find fairies, ghoulacas, eagle folk, and other imaginative creatures within Avalon. Barron has the capacity to write humor into dangerous circumstances. Another Barron touch uses a Shakespearean device. Individual actions affect the whole universe. Here again, we humans are beginning to appreciate such an idea. Barron's goal is evident: He defines Avalon as ‘the one world where humans and all other creatures can live freely together.' That's a myth to bring to the attention of the world.”
—The Huntsville, Alabama Times

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