Legendborn

Sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews joins a residential program at UNC Chapel Hill to escape the memory of her mother's fatal accident. On her first night, she witnesses a magical attack and discovers the Legendborn, a secret society of students who are the literal descendants of King Arthur and his knights. As Bree attempts to infiltrate the group to uncover the truth about her mother's death, she finds herself caught between two worlds: the 'Bloodcraft' magic of the Arthurian nobles and 'Root,' a different form of magic tied to her own Black heritage. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals directly and profoundly with grief, death, and the book depicts instances of racial profiling by campus security and microaggressions within the Legendborn society. The approach is both literal (investigating a death) and metaphorical (the weight of ancestral history). It addresses the violent history of slavery in the American South with unflinching honesty. The resolution is empowering but recognizes that healing is a continuous process. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins in a heavy state of mourning and isolation. It builds into a high-tension mystery and action-thriller, ultimately landing on a note of reclaimed identity and ancestral pride. IDEAL READER: A high schooler who loves epic fantasy like Percy Jackson but is ready for more mature themes regarding the impact of institutional bias and the challenges of navigating predominantly white spaces while facing microaggressions and prejudice. PARENT TRIGGER: A parent might notice their child asking difficult questions about the history of slavery and its ongoing impact on society, or expressing frustration with the lack of representation of Black voices in historical narratives. PARENT PREP: Parents should be aware of scenes involving memory manipulation and descriptions of demons feeding on human energy. The book can be read cold, but discussing the historical context of slavery, segregation, and racial injustice in the American South will add depth and provide opportunities to explore the book's themes of systemic racism and ancestral trauma. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger teens will focus on the magic system and the romantic tension between Bree, Nick, and Sel. Older readers will more deeply appreciate the commentary on how history is written by the victors. DIFFERENTIATOR: This isn't just another Arthurian retelling: it offers a fresh perspective by exploring themes of Black identity, Southern history, and ancestral power within a legendary framework. ```