The Return of the Twelves by Pauline Clarke

It is said that a good fantasy is one in which the story is very believable once you have accepted a few rules of magic or fantasy which operate within the plot.Your spotter.' Does she mean just in gymnastics? Phillips' touch bring wizard to life? Will another's touch bring him to life? Is it because she's an adult? Is it that only one person can bring them to life the way there is only one person who can remove the sword from the stone? For something to ponder: Why doesn't Mrs.What happened to the other knights? How did this one happen to survive?.What could have been the jobs of the people made into lead?.

What objects are passed on in your family?.Alastor's final undoing is the look in the mirror.Which ones did the author use for her plot? Some of the rules of chivalry that Sir Simon teaches William are proved within the story.Could the theme of the book be Sir Simon's words, 'The weapons you need to fight the battle are inside your own heart?' Can you find other statements which might be the theme?.Which techniques did Elizabeth Winthrop use? When, if ever, did she stretch your credulity too far? Sometimes the author accomplishes this with attention to detail, sometimes by showing us the real world that surrounds the magic, sometimes by giving us very believable characters.

The fantasy must be grounded in reality in order for us to 'get into it'.

Phillips aware that her job of raising William is done and with William newly aware of his skills. They bid each other a fond farewell with Mrs. Phillips to her rightful size (and she returns the favor). He defeats Alastor by using his own inner strengths and returns to restore Mrs. William must, in turn, be made small to help Sir Simon win back his kingdom and to regain the respect of Mrs. Phillips from leaving him, William miniaturizes her with a medal which Sir Simon had wrested from Alastor, the wizard who robbed him of his kingdom. The miniature knight, Sir Simon, is alive and enlists William in his fight to regain his kingdom. She also gives him the Silver Knight with instructions to meet him 'on his own'. As a parting gift, she presents William with a detailed and wonderful miniature castle which was her childhood toy.

Phillips, William's governess and friend since the day he was born, is leaving the household to return to her home and family in England. This is a quest fantasy with the added fillip of miniaturization.

The Return of the Twelves by Pauline Clarke