The Lost Years of Merlin, by T. A. Barron

Another successful foray into the young adult reading section. This is a sweet book about the Arthurian legend of Merlin covering his younger years, well before his involvement in the Camelot tragedy. It's a fun read permeated with good natured messages for those times in life when one is plagued by wavering self-confidence, (hopefully one's teenage years only) and issues of displacement. Pep-talk aside, it's a fun read that should satisfy fantasy lovers. If you're young enough at heart to enjoy Harry Potter books, you may find this very enjoyable. The author does a good job at character development and at keeping the story at an exciting pace.