The Bark Of The Bog Owl (The Wilderking Trilogy) [Hardcover]

Jonathan Rogers (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Wilderking Trilogy

Twelve-year-old Aidan Errolson comes from a long line of adventurers. His grandparents were among the first settlers of Corenwald’s Eastern Frontier. His father had been one of the kingdom’s greatest warriors. Aidan, on the other hand, lives the quiet, comfortable life of a nobleman’s son. He never has any real adventures, and that, he believes, is the one great injustice of his otherwise happy life. All that will change the day he first hears the bark of the bog owl and meets Dobro Turtlebane. Dobro is one of the feechiefolk—a tribe of half-civilized swamp dwellers who fight too much, laugh too loud, cry too easily, and smell just terrible. But another meeting on that remarkable day may change Aidan’s life even more profoundly. Bayard the Truthspeaker arrives with a startling pronouncement: Aidan Errolson will grow to be the Wilderking—the long-prophesied wild man who will come out of Corenwald’s forests and swamps to lead the kingdom back to its former glory. There’s just one question: Is Bayard the Truthspeaker a prophet or a madman? This initial installment in The Wilderking Trilogy is sure to capture the hearts of young and old, boys and girls alike. Written in the same fashion as The Lord of the Rings or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Bark of the Bog Owl, as the author says, will help “direct a God-fearing boy’s sense of adventure and warrior spirit – his God-given wildness.”

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rogers takes biblical fiction to a new level in an imaginative fantasy rendition of the story of King David that both enchants and entertains. Young Aidan Errolson of Longleaf Manor longs to be a warrior and adventurer in the service of King Darrow of Corenwald, but instead, the 12-year-old boy spends his days tending sheep on his father's vast estate. Adventure beckons when he befriends one of the "feechiefolk," Dobro Turtlebane of the Tam, a member of a wild nomadic tribe that travels the rivers and swamps. Bayard the Truthspeaker, Corenwald's greatest prophet, is confident that Aidan is the Wilderking, "From the land's wildest places a wild man will come/To give the land back to her people." But many of the once valiant men of Corenwald have become complacent and tame, and when the Pyrthen Empire challenges Corenwald to send a champion to duel with their giant, only Aidan has enough trust in God to accept. With his help, Corenwald might regain its wild adventurous spirit so good can triumph. Readers familiar with the biblical narrative will know where the plot is headed, but the unusual settings and characters keep the surprises coming, while Rogers's lovely descriptions and distinctive voice keep the pages turning. Faith fiction readers of all ages should enjoy this first installment in the trilogy.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6 - Twelve-year-old Aidan, the youngest son of Lord Errol of Longleaf Manor, is sure he is meant for greater things than keeping sheep. After all, he survived a tangle with a feechiefolk boy named Dobro Turtlebane and together they killed a rampaging panther. The prophet Bayard agrees, proclaiming him the future Wilderking, despite the jeers of his older brothers and the concern of his father, who is loyal to the Corenwald king. This is forgotten when the clan is invited to a treaty feast, celebrating a pact between their kingdom and their long-time enemy, the idol-worshiping Pyrthen Empire. It quickly becomes apparent that the treaty is little more than a scheme to conquer Corenwald, and Aidan's brothers head off to war. After a series of wild adventures with the feechiefolk, Aidan joins his siblings, battles a giant, and leads a covert operation to blow up the Pyrthens' secret weapon. At the same time, mention of the "One God" goes into overdrive, the battle between the giant and Aidan begins to sound a lot like the story of David and Goliath, and the Biblical overtones can no longer be ignored. Yes, this is Christian fantasy, but the emphasis is definitely on the fantasy. Roger's writing is terrifically appealing. Aidan is a treat, and secondary characters are (except for the king) believable. The adventure and the humor are first rate. Fans of "Narnia" will find this just to their taste, and will look forward to future installments. - Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: B&H Fiction (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805431314
• ISBN-13: 978-0805431315
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #75 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Royalty

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reading for Teens and Pre-Teens, February 21, 2006

By 

Warren Kelly (Southern Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bark Of The Bog Owl (The Wilderking Trilogy) (Hardcover)

There is a distinct lack of good fiction geared toward young people, specifically ages 10-14. Harry Potter isn't an option for some families. Artemis Fowl isn't nearly as well-known (which is unfortunate).

Now there's another option. Jonathan Rogers has written The Wilderking Trilogy, and offers us a series for young readers that is fun, exciting, and based on Christian ideals and principles.

Book 1, The Bark of the Bog Owl, was actually released back in 2004. The premise is familiar to Christians -- a young boy, Aiden Errolson, tending his father's sheep, is chosen by a mysterious prophet to be the next King -- the Wilderking, who comes to lead his people back to prominence in the world, and to reclaim the traditional ideals that the people have forgotten.

The only real weakness in this first book is that the main plot is far too predictable. Once I read that Aiden was a shepherd, I had a feeling that this would be the story of King David retold. Then the Phillist -- I mean, the Pyrthens -- show up with their "peace treaty," which leads to war. Then Aiden goes to his brothers at the front carrying cheese and other food. And guess what? There's this giant ...

That said, I really enjoyed this book. The subplots involving the aboriginal "feechies" is very enjoyable, especially the Feechiefeast that Aiden enjoys. The characters are familiar, but still deep. It's going to be interesting to see Aiden mature over the course of the next two books, and it's a relief to read about a boy who is actually boyish -- he likes to roam, play, and have adventures. He's a twelve-year-old who writes to the King volunteering his services as "an adventurer." And suddenly, he's got a huge responsibility dropped on him. He reacts the way any normal kid would react.

Rogers has a Ph.D in 17th Century English Lit, but this book reads as if he'd spent his academic career studying 18th Century American literature instead. The differences in dialect between feechie and 'civilizer' are distinct, American dialects, and the setting certainly reminds me of the American southeast -- fitting, since Rogers grew up in Georgia. The series has promise, and after I finished this book I was relieved that I'd gotten the second one to review as well. THAT review will be up in a half hour or so ...

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful!, November 9, 2004

By 

Sally Apokedak (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Bark Of The Bog Owl (The Wilderking Trilogy) (Hardcover)

Three cheers for Jonathan Rogers and Broadman and Holman.

Where to begin my praise for this book?

First of all there is a boy who is all boy--rough and tumble and longing for adventure. This is a boy who calls to our innermost beings, urging us to be good and noble and true without being stodgy and stiff and stuck-up. Aidan delights us with his humility, his appetite for fun, his courage, and his steadfast devotion to God and King.

Add to the mix a wild feechie boy--I won't even try to describe him because I can't do him justice. But you are sorely missing out if you don't buy this book and get acquainted with Dobro Turtlebane.

The pace never stills, the story never lags, and the children never stop begging for "just one more" chapter when you read it aloud.

And the children's plea is mine, also. "More, please, Mr. Rogers." I want to go back to the swamps and do some fishing and feasting. I want to follow Aidan to the caves as he flees from his king. I look forward to an honorable, deep love between Aidan and the king's son (I'm thinking Smike and Nicholas Nickleby).

I can't wait to see where this talented writer takes us next. What relationships will be forged, what sacrifices will be made, what honorable service will be rendered, all while we are romping through Aidan's world and laughing with him and loving him?

Not only was the story enthralling and the prose superb, the book came out in hardback with a well-thought-out cover design. Good for Broadman and Holman. The paper quality, the printing, and the pictures were still substandard but those are minor irritations considering the huge leap that this book makes in the Christian publishing industry.

If you or someone you know loves fantasy, buy this book. You will not be disappointed. Like Harry Potter, this one is going to be loved by adults as well as children.

And, no, I've never met the author and I don't work for Broadman and Holman. I just cannot contain my joy at seeing this kind of quality from Christian publishers. Hurray, hurray, hurray. Or perhaps that should read: Haawwweeee!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I was wrong!, October 20, 2006

By 

Barry L. Wallace "barwal" (Sikeston, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bark Of The Bog Owl (The Wilderking Trilogy) (Hardcover)

I wasn't sure when I bought this book if I would like it. The life of David, which forms the basis for the books in this series, is fascinating in its own right. I doubted that a fictional retelling of David's life story would make for very good reading. Was I wrong!

Now, don't misunderstand what I'm saying. This is not biography, and it's certainly not theology; it's fiction, and it's children's literature. But it's GOOD fiction, and GOOD children's literature. Jonathan Rogers knows how to tell a story. His use of language is descriptive and imaginative. The story is at times poignant or deeply moving, and at other times quite humorous. The characters, while perhaps a little predictable, are nevertheless intriguing and a lot of fun (especially Dobro Turtlebane of the Feechiefolk).

I read this out loud to my boys, who are 6 and 13. My 13-year old is an advanced reader, but he loved hearing this book read. In fact, he's pressuring me to get the next book ordered, so I can read it to them. And that's just what I'm off to do.