484:, gives two themes for the book. The first speaks of the possibility of magical happenings in the real world. Though Jenny at first refuses to imagine that Peter's talk of visions could be true, other characters are not so certain. Mr. Evans the farmer maintains that there are "things as can't be explained", despite the skepticism of his family. Later in the story Jenny visits Professor Rhys and tells him about Peter's visions, hoping he will give her a reasonable explanation for them. Instead he shocks her by admitting he believes magical occurrences are possible and superstitions may be rooted in facts, saying "the more I learn the less I know... Why should there not be forces we do not understand?" The second theme Hunt mentions is that people's lives form patterns, sometimes woven together so that the actions of one may affect another's, even centuries apart, as Peter returning Taliesin's key brings peace to both of them.
371:'s life was a good way to introduce Welsh history into the story. Because he was already associated with the area she was writing about and his presence helped convey a sense of the country's age to her American reading audience, she chose to use him as her link to Wales' past. She needed a talisman to trigger the fantasy sections of the story, and when she read that harp keys are essential for tuning she knew she had found an object she could use in the book. The visions the key brings to Peter and the others tie the various elements of the story together.
348:
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363:. She drew closely on her experiences and reactions to write the book, saying "the American family notices and adjusts to the same things I did". She did not intend to write a fantasy. "I consider myself a realistic kind of person, and it really surprised me in many ways that the first book I should write would be a fantasy." According to Elizabeth Briggs in
469:
And Honor Books, 1977-1994", Judith Kinman calls Jenny's taking over running the house after her mother's death sexist, and says it makes the book difficult to recommend to young readers. She also cites Jenny's belief that she should be able to mediate between her father and brother as an example of stereotyping a girl's role as caregiver.
27:
472:
Though Mr. Morgan is a university professor, Peter grumbles constantly about school and the irrelevant facts he feels forced to learn, including Welsh. Jenny is allowed to stay in Wales and miss a year of school though she does do some reading and keeps a journal. Thus, according to Ann
Hildebrand in
216:
and with the two younger children is living in a nearby seaside village. Jen is dismayed to find their home cold and uncomfortable, her brother and sister unhappy, and their father ignoring them. She eventually convinces her father to let her remain with the family in Wales instead of finishing high
468:
Jenny is frustrated with her father's attitude toward Peter but she accepts his ineffectual parenting with little protest, and stays in Wales to take care of the house and her family, even though this means she will miss at least one year of high school. Writing in "A Guide to
Newbery Medal Winners
456:
a "story of friendship and family problems". The difficulties between Peter and his father, and the entire family's attempts to cope with their grief over their mother's death, form the core of the novel. Their problems, and their struggle to accept the changes that entails, form the core of the
540:
praised the descriptions of the Welsh country and weather and the likability of the characters. Kirkus also appreciated that Bond managed to avoid any excesses of the typical
Arthurian fantasy, keeping the family's growth and emotional healing as the focus. Elleman reported some reviewers have
406:
an unusual form of the "Junior-Year-Abroad type of fantasy" because the children observe
Taliesin and his world but never fully enter it. Another element that sets the novel apart from other time-travel books is the strong sense of realism that helps make her time-travel story convincing.
192:
that gives him vivid visions of the past. This well-received novel is an unusual time travel story, with its focus on the emotional pain and separation the
Morgans experience after the death of their mother and the gradual healing they find through their experiences.
239:
gets wind of the key's existence and tries to obtain it for the museum. However, Peter becomes convinced that the key should instead be returned to
Taliesin. At the end of the story, Peter manages to find Taliesin's secret grave and return the key.
209:. Mrs. Morgan passes away before the start of the novel, leaving her family in Wales. The novel opens a year after her death as the older daughter Jen is flying from America to Wales to join her family for Christmas.
220:
Peter Morgan, who dislikes living in Wales, becomes fascinated by a mysterious object that he found by the shore. He finds out that it is a harp-tuning key that once belonged to the Celtic bard
224:. The key has a subtle magical power that enables Peter to see visions of Taliesin's life. Soon it is not only Peter who is seeing visions, and the whole family witnesses an ancient battle on
441:
also compared the two writers, but felt that Bond's book emphasized family more than Cooper's, and that Bond used her magic as a way of bringing about growth in the Morgan's lives.
378:, of the 6th Century. The details of his life are sketchy and come only from his own poetry, so Bond filled in specific elements to suit her story. As mentioned in the book,
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477:, Bond's book reinforces the idea that school is an unpleasant necessity that keeps a child from more enjoyable and meaningful activities.
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school in
America. To supplement the lack of a traditional education, her father gives her challenging reading assignments.
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book. University professor, author and folklore expert C. W. Sullivan said that "without the traditional Welsh materials,
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does mean 'Taliesins' grave', but his actual burial site is unknown. Although later mythology places him in the court of
367:, non-Welsh authors use Welsh mythology in their books to develop a sense of fantasy and unreality. But Bond found using
938:
Welsh
Mythology and Folklore in Popular Culture: Essays on Adaptations in Literature, Film, Television and Digital Media
496:
351:
This
Scottish clàrsach, now in the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, is one of only three surviving medieval Gaelic harps.
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while looking for a job after returning to the United States from a year in graduate school studying librarianship in
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Gladys Hunt tells teens "you may find this to be one of the most satisfying books of fantasy you have ever read".
386:, Bond wanted Taliesin to appear as real as possible, to help ground the fantasy sections of the book in reality.
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435:, says Bond and Cooper "use the intrusion of the supernatural into everyday life as both threat and challenge".
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784:. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: University of Chicago. Center for Children's Books. p. 52.
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188:. It tells of the American Morgan family who temporarily move to Wales, where Peter Morgan finds a magical
205:. The Morgan family originally settled in Wales at the behest of Mrs. Morgan, who wanted to relocate from
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228:, although they do not realize what is happening. A she-wolf is caught in a hunt, despite their being
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Rhian Evans, a Welsh schoolfriend of Becky's, who lives on a sheep farm in the hills with her family.
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Gwilym Davies, her schoolboy son, a keen birdwatcher who becomes friends with the Morgan children.
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received a
Newbery Honor award for 1977. It also won the 1977 International Reading Association
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received the Tir na n-Og Award in 1977, as of 1995 it still had not been published in Britain.
326:
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Mrs. Davies, the Morgans' English-born neighbor and daily help, who runs a bed and breakfast.
256:. Other scenes are set in contemporary Aberystwyth and Cardiff and in sixth-century Britain.
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criticized the length of the book, but feels those who finish it will find it memorable. In
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Conscientious Use: Welsh Celtic Myth and Legend in Fantastic Fiction by C. W. Sullivan III
8:
512:
633:
1263:
1164:
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1025:"The Dreary Time: The Ethos of School in Award-Winning Fiction for Children, 1960-1980"
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The Newbery Companion: Booktalk and Related Materials for Newbery Medal and Honor Books
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David Morgan, a university teacher of English, widowed father of Jen, Peter, and Becky.
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for the best book written in English with "an authentic Welsh background". Though
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The Influence of the Mabinogi on Modern Fantasy Literature by C. W. Sullivan III
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634:"Taliesin's Successors: Interviews with Authors of Modern Arthurian Literature"
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The Dreary Time: The Ethos of School in Award-Winning Fiction for Children
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Words and Pictures : Lessons in Children's Literature and Literacies
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The Openess of Myth: The Arthurian Tradition in the Middle Ages and Today
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The novel is about the American Morgan family and their experiences in
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Adler, Emily Stier (Fall 1982). "Family Life in children's Books".
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Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales
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Readers In Wonderland: The Liberating Worlds Of Fantasy Fiction
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999:"A Guide to Newbery Medal Winners And Honor Books, 1977-1994"
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International Companion Encyclopedia Of Children's Literature
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International Companion Encyclopedia Of Children's Literature
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653:"On the Inside Looking In: Contemporary Anglo-Welsh Fantasy"
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International Book Publishing: An Encyclopedia Front Cover
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On the Inside Looking In: Contemporary Anglo-Welsh Fantasy
212:
Mr. Morgan has taken a temporary teaching position at the
757:. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 102.
1109:
Fifth Book of Junior Authors & Illustrators, vol. 5
1338:"The Harp and the Celtic Mystique in the Middle Ages"
887:"Children's Literature Reviews: A String in the Harp"
423:. Both writers produced novels in the 1970s based on
1004:. Education Resources Information Center. p. 13
552:
534:received positive reviews from major publications.
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461:would be just another adolescent problem novel".
1358:
1216:"Publishers Weekly Review: A String in the Harp"
835:A Century of Welsh Myth in Children's Literature
286:Dr. Gwyn Rhys, Director of Welsh Studies at the
513:Welsh National Centre for Children's Literature
1265:Read for Your Life: Turning Teens Into Readers
651:Briggs, Elizabeth L. Pandolfo (January 1999).
1142:
1123:"Book Awards: A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book"
265:Jennifer Morgan, a 15-year-old American girl
180:first published in 1976. It received a 1977
1149:Children's Literature Association Quarterly
1029:Children's Literature Association Quarterly
838:. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 122.
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307:Taliesin, a Welsh bard of the sixth century
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730:. Königshausen & Neumann. p. 36.
316:Elphin Rheged, Taliesin's pupil, a son of
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501:American Library Association Notable Book
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703:. Genealogical Publishing. p. 152.
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313:, a bard, Taliesin's companion and guide
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1023:Hildebrand, Ann Meinzen (Summer 1986).
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1242:"Kirkus Reviews: A String in the Harp"
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268:Peter Morgan, her 12-year-old brother
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1194:. Taylor & Francis. p. 21.
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914:. Libraries Unlimited. p. 322.
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271:Becky Morgan, her 10-year-old sister
1143:Sullivan III, C. W. (Spring 1986).
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511:named it a Best Book for 1977. The
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1417:Children's books about time travel
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14:
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1145:"Nancy Bond and Welsh Traditions"
505:Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
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1285:a string in the harp nancy bond.
1188:Altbach, Philip G., ed. (1995).
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374:Taliesin was a British poet, or
1342:Exploring the World of the Harp
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908:Gillespie, John Thomas (2001).
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616:. St. James Press. p. 113.
614:20th Century Children's Writers
290:, David's friend and colleague.
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329:, Taliesin's patron and friend
1:
1412:Children's books set in Wales
1107:Holtze, Sally Holmes (1983).
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342:
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935:Becker, Audrey, ed. (2011).
811:. McGraw-Hill. p. 222.
563:Children's literature portal
398:fantasy, Deborah O'Keefe in
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1392:Newbery Honor-winning works
548:
420:The Dark Is Rising Sequence
10:
1433:
1377:American children's novels
964:Family and Economic Issues
640:. University of Rochester.
243:
1372:Children's fantasy novels
941:. McFarland. p. 15.
859:Hunt, Peter, ed. (1996).
778:Sutherland, Zena (1973).
751:O'Keefe, Deborah (2004).
724:Dentzien, Nicole (2004).
638:Interview with Nancy Bond
612:Chevalier, Tracy (1989).
584:The Chronicles of Prydain
578:National Library of Wales
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288:University of Aberystwyth
252:, a coastal village near
248:The principal setting is
214:University of Aberystwyth
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1382:Novels about time travel
1306:catalog) — first edition
865:. Taylor & Francis.
832:White, Donna R. (1998).
805:Mikkelsen, Nina (2000).
781:Best in Children's Books
697:Nichols, Thomas (1991).
657:The Lion and the Unicorn
417:'s contemporary fantasy
16:1976 novel by Nancy Bond
1269:. Zondervan. pp.
431:. Louisa Smith in the
352:
134:1977
128:1977
1397:1976 children's books
1314:title listing at the
1261:Hunt, Gladys (1992).
669:10.1353/uni.1999.0014
497:Children's Book Award
450:The Newbery Companion
438:Children's Literature
413:has been compared to
400:Readers in Wonderland
350:
293:Dr. John Owen of the
20:A String in the Harp
1407:Atheneum Books books
1367:1976 American novels
1311:A String in the Harp
1300:A String in the Harp
1074:A String in the Harp
1072:Bond, Nancy (1987).
532:A String in the Harp
525:A String in the Harp
517:A String in the Harp
493:A String in the Harp
466:A String in the Harp
459:A String in the Harp
454:A String in the Harp
411:A String in the Harp
404:A String in the Harp
357:A String in the Harp
184:award and the Welsh
169:A String in the Harp
1387:Novels set in Wales
632:Thompson, Raymond.
31:First edition cover
21:
1161:10.1353/chq.0.0477
1041:10.1353/chq.0.0261
997:Kinman, Judith R.
976:10.1007/bf01083284
889:. Barnes and Noble
543:Read for Your Life
530:Along with awards
509:Horn Book Magazine
488:Critical reception
482:Read for Your Life
353:
72:Children's Fantasy
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1402:1976 debut novels
1220:Publishers Weekly
521:Tir na n-Og Award
235:John Owen of the
186:Tir na n-Og Award
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254:Aberystwyth
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45:Illustrator
1361:Categories
1247:2012-06-12
1174:2012-06-10
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591:References
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343:Background
335:, king of
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260:Characters
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