The letter for the king - Tonke Dragt

Tonke Dragt was born in Jakarta in 1930 and spent most of her childhood in Indonesia. When she was twelve, she was interned in a camp run by the Japanese occupiers, where she wrote (with a friend) her very first book using begged and borrowed paper. Her family moved to the Netherlands after the war and, after studying at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, Dragt became an art teacher. She published her first book in 1961, followed a year later by The Letter for the King, which won the Children's Book of the Year award and has been translated into sixteen languages. Dragt was awarded the State Prize for Youth Literature in 1976 and was knighted in 2001.

"Dragt conjures up elements of Tolkien and the Arthurian mythos... the rich language, lush descriptions, and sense of wonder allow it to hold its own against any competitor." - Publishers Weekly

"Readers will be enchanted by its timeless sense of wonder and adventure. This hero's journey evokes a legend in the making, and Tiuri embodies the classic knightly ideals of honor, valor, and chivalry." -Booklist

"The English translation of a prizewinning 1962 Dutch historical adventure exhibits... old-school charms." - Kirkus

"The characters are appealing and the action will keep readers engaged." - School Library Journal

"A true page-turner." - Sunday Times (UK)

"A thrilling, page-turning tale... My 10- and 11-year-old were both gripped." - Telegraph (UK)