What kind of adventure begins in the living room on a rainy Monday
afternoon? It depends. Say you just found out that Granny, who raised
you, is going to lose her house because there's nothing valuable left to
sell except an unfinished tapestry. And say that your pet blackbird Mead
starts talking and swells up to the size of large motorcycle, and that
you suddenly find yourself on his back falling into what you could have
sworn was just an old rug covered with pictures of knights galloping
through forests. If that's your situation, then this adventure could be
weirder, scarier, and more amazing than anything you ever imagined. Time
and the Tapestry tells the story of a 13 year old, would-be artist Jen
and her not-quite-as-nerdy-as-he used-to-be- 10 year old brother Ed.
They find themselves adrift in 19th century England, unable to make
their way back home until they've gathered the missing pieces to make
that tapestry whole. It's great that they can ride on Mead's back. But
not so great that his feathers are falling off, too fast to count. Great
that they keep meeting up with the rugmaker himself, Jen's hero, British
radical William Morris. But not so great that he always seems to be
yelling at somebody or tossing something at them. Great that as they
travel from London to Oxford to Iceland, they begin to figure out a way
to save the Tapestry (and Granny's house along with it). But downright
terrifying that Mead's going to be grounded soon, leaving them trapped
with Morris and his wacky daughter May in a Victorian London that may be
filled with cranky artists and loveable animals, but....it's a long long
way from home. The scenes set in Canterbury, Oxford, the English
countryside, Trafalgar Square, Iceland, and Boston will enchant those
drawn to the tapestry of history. Along with its magnificently detailed
illustrations, this expertly woven tale threads together the best of
classical fantasy with a tale of modern-day adventure that will
captivate readers of all ages. First-time children's book author John
Plotz--who's spent years studying, teaching, and dreaming about William
Morris--brings the story of Arts and Crafts to life with a yarn about a
world where the power of imagination may just be strong enough to bring
dragons, flying birds and enchanted books to life.
