The Legend of Tarik

by Walter Dean Myers

After witnessing the annihilation of his people by El Muerte's legions, young Tarik undergoes the training which will enable him to destroy this fierce leader.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

pseudonyms:
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson

Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.

After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.

Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.

In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.

Reviews

[Tm Mu'ir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll have to upload the beautiful hard back cover sleeve to this book. My father gave me this book as boy because the hero is my namesake. I read the book a few times over the years and it never loses its magic. The story is classical martial arts style avenger tale but set in a medieval era of Spain. in which the sole survivor of a brutal massacre is adopted by an unconventional household of individuals whos lives have also been wounded by an evil warlord. A wizened old man who has known the arts of fighting and sorcery and wants to see the evil vanquished..tests the boy to become a warrior but first a man. The adventure plays out like a real life chronicle in a rugged world touched by enchantment and curses. Tarik must grow as a person and challenge the very nature of his quest as fate has given him a chance to confront his enemy but is it a chance for vengeance or a chance to free the world from evil? The difference could be life or death for Tarik and his allies. Allies the seer who adopted him insists he must gather to even confront his enemy. The supporting cast of this adventure are epic in themselves as Tarik seeks them out but finds them to be challenges themselves he must tame. The world grows more wounded with each passing hour that the enemy is not overthrown, and the story is as much a depiction of tyranny as it is an enchanted quest...I'm finding that these fantasies set in Spain and Africa have a slightly different style and flow about them than our usual English medieval sagas, and while The Legend of Tarik was my first encounter with that strange and realistically enchanted, breezier,somewhat darker more ancient feeling atmosphere, I think it still is the best example that I've read. As I alluded before it has re-read value, and actually it should be adapted to film immediately. People who like this should also read the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho..if you read both books you'll understand the connection. Although the protagonists are two different sorts of adventurers, its as if they could have been the same boy or brothers had tragic events not altered one of their destinies..well going to read the book again now, enjoy!

[Joe Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is really hard to write a review of this book, as I read it over 20 years ago and lost my copy shortly afterward. It made a huge impression at the time, and changed the way I thought about fantasy fiction.

There are still images from it stuck in my head, and I have a vague recollection of the general plot but most of the details are gone.
I would love to read this again If I find it and see how it holds up, but I have to rate it this high due to the amount that it affected me at the time.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The quintessential adventure story - Tarik's family is taken from their home by Spanish invaders. After watching the brutal murder of his father in an arena, Tarik's quest begins.

I revisited this book to see if it holds up to my younger memory of it, and it absolutely does. This needs to be a short-run TV show. It's perfect for 4-7 hours of television and full of wisdom, insight, and action sequences that would translate beautifully to the screen.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid fantasy story! A young man gains strength in body and mind, gets a sword, a horse, a few friends, and avenges his people. Fantasy could use more explicitly black protagonists, even if they are just running through the same old narratives as ever.

[Javelin Hands · Rating 3 out of 5]

i totally forgot about this book until it suddenly popped into my head today. i remember being surprised by how much i liked this book when i was a kid.

[Dru83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book a long time ago as an end of the school year present from my fourth grade teacher. I have read it quite a few times since then and have recently reread it. It is the story that got me interested in fantasy stories. At it's core, it's a tale of revenge and what it costs. Tarik lived a happy life with his family until the warlord El Muerte came to their city and killed and enslaved it's population. Tarik was the only one to survive El Muerte's fighting arena after watching his father slaughtered by El Muerte himself. Tarik is brought back to health by the one handed priest Docao and the blind scholar Nongo. They teach Tarik how to control his anger, how to observe his surroundings, and how to wield a sword. Together with his new friends Stria and Capa, Tarik sets out to stop El Muerte.

[Lisa Herrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in 7th grade. Thank you Goodreads for making it so easy to find a title you have long forgotten. It says a lot when a book has been on your mind for decades....forgetting the title is of course my fault entirely.The coliseum scene has been my go to calming vision for years.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was action packed and exciting at times, but the main plot was not very detailed nor intricate. I could easily sum up the entire story within two sentences.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the plot is fairly predictable and at times so fanciful it seems like the author as trying too hard, this was a thoroughly adventurous tale. Easy reading, so it's a no-stress escape.

[Mattbyars · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read in its entirety. I think I was in the third grade. I can't say for certain, but I think it began my love of reading.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Walter Dean Myers wrote an amazing book.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember too much but when I read this as a middle schooler I really liked it.