Legendborn

Deonn, T. (2020). Legendborn. Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Genre: YA Fantasy

    The book begins with Bree Matthews and her father being told of her mother's death in a car accident. A few months later she attends UNC Chapel Hill’s early college program with her best friend, Alice. Within the first few days, Bree witnesses, monster attacks, has her memory erased twice, and the memory erasure fails both times. Her peer mentor, Nick, introduces Bree to the Order of the Round Table and the magic that surrounds it. Bree begins to remember the mysterious feeling of her mother's desk and intends to join the Order to investigate it. Meanwhile, Bree must also attend therapy sessions with another magic user who knew her mother when she was a student at UNC. Her investigations and talks with her therapist reveal that the Order is not what they seem.

    The diversity discussed in this book is racial diversity. Bree often faces racism from members of the Order, the police who take her home, and even other teens competing in the same tournament. Although much of the magic in Legendborn is inspired by the British tale of King Author, Tracy Deonn, in her author's note, shows that Rootcraft, a form of magic used by Bree's ancestors, is derived from Rootwork. Rootwork is a practice that has origins from enslaved Africans in America.