The Castle in the Attic is a children's fantasy novel by Elizabeth Winthrop

Elizabeth Winthrop

Elizabeth Winthrop is a female author whose work is largely children's fiction. She is the daughter of Stewart Alsop and currently resides in New York CityHer book The Castle in the Attic was awarded the 1987 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award...

, first published in 1985. The novel has won the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award

The Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award is an annual award for new American children's books, given in Vermont and named after Vermont author Dorothy Canfield Fisher. The winning book is chosen by the vote of Vermont schoolchildren....

 and the California Young Reader Medal

California Young Reader Medal

The California Young Reader Medal is an award given annually to books nominated and voted on by children in California. The medal was established in 1974 and encourages recreational reading...

. It has also been nominated for twenty-three state book awards.

Plot summary

William is given a realistic model of a castle by the housekeeper, who tells him that it has been in her family for many years and that its silver knight is said to be under a spell. The silver knight, Sir Simon, comes to life and tells William stories about olden times. They enter the castle and find themselves in the Middle Ages

Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...

. They go together on a quest against a dragon and an evil wizard.

Educational uses

Jennifer Hadlock writing for Teacher Link said "This book can be used effectively to teach a unit on the Middle Ages. It is a great book for teaching about the architecture of the time period with its descriptions of castles and the surrounding territory. The issue of how an effective ruler should govern the country, as well as the rules which govern society, can be taught. The book also has an underlying theme of overcoming fears so this would also be good to address".

Carol Otis Hurst writing for Teaching K-8 Magazine said, "The fantasy must be grounded in reality in order for us to "get into it". Sometimes the author accomplishes this with attention to detail, sometimes by showing us the real world that surrounds the magic, sometimes by giving us very believable characters. Which techniques did Elizabeth Winthrop use? When, if ever, did she stretch your credulity too far?"