Viking Ships at Sunrise is the fifteenth installment in the Magic Tree House series. The book is preceded by Day of the Dragon King and succeeded by Hour of the Olympics. It is the third book in the Mystery of the Lost Stories arc.
Synopsis[]
The magic tree house takes Jack and Annie back to a monastery in medieval Ireland, where they try to retrieve a lost book while being menaced by Viking raiders.
Chapters[]
- Before Dawn
- The Steep Climb
- Brother Patrick
- Books of Wonder
- Warships on the Waves
- The Vikings Are Coming
- Fogbound
- Lost at Sea
- Sea Monster
- Sunrise
Plot[]
At 5 A.M., Jack and Annie left for the Magic Tree House ready to go to ancient Ireland. There, Morgan le Fay told them that they must find a book entitled “Serpens Magna” (Latin for large snake) during the Dark Ages. She explained that after the Roman Empire fell, people had to work hard just to survive, there was not time for relaxation or growth. She also reminded that that the story must be used only in their darkest hour, or else it won’t come, and to show their library cards to the wisest person they meet.
Upon their arrival on a cliff near the ocean on an island off the coast of Ireland, Jack and Annie have different clothes. Jack read that Irish monks were able preserve learning and culture in the Dark Ages to keep civilization alive. They climbed a rope on top of the cliff, when suddenly, a monk appeared accusing them of being invaders. His name was Brother Patrick, the two showed him their library cards. He explained that Viking raiders who come in their serpent ships and take them as slaves, but they’re not good at sailing before daylight. When they showed him “Serpens Magna”, he decided to take them to his monastery.
There was a church, food making areas, and stone huts. One hut is the library where they study and make books about stories and myths from storytellers. He introduces them to Brother Michael. Who’s using goose quill pens to write on sheep skin and earth and plants for paint. This was “Serpens Magna”, the story that Jack and Annie were looking for! Unfortunately, they couldn’t take it yet as Brother Michael hadn’t finished it yet. So, after joining them for their sunrise prayers, the two decided to just leave without it. However, on their way back to the treehouse, Jack saw a ship with a serpent prow in the distance!
The sea serpent, Sarph, after pushing Jack and Annie to land.
Vikings were headed straight for the island. The kids quickly warned the other monks, who gathered the books and hid in a cave on the other side of the island. Brother Patrick also told them of a secret path between two rocks so they could avoid the Vikings. Brother Michael then gave them his unfinished story, not wanting it to be completely destroyed. At the end of the path was a Viking ship, since Vikings were closing in nearby, they decided to hide in it. The ship slid out to sea, but it drifted so far away from the island, and it was very misty. At first, the kids managed to control the ship by rowing, but they a storm hit and a huge wave appeared. Realizing it was their darkest hour, suddenly a giant sea serpent appeared. It pushed them back to shore before diving back into the sea. They managed to travel back to Frog Creek quickly just as two more Vikings spotted them.
Back home, Jack handed the jeweled book of Brother Michael to Morgan. Sadly, she was aware that he was unable to finish it just like many other stories that only have surviving bits. This one was an ancient tale about Sarph, a great serpent, she explained that monsters can still be good. She also added that Vikings eventually settled down and added to civilization. It was time for Jack and Annie to go home, in two weeks they will head for Ancient Greece for one last lost book.