Duncan of Pigweed Manor: Coming of Age in a Time of Turmoil

Duncan is a classic-part fable, part allegory, part fairytale-of good triumphing over evil. Ten-year-old Duncan is on a journey-internally and externally-from dependent child to young adult, coming to realize he has power in his world and over his destiny. He lives in a tumbled down castle, Pigweed Manor, with his animal friends. They are all, unbeknownst to themselves, under a spell cast by the wicked witch, Ogwen, who believes that evil is more powerful than good, and is actively trying to finish off the ’goody-goodies’ at the castle. Duncan learns from an inscription on a statue that, to save his home and friends, he must travel to The Land Beyond The Rising Sun, where evil lurks. Reuben, a bear and Duncan’s beloved mentor, tries to teach the boy as much as he can to prepare him for this dangerous trip, but Reuben dies before finishing his task. His last lesson urges Duncan to learn from whomever he meets along the way, good or bad, because there is something to be learned from everyone. In the end, Duncan saves his world but, by breaking the spell, everything in his life changes. These dramatic changes thrill Duncan even as they overwhelm him. He visits Reuben’s grave to pour out his confusion, begging him to come back and help him. From beyond the grave, Reuben offers his last piece of universal wisdom that will sustain Duncan forever.