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TA Barron Books in Order

Explore T.A. Barron's books in order, from Merlin and Atlantis to standalones, with short summaries, series guides, and simple ways to choose where to start.

Last updated: July 12, 2026

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TA Barron books in publication order

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28 books

Heartlight

by TA Barron

1990

Kate's beloved grandfather is hiding a secret about light, the human soul, and a danger far bigger than Earth. When he disappears after an otherworldly attack, Kate begins a desperate search across science and mystery.

The Ancient One

by TA Barron

1992

Kate expects a quiet week in Oregon, then stumbles into a fight over a hidden redwood grove. Thrown five hundred years into the past, she must stop Gashra and protect the forest across time.

To Walk in Wilderness

by TA Barron

1993

Part journal and part nature book, this follows a month-long, 200-mile trek through Colorado's Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. Barron pairs close observation with reflections on wildness, hardship, beauty, and the way landscape can change a person.

The Merlin Effect

by TA Barron

1994

Helping her father search a Baja lagoon for a lost Spanish galleon, Kate uncovers an Arthurian relic and a dangerous prophecy. Her quest leads through whirlpools, singing whales, and an undersea world where free will is at stake.

Rocky Mountain National Park

by TA Barron

1995

With words by Barron and images by John Fielder and Enos Mills, this book looks at Rocky Mountain National Park across a century. It blends history, photography, and love for a landscape that still feels remarkably wild.

The Lost Years / The Lost Years of Merlin

by TA Barron

1996

Washed ashore in ancient Wales with no name or memory, young Emrys begins a search for his past. That journey leads him into Fincayra, where his hidden powers and the fate of the land are tightly bound together.

The Seven Songs / The Seven Songs of Merlin

by TA Barron

1997

Hope has returned to Fincayra, but danger strikes Merlin's mother first. To save her, Merlin and Rhia must follow the perilous path of the Seven Songs and face an enemy whose glance can kill.

The Raging Fires / The Fires of Merlin

by TA Barron

1998

The sleeping dragon Wings of Fire has awakened, and all of Fincayra is in danger. Merlin must master his new powers, and the fire inside himself, before the land is consumed.

The Mirror of Fate / The Mirror of Merlin

by TA Barron

1999

As wickedness rises across Fincayra, Merlin travels into haunted places with Hallia and even his own mischievous shadow. At the center of the quest waits a magical mirror that can alter fate, and expose hard truths.

A Wizard's Wings / The Wings of Merlin

by TA Barron

2000

With winter's longest night approaching, Merlin must unite Fincayra against Rhita Gawr while protecting its children from the mysterious Sword Arms. To save his people, he has to recover the long-lost wings tied to their destiny.

Where Is Grandpa?

by TA Barron

2000

On the day his grandfather dies, a young boy keeps asking where Grandpa has gone. This gentle picture book follows his grief, memories, and growing sense that love can remain close even after loss.

Tree Girl

by TA Barron

2001

Anna lives by the sea and longs to learn the truth about her mother and her own beginnings. Her search leads her to the far edge of the wild forest, where answers wait at the High Willow.

The Hero's Trail

by TA Barron

2002

This nonfiction collection profiles heroes of different ages and backgrounds, showing that courage is not limited to famous people. Barron uses their stories to encourage young readers to find the hero within themselves.

High as a Hawk

by TA Barron

2004

Eight-year-old Harriet climbs Colorado's Longs Peak carrying grief for her mother and a fierce need to keep going. Inspired by a real 1905 ascent, it's a mountain story about courage, sorrow, and earning your wings.

Shadows on the Stars

by TA Barron

2005

Peace in Avalon does not last long. Tamwyn, Elli, and Scree are sent on separate quests as Rhita Gawr moves to conquer both Avalon and Earth, forcing them to solve old mysteries and face their own doubts.

The Eternal Flame

by TA Barron

2006

Avalon is under siege by Rhita Gawr, now a wrathful dragon. Tamwyn, Elli, and Scree must survive three huge battles, underground, on the plains, and among the stars, to decide the realm's future.

The Day the Stones Walked

by TA Barron

2007

As his father carves a giant moai on Easter Island, Pico sees disaster racing toward shore. Old stories and a rising tsunami collide in a tale that reimagines one of the world's enduring mysteries.

The Great Tree of Avalon / Child of the Dark Propechy

by TA Barron

2007

A thousand years after Merlin planted the Great Tree, Avalon is hit by droughts, attacks, and a sky gone dark. Tamwyn, Elli, and Scree may be its only hope, though prophecy marks one of them for ruin.

The Dragon of Avalon / Merlin's Dragon

by TA Barron

2008

Basil, a strange little creature with glowing eyes, discovers a threat to Avalon and to Merlin. His quest across the Great Tree and spirit realm forces him to face deep fears, and hints at the dragon he may become.

Doomraga's Revenge

by TA Barron

2009

Basil is no longer small or unnoticed. Now a powerful dragon beside Merlin, he must uncover the hidden cause of wars among dwarves, fire dragons, and faeries before Avalon collapses into chaos.

Ultimate Magic

by TA Barron

2010

Avalon is unraveling, Merlin has vanished, and only Basil may be able to stop the destruction. To save his world, he must track a hidden dark power in the Haunted Marsh and risk losing everything.

Ghost Hands

by TA Barron

2011

Auki longs to prove he is ready for the village's annual hunt, so he slips away at dawn with spear in hand. What he finds instead teaches him more about his people, and himself, than any hunt could.

Merlin: The Book of Magic

by TA Barron

2011

This illustrated companion opens up Merlin's worlds with maps, art, creatures, places, and magical lore. It's a handy guide for readers who want to linger in the saga and see how its many parts fit together.

Atlantis Rising

by TA Barron

2013

Promi, a hungry boy in the magical land of Ellegandia, joins forces with the brave Atlanta. Their attempt to save their homeland pulls them into an ancient war, and may lead to the very creation of Atlantis.

Atlantis in Peril

by TA Barron

2015

Atlantis has been saved once, but Narkazan is back and wants both the island and the spirit realm. Promi and Atlanta face new arrivals, deep-sea magic, and hard choices about what will truly protect their world.

The Wisdom of Merlin

by TA Barron

2015

Barron turns Merlin's wisdom into a short nonfiction guide for everyday life. Built around seven magical words, it invites readers to think about purpose, kindness, courage, and what makes a meaningful life.

Atlantis Lost

by TA Barron

2016

Years after Atlantis rose, the island is becoming an industrial wasteland and its creatures are in peril. Promi races to stop Narkazan's attacks on Atlantis, Earth, and the Starstone before everything he loves is lost.

Giant: The Unlikely Origins of Shim

by TA Barron

2021

In this prequel to the Merlin Saga, young giant Shim knows only peace until a brutal attack shatters his world. Shrunk to a fraction of his size and lost in a deadly swamp, he must survive and recover what he has forgotten.

Where to start with TA Barron

If you want the core Merlin journey: The Lost YearsThe Seven SongsThe Raging FiresThe Mirror of Fate
If you want fantasy outside Arthurian legend: Atlantis RisingAtlantis in PerilAtlantis Lost
If you prefer standalone adventures with heart: The Ancient OneHeartlightThe Merlin Effect
If you're reading with younger kids: Tree GirlHigh as a HawkWhere Is Grandpa?
If you want real-world inspiration: The Hero's TrailThe Wisdom of Merlin

Atlantis Saga books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Atlantis Rising"

    Atlantis Rising

    by TA Barron

    2013Atlantis Saga, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Atlantis in Peril"

    Atlantis in Peril

    by TA Barron

    2015Atlantis Saga, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Atlantis Lost"

    Atlantis Lost

    by TA Barron

    2016Atlantis Saga, Book 3

Atlantis Saga books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Atlantis Rising"

    Atlantis Rising

    by TA Barron

    2013Atlantis Saga, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Atlantis in Peril"

    Atlantis in Peril

    by TA Barron

    2015Atlantis Saga, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Atlantis Lost"

    Atlantis Lost

    by TA Barron

    2016Atlantis Saga, Book 3

Great Tree of Avalon books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Shadows on the Stars"

    Shadows on the Stars

    by TA Barron

    2005Great Tree of Avalon, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Eternal Flame"

    The Eternal Flame

    by TA Barron

    2006Great Tree of Avalon, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Great Tree of Avalon / Child of the Dark Propechy"

    The Great Tree of Avalon / Child of the Dark Propechy

    by TA Barron

    2007Great Tree of Avalon, Book 3

Great Tree of Avalon books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Shadows on the Stars"

    Shadows on the Stars

    by TA Barron

    2005Great Tree of Avalon, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Eternal Flame"

    The Eternal Flame

    by TA Barron

    2006Great Tree of Avalon, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Great Tree of Avalon / Child of the Dark Propechy"

    The Great Tree of Avalon / Child of the Dark Propechy

    by TA Barron

    2007Great Tree of Avalon, Book 3

Merlin Saga books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "The Lost Years / The Lost Years of Merlin"

    The Lost Years / The Lost Years of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1996The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Seven Songs / The Seven Songs of Merlin"

    The Seven Songs / The Seven Songs of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1997The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Raging Fires / The Fires of Merlin"

    The Raging Fires / The Fires of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1998The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Mirror of Fate / The Mirror of Merlin"

    The Mirror of Fate / The Mirror of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1999The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "A Wizard's Wings / The Wings of Merlin"

    A Wizard's Wings / The Wings of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    2000The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Shadows on the Stars"

    Shadows on the Stars

    by TA Barron

    2005Great Tree of Avalon, Book 1
  7. Book cover for "The Eternal Flame"

    The Eternal Flame

    by TA Barron

    2006Great Tree of Avalon, Book 2
  8. Book cover for "The Great Tree of Avalon / Child of the Dark Propechy"

    The Great Tree of Avalon / Child of the Dark Propechy

    by TA Barron

    2007Great Tree of Avalon, Book 3
  9. Book cover for "The Dragon of Avalon / Merlin's Dragon"

    The Dragon of Avalon / Merlin's Dragon

    by TA Barron

    2008Merlin's Dragon, Book 1
  10. Book cover for "Doomraga's Revenge"

    Doomraga's Revenge

    by TA Barron

    2009Merlin's Dragon, Book 2
  11. Book cover for "Ultimate Magic"

    Ultimate Magic

    by TA Barron

    2010Merlin's Dragon, Book 3
  12. Book cover for "Giant: The Unlikely Origins of Shim"

    Giant: The Unlikely Origins of Shim

    by TA Barron

    2021Merlin Saga, Book 12

Merlin Saga books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "The Lost Years / The Lost Years of Merlin"

    The Lost Years / The Lost Years of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1996The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Seven Songs / The Seven Songs of Merlin"

    The Seven Songs / The Seven Songs of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1997The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Raging Fires / The Fires of Merlin"

    The Raging Fires / The Fires of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1998The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Mirror of Fate / The Mirror of Merlin"

    The Mirror of Fate / The Mirror of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1999The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "A Wizard's Wings / The Wings of Merlin"

    A Wizard's Wings / The Wings of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    2000The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Shadows on the Stars"

    Shadows on the Stars

    by TA Barron

    2005Great Tree of Avalon, Book 1
  7. Book cover for "The Eternal Flame"

    The Eternal Flame

    by TA Barron

    2006Great Tree of Avalon, Book 2
  8. Book cover for "The Great Tree of Avalon / Child of the Dark Propechy"

    The Great Tree of Avalon / Child of the Dark Propechy

    by TA Barron

    2007Great Tree of Avalon, Book 3
  9. Book cover for "The Dragon of Avalon / Merlin's Dragon"

    The Dragon of Avalon / Merlin's Dragon

    by TA Barron

    2008Merlin's Dragon, Book 1
  10. Book cover for "Doomraga's Revenge"

    Doomraga's Revenge

    by TA Barron

    2009Merlin's Dragon, Book 2
  11. Book cover for "Ultimate Magic"

    Ultimate Magic

    by TA Barron

    2010Merlin's Dragon, Book 3
  12. Book cover for "Giant: The Unlikely Origins of Shim"

    Giant: The Unlikely Origins of Shim

    by TA Barron

    2021Merlin Saga, Book 12

Merlin's Dragon books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "The Dragon of Avalon / Merlin's Dragon"

    The Dragon of Avalon / Merlin's Dragon

    by TA Barron

    2008Merlin's Dragon, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Doomraga's Revenge"

    Doomraga's Revenge

    by TA Barron

    2009Merlin's Dragon, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Ultimate Magic"

    Ultimate Magic

    by TA Barron

    2010Merlin's Dragon, Book 3

Merlin's Dragon books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "The Dragon of Avalon / Merlin's Dragon"

    The Dragon of Avalon / Merlin's Dragon

    by TA Barron

    2008Merlin's Dragon, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Doomraga's Revenge"

    Doomraga's Revenge

    by TA Barron

    2009Merlin's Dragon, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Ultimate Magic"

    Ultimate Magic

    by TA Barron

    2010Merlin's Dragon, Book 3

The Adventures of Kate books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Heartlight"

    Heartlight

    by TA Barron

    1990The Adventures of Kate, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Ancient One"

    The Ancient One

    by TA Barron

    1992The Adventures of Kate, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Merlin Effect"

    The Merlin Effect

    by TA Barron

    1994The Adventures of Kate, Book 3

The Adventures of Kate books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Heartlight"

    Heartlight

    by TA Barron

    1990The Adventures of Kate, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Ancient One"

    The Ancient One

    by TA Barron

    1992The Adventures of Kate, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Merlin Effect"

    The Merlin Effect

    by TA Barron

    1994The Adventures of Kate, Book 3

The Lost Years of Merlin books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "The Lost Years / The Lost Years of Merlin"

    The Lost Years / The Lost Years of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1996The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Seven Songs / The Seven Songs of Merlin"

    The Seven Songs / The Seven Songs of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1997The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Raging Fires / The Fires of Merlin"

    The Raging Fires / The Fires of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1998The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Mirror of Fate / The Mirror of Merlin"

    The Mirror of Fate / The Mirror of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1999The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "A Wizard's Wings / The Wings of Merlin"

    A Wizard's Wings / The Wings of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    2000The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 5

The Lost Years of Merlin books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "The Lost Years / The Lost Years of Merlin"

    The Lost Years / The Lost Years of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1996The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Seven Songs / The Seven Songs of Merlin"

    The Seven Songs / The Seven Songs of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1997The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Raging Fires / The Fires of Merlin"

    The Raging Fires / The Fires of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1998The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Mirror of Fate / The Mirror of Merlin"

    The Mirror of Fate / The Mirror of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    1999The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "A Wizard's Wings / The Wings of Merlin"

    A Wizard's Wings / The Wings of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    2000The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 5

TA Barron collections, short stories, and related book types

Non-Fiction

  1. Book cover for "Merlin: The Book of Magic"

    Merlin: The Book of Magic

    by TA Barron

    2011
  2. Book cover for "The Wisdom of Merlin"

    The Wisdom of Merlin

    by TA Barron

    2015
  3. Book cover for "To Walk in Wilderness"

    To Walk in Wilderness

    by TA Barron

    1993A Rocky Mountain Journal
  4. Book cover for "Rocky Mountain National Park"

    Rocky Mountain National Park

    by TA Barron

    1995A 100 Year Perspective
  5. Book cover for "The Hero's Trail"

    The Hero's Trail

    by TA Barron

    2002A Guide for a Heroic Life

Standalone TA Barron books

  1. Book cover for "Where Is Grandpa?"

    Where Is Grandpa?

    by TA Barron

    2000
  2. Book cover for "Tree Girl"

    Tree Girl

    by TA Barron

    2001
  3. Book cover for "High as a Hawk"

    High as a Hawk

    by TA Barron

    2004
  4. Book cover for "The Day the Stones Walked"

    The Day the Stones Walked

    by TA Barron

    2007
  5. Book cover for "Ghost Hands"

    Ghost Hands

    by TA Barron

    2011

Author bio

T.A. Barron was born in Boston and spent his childhood in two very different landscapes, New England apple country and a ranch in Colorado with pines, horses, and wide mountain views. Those places stayed with him. You can feel them in his books, where forests, rivers, cliffs, and wild weather are never just scenery.

He grew up outdoors.

Barron studied history at Princeton, then went on to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and later studied at Harvard. Long before any book was published, though, he wanted to be a storyteller. His first novel was rejected so completely that many people would have quit there.

He didn't. Instead, he built a career in business in New York and eventually became a president and chief operating officer. Even during those years, he kept writing before dawn at the kitchen table. In 1990, he and his wife Currie moved back to Colorado so he could give storytelling, and conservation work, his full attention.

That gamble changed everything.

Readers first met his fiction through books like Heartlight and The Ancient One, stories that mix adventure with science, myth, and a deep feeling for the natural world. In Heartlight, a girl searches for her missing grandfather while a cosmic danger grows in the background. In The Ancient One, a trip to Oregon becomes a fight to save a redwood forest across time.

For many readers, though, Barron is the writer of Merlin. The Lost Years of Merlin reimagines the famous wizard as a boy with no memory, washed ashore and forced to discover who he is. That story grew into a much larger world, including The Great Tree of Avalon and later books such as Atlantis Rising. People come to these novels for the quests, strange creatures, maps, and magic. They stay for the deeper questions underneath, like who we are, what we owe the world around us, and how courage and kindness hold up when life gets hard.

Those same questions show up in his nonfiction.

In The Hero's Trail and The Wisdom of Merlin, Barron writes more directly about bravery, purpose, and the kind of everyday heroism young people can practice in real life. Outside his books, he founded the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes and has helped support conservation and education programs. He also produced the documentary Dream Big and hosts the podcast Magic & Mountains.

Barron lives on a small farm in Colorado. He has said that nature remains his greatest teacher and inspiration, which makes sense when you read him. Whether he is writing about Merlin, Atlantis, a redwood grove, or a child climbing a mountain, his stories usually circle back to the same belief: the world is full of wonder, and young people are stronger than adults often realize.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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