James Prothero (1990) reflects on the importance educators have historically placed on myth, and teaching myth as a way of teaching values, and then he suggests that “science fiction and fantasy are present-day forms of mythology and really should be taught as such” (para. 6). He goes on to explain the importance of myth in history and culture, “in the past, meaning has been drawn from the myths and rituals of a culture” (para. 6). He also points out, as Smith did as well, that for the most part, Science Fiction and Fantasy are seen as genres best left in middle school, or even better, in elementary school. They both imply that children are expected to out-grown these genres quickly as they no longer serve academic or intellectual purposes. As they aren't consider to be intellectual genres, they aren't encouraged, and are often discouraged, as acceptable academic materials.

Have Sword, Will Travel is about the young Lenburh villagers Odo, the millers 7^th son, and Eleanor, the apothecary's only child. While hunting eels in what barely remains of the river Silverrun, Odo and Eleanor find a sword that turns out to be enchanted, and Odo accidentally wakens it with a drop of his blood. Hildebrand Shining Foebiter, but you may call him Biter, quickly knights Odo, for only a true knight may wield him, and drags the children off on the adventure that Eleanor has always dreamed of. Odo the reluctant knight and Eleanor the jealous squire set out to find out what has been drying up or stopping up the river, causing many in it's wake to reach the brink of starvation and ruin. Through many leagues of dragon rumors, failed attempts to be helpful, evil master smiths, daily knight training, and scary forests Odo, Eleanor, and Biter learn what it means to be a true knight, always strive to do what is right, and do their best to avoid causing harm.

Truthful travels to England in advance of her formal introduction to society to ask the help of her great-aunt, Lady Badgery, in locating her emerald. Her search ends of up relying on an angry and stubborn Major Harnett, a fake mustache enchanted with an illusion charm, several adventurous outings, and a lot of societal rule-bending, all accumulating in the discovery of a malignant sorcerer and her decades old desire for the Newington Emerald.

Word quickly travels that Princess Anya is a frogkisser (although she hasn't kissed one yet), causing a number of others to join her party hoping for a cure to their own transmogrifications. Knowing little about what lies outside of the kingdom, let alone the castle, Anya relies on her companions and many new acquaintances to help her on her quest for a cure, as well as to defeat the evil, murdering, transmogrifying Duke Rikard. Along the way, she learns what the kingdoms used to be, and is faced with the decision of bringing order back to those kingdoms or deciding to walk away and let someone else fix it all.