Helpful Score: 4
Cute book, well written- about 4th -6th grade level. Very good read. Entertaining.
This is a well-written, exciting story of a homeless boy who befriends a dragon and joins him on his quest to find a home safe from humans. There are many exciting adventures and mythical beasts, without the darkness and fear factor of Harry Potter and other fantasy books for older readers.
A great read-aloud for the 7-10 year old audience!
A great read-aloud for the 7-10 year old audience!
Helpful Score: 4
I loved this book! I can't wait for my kids to read it. I was looking for a introduction into fantasy for my kids that was not too scary and would hold their attention. IT has a great story plot and just enough action. A must read!
Helpful Score: 3
I liked the story, but I wasn't extremely impressed with the book. Some of the events just seemed to happen a little too smoothly (they'd meet exactly the type of person/creature they needed at exactly the moment they realized they had a need).
Helpful Score: 2
It is a very fun read full of mysteries and much more!
Helpful Score: 1
Translated from the German; pretty formulaic, I had trouble getting into it, but then again, I'm 40 years older than the main human character.
Helpful Score: 1
Good book... 10 year old son read it in a week. He said it was a little slow at the end.
Helpful Score: 1
I couldn't finish this. It had the same jokes all thru the chapters I read, and the characters had one or two aspects that were used over and over. The story seemed to run on plot only. It would probably work for very young independent readers. Lots of repetition for them. My older readers found it trite. But then, in comparison, my 10 yr old reads Lord of the Rings and my 13 yr old reads Eragon. So like I said, this would work better for s struggling reader, or one who is young and wants to try a thick book for the first time.
Story about boy and dragon and their journey, with characters along the way to guide, criticize, or be evil at them.
Story about boy and dragon and their journey, with characters along the way to guide, criticize, or be evil at them.
Helpful Score: 1
A good Book well written and held My attion .It is a teen type book.
Helpful Score: 1
Entertaining children's story (but great for adults, too) about the encroachment of civilization and the efforts of one dragon to find a safe place for his people to live. Heroes and villains; plenty of adventure!
Helpful Score: 1
This was an amazingly awesome book! It was so light hearted but still with a good story! I love the characters, and this is definitely a must read for anyone: children, teenagers, and adults. There is no cursing and nothing inappropriate. A great book with a lovely story!
Standard fare for a children's adventure story
A jolly children's book that adults can enjoy too - if they accept the book for what it is (a book aimed at children) & don't expect what it isn't (the next classic, or something like Inkheart).
Nobody complains that the Hardy Boys are flat & lack character development or follow a troupe (though all those are true) Nor are similar complaints lodged against the Redwall series. For these are books designed for children. Indeed Dragon Rider could be straight from Redwall - make the dragon a badger, the human a mouse, and the brownie a mole & you're practically there, for it is the Redwall kindof troupe that is followed: lots of excitement, seeing new places, a villain that isn't too scary, & quest fulfillment. The length (500 odd pages) goes by quickly. This would make a great read aloud book. I prefer the Redwall books to this one simply because Redwall lacks humans & is easier to believe than placing the fantasy squarely in our world. This book may be nothing to write home about, but it sits squarely in the vein of adventurous children's literature.
The fold out map is neat, but does include all of the markings the map they used in the book, which was a disappointment.
A note for parents who care - humans at large are seen as bad, though some, the creatures realize, are not bad at all. Also, reincarnation is postulated as a plausible possibility, though it and the afterlife are not a focus of the book - the mention is more of a side note.
A jolly children's book that adults can enjoy too - if they accept the book for what it is (a book aimed at children) & don't expect what it isn't (the next classic, or something like Inkheart).
Nobody complains that the Hardy Boys are flat & lack character development or follow a troupe (though all those are true) Nor are similar complaints lodged against the Redwall series. For these are books designed for children. Indeed Dragon Rider could be straight from Redwall - make the dragon a badger, the human a mouse, and the brownie a mole & you're practically there, for it is the Redwall kindof troupe that is followed: lots of excitement, seeing new places, a villain that isn't too scary, & quest fulfillment. The length (500 odd pages) goes by quickly. This would make a great read aloud book. I prefer the Redwall books to this one simply because Redwall lacks humans & is easier to believe than placing the fantasy squarely in our world. This book may be nothing to write home about, but it sits squarely in the vein of adventurous children's literature.
The fold out map is neat, but does include all of the markings the map they used in the book, which was a disappointment.
A note for parents who care - humans at large are seen as bad, though some, the creatures realize, are not bad at all. Also, reincarnation is postulated as a plausible possibility, though it and the afterlife are not a focus of the book - the mention is more of a side note.
Here's a review by my daughter who read the book for "Battle of the Books" in school. She is in 6th grade:
I had a hard time getting through the book because I could predict what was going to happen. The characters were okay but not inspiring or amazing. It's a good book for an 8-10 year old.
I had a hard time getting through the book because I could predict what was going to happen. The characters were okay but not inspiring or amazing. It's a good book for an 8-10 year old.
This was meant for younger readers, but I'm an adult and really enjoyed reading the book! Its filled with dragons, villains, allies, and other ancient figures of myth and legend. The beginning of the book was abit slow reading as it introduces the plot and characters. As you read further along, then the story starts to open up and leaves you wanting to know what happens next. A really good read if you like stories about dragons or if you generally enjoy sci-fi/fantasy books.
I read it for Book Club. Awesome book!
This is a fun little read for the young. Firedrake, a silver dragon; Sorrel, a forest brownie; and Ben, a human boy embark on a trip to find a new home for the dragons whose valley is threatened by a dam that will flood it land bury their cave homes. This book details their adventures on this journey.
The adventures are haunted by the occasional appearance of the dragons' old enemy, a golden dragon named Nettlebrand, who eats other dragons. They have discovered that they are accompanied by a spy, Twigleg, who had reported to Nettlebrand until he confesses. Can they find the Rim of Heaven, the original home of the dragons and save the dragons whose home is about to be flooded? Can they avoid the ancient enemy of the dragons?
The adventures are haunted by the occasional appearance of the dragons' old enemy, a golden dragon named Nettlebrand, who eats other dragons. They have discovered that they are accompanied by a spy, Twigleg, who had reported to Nettlebrand until he confesses. Can they find the Rim of Heaven, the original home of the dragons and save the dragons whose home is about to be flooded? Can they avoid the ancient enemy of the dragons?
I read this before giving it to my 10 year old grandson. I would say it is at just the right interest level for this age. I enjoyed it, too, but did not get as involved in the plot as with some others by this author. But, like I said, i think it is perfect fantasy for a 10 year old.
A Boy. A Dragon. A Quest.
Firedrake, Ben, and their furry friend, Sorrel, are in search of the mythical place where dragons can live in peace forever. Together they embark on a journey that takes them to magical lande where they meet marvelous creatures - and one ruthless villian. Along the way, they will discover allies in odd places, courage they didn't know they had, and a hidden destiny that changes everything.
Firedrake, Ben, and their furry friend, Sorrel, are in search of the mythical place where dragons can live in peace forever. Together they embark on a journey that takes them to magical lande where they meet marvelous creatures - and one ruthless villian. Along the way, they will discover allies in odd places, courage they didn't know they had, and a hidden destiny that changes everything.
Dragon Rider was a great book. Cornelia Funke is able to take any reader, child or adult, into her fantasy world.
I did not like this book.
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