Dragonfell

February 1, 2019
Where be dragons?The Dragonfell is the high place where young Rafi Bywater goes to contemplate the memory of the teacup-hoarding dragon that once protected his village. One day two strangers show up accusing Rafi of having evil power from dragons and demanding to take him from the village. It is when Rafi is threatened by these strangers that previously unknown abilities ignite, literally, with a fire power that can hurt others. His father confirms that he is indeed dragon-touched. Then, as sudden flames consume the house of a village elder, she tells him that he must go find the dragon so it can once again protect the village. Accused of the destruction, Rafi is chased out of the village and goes on a quest in search of the dragon. Along the way, he saves Maud, a young scientist who had been offered as a sacrifice for another community's local aging dragon. Maud accompanies Rafi to the city of Skarth, where answers lie and may prove, once and for all, if dragons are truly evil or protectors. What starts as a redundant trope of the kid who has powers linked to dragons is freshened by an unexpected twist that deepens the bond of friendship between Rafi and Maud. Rafi, who narrates in an assured past tense, is assumed white with red hair, and Maud has brown skin, black hair, and freckles.An adventurous dragon tale that delivers an emotionally satisfying ending. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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April 1, 2019

Gr 3-6-A classic middle grade quest story. Rafi's bright orange hair, dark eyes, and imperviousness to heat and cold set him apart from the other children in his hillside village, and he's strangely fascinated with Dragonfell, the nearby lair of a long-gone dragon. When scheming strangers threaten his community unless the townspeople turn him over, the boy leaves to draw the evildoers away. Determined to find the truth about the mysterious beasts and about himself, he joins self-proclaimed "dragon scientist" Maud on a search for answers. Along the way the travelers discover, and decide to foil, the schemers' plot to slaughter dragons. Written for a younger audience than Prineas' "Magic Thief" series, this novel features strong male and female main characters, villains with a bit of depth, a spectrum of interesting magical creatures, and an ever increasing herd of goats. Rafi's first-person present-tense narration dishes out plenty of action as the children run from wicked humans, dragons, and vaporwagons. There's a great big twist at the end that more sophisticated readers will enjoy figuring out long before the characters do. It's all great fun with a well-integrated message about being stuck in a confining shape until you can be who you truly are. VERDICT Dragon books are always popular; this one in particular is the perfect choice for graduates of Tracey West's "Dragon Masters" books.-Beth Wright Redford, formerly of Richmond Elementary School Library, VT

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