The Dragonling Collector's Edition, Volume 1
(Books 1, 2, and 3)
Jackie French Koller
Pocket Books (Minstrel)
Fiction, YA Fantasy
****
DESCRIPTION: Young Darek lives in a world dominated by fear of dragons. They're very real, here, as real as the twin moons in night skies over the land of Zoria. For
generations, Zorian boys have proven themselves heroes and men on their dragonquest, a coming-of-age ritual that has taken many lives. Those who survive come home with the claws
of such beasts as the Red Fanged, Yellow Crowned, or even the rare Great Blue dragons, largest of them all. Clep, Darek's twelve-year-old brother, has just returned from his own
dragonquest, where he was the Marksman who felled a Great Blue. Jealous Darek goes out that night to look at the corpse and dream of his own quest, when he makes a startling
discovery. The dragon was a mother, and her newborn dragonling is still alive, hiding in her pouch! He doesn't seem like the bloodthirsty beast the boy has been told about, but
he's only a young dragon, and no doubt he's going to grow to the size of his mother and become a threat to everyone. Though only nine years old, Darek must undertake a dragonquest
of his own to return the young Zantor to the Valley of the Dragons, and find him a new mother. Little does he know just how much trouble his good intentions will cause... not
just for himself, but for his entire village and dragonkind alike.
This was originally published as three books: The Dragonling, A Dragon in the Family, and Dragon Quest.
REVIEW: This is a good story for younger readers. The plot moves fairly quickly, and Darek learns some important lessons, as do the people of his village. If the tale or the characters aren't startlingly original, well, these books are pitched to an audience too young to care. Any kid who has ever dreamed of owning a pet dragon will find this book enchanting. The only drawback is the cliffhanger ending. I recommend buying both Volumes 1 and 2 of the collector's editions, so you aren't left hanging.
You might also enjoy:
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher (Bruce Coville, YA Fiction - A boy buys a dragon's egg in a magic shop)
Hatching Magic (Ann Downer, YA Fiction - A medieval wizard's pet wyvern travels through a magical portal to modern Boston to lay her egg)
Dragonsdale (Salamanda Drake, YA Fiction - At a special riding school, human children learn to ride dragons - except for the stablemaster's daughter, forbidden to fly by her father)
George Grove and the Dragon (LJ Lawry, YA Ficton - Three South London boys find a dragon's egg)
The First Dragoneer (M. R. Mathias, YA Fiction - On an ill-fated hunting trip, a peasant boy discovers his destiny)
Eragon (Christopher Paolini, Fiction - A farmboy finds a dragon's egg)
The Dragons Are Singing Tonight (Jack Prelutsky, YA Poetry - Dragon poems that sing)
The Dragon that Ate Summer (Brenda Seabrooke, YA Fiction - A boy finds a little blue dragon in his mother's garden)
The Dragonology books (Dugald A. Steer, editor, YA Fiction - Notes on dragon species from around the world)
How to Raise and Keep a Dragon (John Topsell, Joseph Nigg "editor", YA Fiction - The art and science of dragon ownership)
Voices of Dragons (Carrie Vaughn, YA Fiction - A teen girl befriends a young dragon while their races prepare for war)
The Pit Dragon Chronicles (Jane Yolen, YA Fiction - A slave boy on Austar IV, young Jakkin steals an egg from his master to raise his own fighting dragon for the betting pits)
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The Dragonling Collector's Edition, Volume 2
(Books 4, 5, and 6)
Jackie French Koller
Pocket Books (Minstrel)
Fiction, YA Fantasy
***
DESCRIPTION: Darek and his young dragon friend Zantor have survived the wrath of the Council of Elders, but now an even greater danger awaits them. His best friend Pola, little Zantor, and the last three Great Blue dragonling females have vanished into the ill-rumored Black Mountains, gateway to the land of Krad. In the Long Ago, the great, hairy, humanoid Kradens chased all Zorians from their land, and now a poisonous mist kills all who venture over the mountains. Over the years, several Zorians have gone into the Black Mountains seeking Krad, but none have returned. Now, young Darek must face the deadly mystery of Krad to save his friends. This was originally published as three books: Dragons of Krad, Dragon Trouble, and Dragons and Kings.
REVIEW: This book starts out with more adventure than the last, but I had to dock it a point for a very abrupt, inconclusive ending. I went back twice to make sure I hadn't accidentally skipped a chapter. One gets the impression that Koller only had leave to write a certain number of pages, saw the end coming, and cut straight to the conclusion without bothering to really wrap things up. Also, the sexism that lingers in the background of the first volume becomes more pronounced here (along with a certain hint of racism with the brutish, dark and hairy Kradens), and is among the many plot elements that aren't resolved to my satisfaction. Still, aside from that, it's not a bad tale. I just wish the ending had lived up to the previous stories.
You might also enjoy:
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher (Bruce Coville, YA Fiction - A boy buys a dragon's egg in a magic shop)
Hatching Magic (Ann Downer, YA Fiction - A medieval wizard's wyvern familiar travels through a magical portal to modern Boston to lay her egg)
Dragonsdale (Salamanda Drake, YA Fiction - At a special riding school, human children learn to ride dragons - except for the stablemaster's daughter, forbidden to fly by her father)
George Grove and the Dragon (LJ Lawry, YA Ficton - Three South London boys find a dragon's egg)
The First Dragoneer (M. R. Mathias, YA Fiction - On an ill-fated hunting trip, a peasant boy discovers his destiny)
Eragon (Christopher Paolini, Fiction - A farmboy finds a dragon's egg)
The Dragons Are Singing Tonight (Jack Prelutsky, YA Poetry - Dragon poems that sing)
The Dragon that Ate Summer (Brenda Seabrooke, YA Fiction - A boy finds a little blue dragon in his mother's garden)
The Dragonology books (Dugald A. Steer, editor, YA Fiction - Notes on dragon species from around the world)
How to Raise and Keep a Dragon (John Topsell, Joseph Nigg "editor", YA Fiction - The art and science of dragon ownership)
Voices of Dragons (Carrie Vaughn, YA Fiction - A teen girl befriends a young dragon while their races prepare for war)
The Pit Dragon Chronicles (Jane Yolen, YA Fiction - A slave boy on Austar IV, young Jakkin steals an egg from his master to raise his own fighting dragon for the betting pits)
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