Dragon Rider
Cornelia Funke
Additional Info:
The Chicken House
Scholastic Books
$14.99 US / $18.99 CAN
Cover illustration by Don Seegmiller
Cover design by Elizabeth B. Parisi
I was really excited to read this book because I enjoyed Cornelia Funke's other book, The Thief Lord. I am a huge fan of fiction and fantasy stories, and this was a really good example of everything. Guys, this has dragons...did ye hear me? Dragons! People who don't love dragons can leave right now, because there is something REALLY wrong with you.
Yikes. Sorry for the ranting *takes a deep breath* I will concentrate on reviewing the book now.
So basically this story is about Ben, a homeless boy who lives by himself, and Sorrel (I have no idea what species this character is) riding a dragon named Firedrake. They travel the skies to search for a mythical place where dragons can live peacefully without being detected/hunted by humans (dammit humans. This is why dragons are leaving us!) The three encounter really peculiar creatures such as elves and homunculus on the way, villains (I mean, what is a book without a villain, right?), and humans.
My overall thought of the book: 8.3/10 Stars
That's right, I'm using fancy decimals.
I really enjoyed this book, I really did. I loved how this book was purely about creatures, old-fashion tools, and nature instead of being about factories, cars, and modern technology. I mean, it would be interesting to read about a dragon living in modern-day society or city, but sometimes readers need that old, 99% nature-related dragon tale. We need to allow ourselves to part from the world we're living in now and go back to the mountains and grassy fields that are full of greedy dwarves and red-eyed ravens.
I literally felt like I was going on the adventure with Ben and Sorrel on Firedrake's back. I absolutely LOVE adventures like these, because I know I will never get to go on such journeys like these in real life. I could almost feel the wind tickling through my hair -- or the bumpy scales of Firedrake -- or those midday naps. The imagery and details in this book are near-perfect.
Another thing I loved about this book was Sorrel. Sorrel is this sarcastic, humorous creature that brings the fun into the book. This character is so, so sassy and good at insulting that this book almost doesn't seem like a children's book. (By the way, Sorrel is that yellow cat-looking creature in the back)
The only thing that lacked in this book were twists. What really makes readers intense and grip their fingers tighter onto the book are the twists. Readers love falling into secret holes and traps that authors build as the story progresses; these traps are what give the story flavor. I didn't feel this excitement as I was reading. I didn't get mini heart-attacks or curse angrily. Most of the time my mind was at peace and I was smiling. But hey, if you don't like those sneaky, sly traps or jaw-dropping twists, this book is for you.
Overall, I thought this book was enjoyable. If I had to use three words to describe my impression of Dragon Rider, they would be: exciting, adventurous, and amusing. Cornelia Funke has many other fiction/fantasy books such as The Thief Lord, Inkheart, and Inkspell. I'm sure you passed by at least one of those books in a library or bookstore. They're quite popular...and for good reasons, too!
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