D'Lacey, Chris, Last Dragon Chronicles: The Fire Within. Scholastic, 2007.
ISBN: 0439672449
ISBN: 0439672449
Ages: 9 to 12
My daughter, who is eleven and an avid reader, and I chose The Fire Within, book one of the Last Dragon Chronicles, by Chris D'Lacey. Our selection process for this round of summer reading was like most families standing in a bookstore and reading back covers and cover flaps. The Fire Within's summary introduced the three main characters: Elizabeth Pennykettle, her eleven-year old daughter, Lucy, and the house tenant, David Rain. The summary of the story's clay dragons and their secrets read like it promised to be a clever fantasy. So it was with expectancy that we began reading The Fire Within.
Description
David Rain is a college student who accepts a room at the Pennykettle household. He is introduced to the fantastic and mysterious clay dragons that Elizabeth (Liz) Pennykettle creates in her sculptor's room, The Dragon's Den. Liz's daughter, Lucy, is eleven, loves animals, is highly-excitable, and is learning to sculpt as well. While staying with the Pennykettles, David is drawn into the mysterious Pennykettle household and their special care and attention given to their clay dragons. A sub-plot also develops as David is set-upon by Lucy to find out what happened to the squirrels that once lived in their yard. To appease Lucy, he plays the role of amateur detective, and later writes a story about the lost squirrels. He delves into the mystery to learn the cause of their disappearance and in particular, how Conker, the one-eyed squirrel, was hurt. David's following story of Snigger and the Nutbeast accounts his daily detective work.
Critique
The Fire Within is an easy read. The plot, sub-plot, and main characters are easy to track. The mystery of the lost squirrels is engaging, and the running tale of Snigger and the Nutbeast was by-far my favorite part of the book. I admit that I was curious as to the mystery of the clay dragons, but by the conclusion of The Fire Within, I was disappointed in Chris D'Lacey's turn in the story. There is insinuation that Liz Pennykettle, and indeed her daughter as well, are direct bloodlines of the story's last known dragon to have walked the Earth. Where is the author taking the characters in the sequels? Will D'Lacey develop the idea that the Pennykettles are descendants of a dragon? And are therefore dragons themselves?
Overall The Fire Within was an adequate read. While the plot and characters were easy enough to follow, the characters were not engaging, and I found Lucy to be quite bratty. She was persistent in whatever matter was on her mind to the detriment of the schedules, rules, and needs of those around her. She obeyed her mother rarely, and if she did, she was reluctant and argumentative. Lucy's character is not one to demonstrate honor or respect which are two legacy ingredients I wish to pass to my children. As for the plot development, The Fire Within is an example of formula writing that employs the basics of cause and effect. This is not a story of endearing characters. The kind you recognize as being a part of your family, or you wish were a part of your family. They are not the other kind of characters who are so immoral that you are glad to see them conquered by the story's hero. In short, there is no emotional feeling inspired by the characters.
My daughter, who is eleven and an avid reader, and I chose The Fire Within, book one of the Last Dragon Chronicles, by Chris D'Lacey. Our selection process for this round of summer reading was like most families standing in a bookstore and reading back covers and cover flaps. The Fire Within's summary introduced the three main characters: Elizabeth Pennykettle, her eleven-year old daughter, Lucy, and the house tenant, David Rain. The summary of the story's clay dragons and their secrets read like it promised to be a clever fantasy. So it was with expectancy that we began reading The Fire Within.
Description
David Rain is a college student who accepts a room at the Pennykettle household. He is introduced to the fantastic and mysterious clay dragons that Elizabeth (Liz) Pennykettle creates in her sculptor's room, The Dragon's Den. Liz's daughter, Lucy, is eleven, loves animals, is highly-excitable, and is learning to sculpt as well. While staying with the Pennykettles, David is drawn into the mysterious Pennykettle household and their special care and attention given to their clay dragons. A sub-plot also develops as David is set-upon by Lucy to find out what happened to the squirrels that once lived in their yard. To appease Lucy, he plays the role of amateur detective, and later writes a story about the lost squirrels. He delves into the mystery to learn the cause of their disappearance and in particular, how Conker, the one-eyed squirrel, was hurt. David's following story of Snigger and the Nutbeast accounts his daily detective work.
Critique
The Fire Within is an easy read. The plot, sub-plot, and main characters are easy to track. The mystery of the lost squirrels is engaging, and the running tale of Snigger and the Nutbeast was by-far my favorite part of the book. I admit that I was curious as to the mystery of the clay dragons, but by the conclusion of The Fire Within, I was disappointed in Chris D'Lacey's turn in the story. There is insinuation that Liz Pennykettle, and indeed her daughter as well, are direct bloodlines of the story's last known dragon to have walked the Earth. Where is the author taking the characters in the sequels? Will D'Lacey develop the idea that the Pennykettles are descendants of a dragon? And are therefore dragons themselves?
Overall The Fire Within was an adequate read. While the plot and characters were easy enough to follow, the characters were not engaging, and I found Lucy to be quite bratty. She was persistent in whatever matter was on her mind to the detriment of the schedules, rules, and needs of those around her. She obeyed her mother rarely, and if she did, she was reluctant and argumentative. Lucy's character is not one to demonstrate honor or respect which are two legacy ingredients I wish to pass to my children. As for the plot development, The Fire Within is an example of formula writing that employs the basics of cause and effect. This is not a story of endearing characters. The kind you recognize as being a part of your family, or you wish were a part of your family. They are not the other kind of characters who are so immoral that you are glad to see them conquered by the story's hero. In short, there is no emotional feeling inspired by the characters.
