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Children's fantasy and mystery with a touch of magic
highlight this month's reviews for children, teens and adults…just in time to
take to the beach!
DRAGON RIDER by Cornelia Funke, c2004, Scholastic Books, NY, 523 pgs.
Ben has spent all his orphaned life with Graytail, the well-read rat, in an
abandoned warehouse filled with old books. When Firedrake, the silver dragon,
and Sorrel, the furry Brownie, buy a map from Graytail to help them search
for the mythical place where dragons can live in peace forever, Ben joins
them to see something of the world. The trio heads south, Ben riding with
Sorrel on Firedrake's back. They're blown off course to a mountain range where
they must get clear of the mountain dwarves, one of whom is servant to
Nettlebrand, the ruthless golden monster who also wants to find this mythical
place where, long ago, other dragons vanished from his clutches. Twiglet, a
tiny homunculus who's spent 300 years cleaning Nettlebrand's scales, hides in
Ben's backpack to spy for the monster. Firedrake, Sorrel and Ben turn east
and rest in the Sahara desert, only to be trapped in cages as interesting
archaeological specimens. Professor Greenbloom helps them escape, but Twigleg
uses enchanted ravens to relay messages to Nettlebrand, who tracks the
travelers to the rim of heaven in the Himalayas. The heroes make friends,
dodge foes and find courage they didn't know they had. Ben learns it is his
destiny to bring the dragons back to the people who consider them lucky. But
how can he defeat the invincible Nettlebrand? This amazing adventure is
recommended for children ages 8-12 years.
THE GRAND TOUR: OR THE PURLOINED CORONATION REGALIA by Patricia Wrede
and Caroline Stevermer, c. 2004, Harcourt, Orlando, 469 pages.
Late summer of 1817 is the perfect time for cousins and friends, Kate and
Cecy, and their new husbands, Thomas and James, to embark on a grand tour of
Europe. Napoleon is securely in exile after his final defeat. The two couples
can shop in Paris, ride gondolas in Venice, attend the opera, visit the Alps
and even a few ancient sites recommended by Cecy's learned papa. But Kate and
Cecy don't anticipate seasickness or interminable carriage rides on bumpy roads.
And what are they to think when they are held up on the main road to Paris
and James is shot? Why does a midnight intruder in their hotel room leave
behind a fashionable Turkish slipper? Is it coincidence that they keep
running into the same peculiar people at the ancient sites on papa's list or
is there a connection to some missing coronation artifacts? When a mysterious
parcel with magical properties is delivered, the newlyweds are convinced that
a murderous plot of international importance is afoot. Their leisurely tour
becomes a bold chase across the Continent. Will the four friends be in the
right place at the right time to stop the evil conspiracy? This delightful
yet deadly romp through nineteenth-century Europe is recommended for young
adult readers ages 12-18 years.
DISSOLUTION by C. J. Sansom, c2004, Penguin Books, NY, 387 pages.
In his first mystery novel, C. J. Sansom has combined his knowledge of
history and his experience as a lawyer to make the characters and their
politics in Tudor England come alive as none of my history professors ever
did. In 1527, the English are divided between those faithful to the Catholic
Church and those loyal to King Henry VIII and his newly established Church of
England. Thomas Cromwell, Henry's feared vice regent and vicar general, has
been masterminding the dissolution of English monasteries. But Matthew
Shardlake, who believes that work for Reform is worthy in the eyes of God and
who has a thriving law practice under Cromwell's patronage, is sure that Cromwell's
tactics are fair. When a royal commissioner is murdered in the monastery of
Scarnsea on the south coast of England, Cromwell sends Shardlake to lead the
inquiry, hoping, he says, to clear up the matter so the monastery may
surrender voluntarily to Reform. But Shardlake is a careful investigator. He
and his young protégé, Mark Poer, uncover not only evidence of sexual
misconduct, embezzlement and treason, but also signs that Cromwell himself is
involved. When two other murders are committed, Shardlake weighs the risks of
losing Cromwell's patronage while he tries to move quickly to stop the killer
before he strikes again. This is a riveting read.
Reviewed by Stephanie Jo Grant, freelance author and bibliophile
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