Dragon Rider
Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
Dragon Rider is an enchanting, magical novel; one of those rare finds in children's literature that is as enjoyable for adults as for children. Good writing, strong characterization, and a delightful plot come together to create a very enjoyable book, one that is full of magic and wonder and brings fantastical creatures to life.
Though younger readers might find the 523 page book intimidating, it is broken into easily manageable chaptersshort enough that they can be read in one sitting, but long enough that it doesn't feel as though nothing happened.
The rest of the book is similarly balanced, walking with ease that delicate line that makes the book easy enough for elementary school aged children to understand and enjoy, but complicated enough that their parents and grandparents can enjoy it too. The language and sentence structure are relatively simple, but Funke doesn't shy away from bigger words and more complex sentences when they're called for. It will be an easy read for more advanced readers, but not an overly simplistic one.
This delicate walk is aided by the strong plot of Dragon Rider, which makes it easy for the reader to suspend disbelief and be sucked into the story. It is, for the most part, solid, with a few holes that are minor and easy to overlook. Perhaps the most obvious hole is the gold dragon and the very glossed-over explanation of why he is so against he real dragons. The readers never find out more than the legends that circulate among the dragons and other fantastical creatures. Some readers will probably be satisfied with that, but I personally would have liked more.
The characterization in Dragon Rider helps carry the story along through the few slow parts. Readers will really come to care about Firedrake, Ben, and Sorrel, and many will find the "down time" they share to be a refreshing break from the otherwise fast pace of the book. Watching the three companions as they grow together and develop into a team is almost as entertaining as watching them use their new-found strengths in the fight to save the dragons.
The conclusion is a little rushed and felt a bit convenient, but it works well, and avoids dragging the book out too long. A little more complexity would have been nice, but Funke's ending is satisfying and true to the rest of the story. In Dragon Rider she has truly created a book that will delight readers from the first page to the last.
Dragon Rider is an enchanting, magical novel; one of those rare finds in children's literature that is as enjoyable for adults as for children. Good writing, strong characterization, and a delightful plot come together to create a very enjoyable book, one that is full of magic and wonder and brings fantastical creatures to life.
Though younger readers might find the 523 page book intimidating, it is broken into easily manageable chaptersshort enough that they can be read in one sitting, but long enough that it doesn't feel as though nothing happened.
The rest of the book is similarly balanced, walking with ease that delicate line that makes the book easy enough for elementary school aged children to understand and enjoy, but complicated enough that their parents and grandparents can enjoy it too. The language and sentence structure are relatively simple, but Funke doesn't shy away from bigger words and more complex sentences when they're called for. It will be an easy read for more advanced readers, but not an overly simplistic one.
This delicate walk is aided by the strong plot of Dragon Rider, which makes it easy for the reader to suspend disbelief and be sucked into the story. It is, for the most part, solid, with a few holes that are minor and easy to overlook. Perhaps the most obvious hole is the gold dragon and the very glossed-over explanation of why he is so against he real dragons. The readers never find out more than the legends that circulate among the dragons and other fantastical creatures. Some readers will probably be satisfied with that, but I personally would have liked more.
The characterization in Dragon Rider helps carry the story along through the few slow parts. Readers will really come to care about Firedrake, Ben, and Sorrel, and many will find the "down time" they share to be a refreshing break from the otherwise fast pace of the book. Watching the three companions as they grow together and develop into a team is almost as entertaining as watching them use their new-found strengths in the fight to save the dragons.
The conclusion is a little rushed and felt a bit convenient, but it works well, and avoids dragging the book out too long. A little more complexity would have been nice, but Funke's ending is satisfying and true to the rest of the story. In Dragon Rider she has truly created a book that will delight readers from the first page to the last.