- Crum, S., & Wildish, L. (2010). Thomas and the dragon queen. New York: Knopf.
Summary
The brave twelve-year-old Thomas is asked to escort a knight back to the castle and begins training to become a knight. Thomas is the smallest knight in the kingdom but works very hard at his training. When a princess is captured by the Dragon Queen, and the small group of regular knights are away, the king asks Thomas to rescue her. Thomas questions himself and his abilities on his mission, and wonders if he can succeed where others have failed. He discovers that dragons can talk, and that things at the dragon castle are not what he expected.
My Impressions
Thomas and the Dragon Queen was a very nice spin on the traditional knight versus dragon ethos that I documented in one of my first blog entries in discussing Saint George and the Dragon. Readers will identify with Thomas, who is given far too much adult responsibility but responds positively to the challenges of being a knight. He has to make accommodations as students would do in his situation, like ride a donkey instead of a horse because he is too short. He also learns some valuable lessons in dealing with the king, the princess, the Dragon Queen and others who all expect a great deal from him. I found great life lessons mixed with humor in this story.
Reviews
Phelan, C. (2010). Thomas and the Dragon Queen. [Review of Thomas and the dragon queen, by S. Crum, & L. Wildish]. Booklist, 106(21), 61-64.
The son of a leathersmith, 12-year-old Thomas dreams of knighthood, a remote prospect for a small boy who spends his days minding his eight younger siblings. A chance encounter leads him to the castle, where he
trains as a squire and becomes a knight when a champion is needed to rescue Princess Eleanor from a dragon. He shows courage and resourcefulness during his difficult journey and defeats a legendary monster, though he loses nearly all of his possessions. In the dragon's lair, he discovers that neither his quest nor his peril nor his strength is what he expected. Although the many likable characters are not fully developed, they serve the story well, dramatizing that the qualities, objects, and positions that seem most valuable are not always the most important ones. Black-and-white illustrations capture the tone of the storytelling. A refreshing antidote to the tired fractured-fairy-tale genre, this good-hearted chapter book delivers an adventure that many young readers will enjoy. A fine choice for those early elementary-school students seeking longer chapter books. --Carolyn Phelan
Library Usage
This is a fun and easy-to-read chapter book that is fantasy-based for those who are entering third grade chapter book reading level or above. It would be so much fun to have a study of knights and knighthood, or of family crests or folklore that could include this book. Better yet, students could build a dragon and dragon lair of their own.
trains as a squire and becomes a knight when a champion is needed to rescue Princess Eleanor from a dragon. He shows courage and resourcefulness during his difficult journey and defeats a legendary monster, though he loses nearly all of his possessions. In the dragon's lair, he discovers that neither his quest nor his peril nor his strength is what he expected. Although the many likable characters are not fully developed, they serve the story well, dramatizing that the qualities, objects, and positions that seem most valuable are not always the most important ones. Black-and-white illustrations capture the tone of the storytelling. A refreshing antidote to the tired fractured-fairy-tale genre, this good-hearted chapter book delivers an adventure that many young readers will enjoy. A fine choice for those early elementary-school students seeking longer chapter books. --Carolyn Phelan
Library Usage
This is a fun and easy-to-read chapter book that is fantasy-based for those who are entering third grade chapter book reading level or above. It would be so much fun to have a study of knights and knighthood, or of family crests or folklore that could include this book. Better yet, students could build a dragon and dragon lair of their own.
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