The Dragon That Ate Summer
The Dragon series, Book 1
Brenda Seabrooke
Scholastic
Fiction, CH Fantasy
Themes: Dragons
****
Description
Alistair's summer plans - going to summer camp with his friends, skateboarding on his newly-devised dog-powered skateboard train, and generally enjoying the freedom from school - came to a crashing end when he broke his collarbone. Now, he's stuck at home while all his friends are away at camp, under doctor's orders to do nothing strenuous. His best friend Josh hasn't even written him a postcard! It looks like a long and miserable summer... until something starts eating his mother's flowers. Alistair investigates, finding a most unusual culprit: a little blue dragon! He's never been allowed to have pets before because of his sister Claudia's allergies, so how is he going to keep his new best friend a secret? The worst summer of his life is going to turn into the most interesting one ever... unless he gets caught with a dragon in his bedroom.
Review
I may be cutting this tale more slack than I should by giving it a Good rating. It was light and fun, and Alistair learns some important lessons about responsibility, pet ownership, and thinking things through. The ending felt abrupt to me, and the overall plot a trifle shallow, but it is aimed at young readers. It's certainly worth a place on any young dragon-lover's reading list.