The Dragon in the Driveway

November 1, 2009
Gr 3-6-Jesse, Daisy, and their dragon, Emmy, are back. The 10-year-old cousins are "dragon keepers," aided in their secret by Emmy's handy abilities. She's not yet able to breathe fire or fly, but she can disguise herself as a sheepdog at will, levitate, and make magic books fly. Her legendary foe, St. George, is working at a nearby college, in disguise. He's already stolen Emmy once, and in order to keep him permanently at bay, the threesome decides to steal his magic book. The choppy plot develops at a fast pace that involves rescuing another of the saint's victims, the hobgoblin queen, by finding the Golden Pickax. Enticing headings and black-and-white illustrations introduce each of the 10 chapters. Fantasy fans will enjoy flying through this series, paving the way for Christopher Paolini's "Eragon" (Knopf, 2003) later."Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2009
Grades 4-6 Ten-year-olds Jesse and his cousin Daisy, and Emmy, a talking dragon, are backand so is evil dragon slayer St. George. Aided by tree spirits and a mysterious online consultant, Jesse and Daisy must again prevent Emmys capture, this time facing an underground world of enslaved hobgoblins in the process. Ultimately, a suspenseful escape brings unexpected revelations, along with hints of future adventures. Blending the contemporary everyday setting with magical events and characters, this second Dragon Keepers title features more enjoyable humor and mystery. Precocious Emmy is still a draw, with her amusing malapropisms and well-intentioned actions, which both hinder and help.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)