It’s not very often one finds a story about a dragon getting to act like a dragon. Which is one of the reason why I love Dragon Rider so much. Cornelia Funke (who also wrote the Inkheart trilogy) gets dragons. And even more than that, she understands humans’ fascinations and fears of us. (And ours of humans.)

Most of the humans I’ve observed here in the United States tend to lean toward believing the dragons are monsters who horde gold and roast knights and enjoy eating princess for breakfast. Like I’ve said before, dragons eating humans would be like humans eating unicorns. You just wouldn’t.

But there are places in the world where dragons aren’t feared. In fact, many people believe dragons bring good luck. And that’s just what Firedrake discovers in Dragon Rider.

Where did the dragons come from?

Our story begins in a damp valley somewhere in Europe where young Firedrake lives with other dragons, fairies, and brownies (who love their mushrooms more than any hobbit I’ve met). But, when a rat arrives with a warning that the dragons are no longer safe from the humans they’ve spent centuries hiding from, Firedrake and his best brownie pal Sorrel embark on a risky journey in search of the fabled Rim of Heaven—the original home of the dragons—and a potential haven for the rest of Firedrake’s clan.

The only trouble is, none of the other dragons remember where it’s located (or if it even exists). So before they can begin their search, Firedrake is informed they’ll need a very special map. While in the process of obtaining that map, Firedrake and Sorrel are rescued from a band of humans by little orphan boy named Ben who is destined to play an important role in Firedrake’s quest. Together, a human, a dragon, and a brownie will have to travel halfway around the world, avoid sandmen, outwit dwarves, find an answer from a genie, and stay one step ahead of the greatest threat dragonkind has ever known, an ancient enemy that lives for one purpose—to hunt every last dragon to extinction.

A story of friendships that break down all barriers

One of my favorite things about Dragon Rideris that it shows us that friendships and families come in all shapes and sizes, and that we all have something we can learn from each other. This is a five-dark-chocolate-egg tale that readers of any age can enjoy.

Dragon Rider has been around for a while now but it’s one of those stories that doesn’t age with time. In fact, a sequel was recently released. So if you love stories about dragons and brownies and humans and wild adventures, but haven’t yet picked up this one, fly (don’t walk) to your nearest library and check out a copy today!

Happy reading!

Note: No goods or services were exchanged for this review. The opinions belong solely to the reviewer.