Ping grows from a frightened slave girl with no name into a strong, self-sufficient young woman who knows her purpose, and witty, warm Danzi will have every reader wishing for a scaly companion of his or her very own. But how is it that a grubby slave girl has come to be the keeper of the last imperial dragon? Only when the friends reach their destination will Ping be able to see herself as Danzi sees her, and learn to use the unique talents she alone possesses.ĭragon Keeper is a humorous, wise quest tale with strong, identifiable characterizations. Early on in the journey, Ping knows the dragon and the mysterious purple stone he carries are very special. When the next to last dies, the remaining dragon, Long Danzi, coaxes Ping into helping him flee to the faraway ocean. Under his watch, the Emperor’s dragons have dwindled from a magnificent dozen to a miserable two. Her master is a boorish drunk who neglects his duties as Imperial Dragon Keeper. In the year 141 B.C., Ping is an illiterate Chinese orphan who lives on the edge of one of the Emperor’s least-used royal palaces. No redistribution permitted.Dragons fascinate children of all ages, and Carole Wilkinson’s inspired mix of myth and historical fact will leave young readers wistfully listening for wing beats. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. VERDICT Perfect for library collections where dragon fantasy books are popular.-Jessica Moody, Olympus Junior High, Holladay, UT © Copyright 2018. The characters are likable and enchanting. Although the story is slow to get started, the plot is engaging and full of adventure. Her narrative technique works well with the author's pacing and style. Narrator Caroline Lee's melodic voice brings to life the world of ancient China for readers. Soon, the girl learns she too has powers, but before she can master them, she must discover who she is. On the run from imperial troops, spies, and dragon hunters, they must reach the ocean in order for the creature to replenish its powers. After befriending an aging dragon, the girl helps it escape from her brutal master. Gr 3-7-In Han Dynasty China, an enslaved girl with no name is charged with caring for the imperial dragons. Judith Ridge is on the editorial staff of NSWs The School Magazine, and is the owner of, a website dedicated to Australian childrens literature. Nevertheless, Wilkinson succeeds in making us care for the fate of Ping and her wounded and weakened dragon, and the sights, smells and tastes of this fantastic ancient China are fully realised. Mostly, Wilkinson achieves what she is aiming for my main reservation is that at some of the novels most dramatic moments, the writing remains prosaic and explicatory, when it needs to be dramatically engaging. Dragonkeeper is an ambitious novel, marrying ancient Chinese history and (almost certainly re-imagined, if well-researched) culture with magic and fantasy. Ping gradually comes to terms with the fact that, far from being a mere slave girl barely worthy of a name, she is in fact a powerful Dragonkeeper. Along the way, the trio battle a vile dragon hunter, a shape-changing necromancer and other foes who sometimes come in the guise of friends. Dragonkeeper is the story of an 11-year-old slave girl, Ping, who saves the life of the last Imperial Dragon and unwittingly and unwillingly sets off on a quest with the dragon and her beloved pet rat to reach Ocean, a place of sanctuary and healing that Ping isnt even sure exists.
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