| Orphans -- Juvenile fiction. |
| Dragons -- Juvenile fiction. |
| Courage -- Juvenile fiction. |
| Friendship -- Juvenile fiction. |
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Summary
Summary
Nominated for the Children's Book Council of Australia Awards short list, this novel tells a story of the magical and majestic world of dragons, the power of believing in oneself, and the meaning of courage.
Reviews: (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-9-When Ping, an 11-year-old slave girl, is unexpectedly thrust into the role of Dragon Keeper she has no idea how dramatically her life will change or what adventures await her in this work of historical fantasy by Carol Wilkinson (Hyperion, 2005). Along with the ancient Imperial Dragon, Long Danzi, and her pet rat, Ping journeys across China with the goal of taking the mysterious purple dragon stone to the faraway ocean. The three unlikely companions face an evil dragon slayer, a necromancer, and others who wish to claim the dragon stone. With the help of Long Danzi's Zen-like wisdom and direction, Ping changes from a scared child into a creative and self-assured young woman. Unfortunately, the nasal quality of Nancy Wu's voice detracts from the pleasure of listening to this complex, improbable, and overly descriptive, but always entertaining quest tale. Still, young readers who are fascinated by all things dragon will enjoy the creative tale.-Cindy Lombardo, Tuscarawas County Public Library, New Philadelphia, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
After Ping, a slave girl, helps the last imperial dragon escape death at the hands of a dragon hunter, the unlikely companions begin an arduous journey across China toward the sea. Set in the year 141 B.C.E., the story takes some implausible turns, but the characters, their relationship, and the unique setting make for an interesting read. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
In this award-winning but uneven import, a young slave, her pet rat and a very old dragon flee across the ancient empire of the Han. Fugitives from a remote Imperial Palace, Ping, furry Hua and frail Long Danzi, last of the Emperor's captive dragons, set out for the ocean, carrying a "Dragon Stone" with which Danzi is strangely obsessed. Repeatedly getting each other out of scrapes along the way, Ping develops a great attachment to her terse, grumpy companion, while discovering within herself both latent magical powers and the resourcefulness to carry on when, at journey's end, Danzi and Hua leave her alone. Not quite alone: readers will figure out long before she does what the Dragon Stone really is. Though Wilkinson barely sketches in the historical setting, and mishandles the plot--dropping one scary pursuer abruptly and setting up a climactic battle with another by having Danzi commit a seriously against-type betrayal--she throws an engrossing barrage of challenges and reversals of fortune at her trio of well-drawn travelers, and all three acquit themselves well. (Fantasy. 11-13) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 4-6. An 11-year-old slave girl without a name has lived at a remote palace in ancient China since her parents sold her to Lan, the brutal Imperial Dragon Keeper. Fearing dragons, China's emperor sent Lan and his charges far from the court, and the dragons have been kept locked in a dark, dank pit ever since. Only two of the dozen or so beasts are still alive. After one dies, and the remaining, elderly dragon is threatened with death, the child takes a brave stand and helps it escape. What ensues is a dramatic and dangerous flight toward freedom as dragon and child find themselves pursued by not only a vicious dragon hunter but also an evil necromancer. With the dragon as mentor, the girl learns her name and discovers her destiny as a Dragon Keeper. The relationship between the child and the beast stands at the heart of this compelling adventure, which is infused with humor as well as peril. --Sally Estes Copyright 2005 Booklist