Bone # 4: The Dragonslayer adds maturity to the Bone series like The Goblet of Fire adds maturity to the Harry Potter series. Dragonslayer is better than its predecessors, the pace is faster, but there is an exponential increase in violence.
Of course, the amount of violence is appropriate to a certain age level. For that reason after having read this book, I would not recommend the series to a child under 9 (Grade 4).
Plot Summary:
Phoncible P. Bone, Fone Bone's conniving cousin, has convinced the town that he is their only hope against the red dragon. Meanwhile, Thorn, Grandma Ben, and Fone Bone escape the farm and head to the town for safety. They are intercepted by none other than Kingdok, the king of the rat creatures. Thorn cuts off Kingdok's arm (the scene is rather graphic). All are saved, and mostly unhurt, though Fone Bone is bleeding from his head. Grandma Ben tells Thorn that she is the "awakened one" and prophecies a terrible path ahead of her. Grandma Ben disappears. Thorn and Fone Bone return to the town and smuggle in a baby rat creature that they have found. Thorn is afflicted by dreams, through which the dark enemy is trying to reach her. The "dragonslayer", Phoncible, is forced to go catch his dragon. The whole town leaves to witness the slaying, and they actually catch a dragon, but Thorn releases it. Down below, they suddenly see that their town is being attacked.
Mature Aspects:
-Thorn cuts off Kingdok's arm
-Fone's bloody cut
-Fone inspects Kingdok's arm, which lies unattached and bleeding
-The enemy meetings--hooded figure, locusts, rat creatures--could be compared to an orc scene in the Lord of the Rings
I liked:
-The run of the plot
-The bravery of the characters (Thorn, Fone Bone, Grandma Ben)
-The suspense and the buildup to the next book
No comments:
Post a Comment