The fire within

Chris D'Lacey

Book - 2005

When David moves in with Liz and Lucy, he discovers a collection of hand crafted, clay dragons that comes to life and has magical powers.

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jFICTION/D'Lacey, Chris
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Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room jFICTION/D'Lacey, Chris Checked In
Children's Room jFICTION/D'Lacey, Chris Checked In
Subjects
Published
New York : Orchard 2005, c2001.
Language
English
Main Author
Chris D'Lacey (-)
Edition
1st Scholastic hc. ed
Item Description
Sequel: Icefire.
Physical Description
340 p. ; 20 cm
ISBN
9781435207448
9780439672436
9781841215334
Contents unavailable.
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-8-This British import has a satisfying domestic reality, spiced with some very unusual dragons. When college student David Rain begins rooming at the home of Liz Pennykettle and her 11-year-old daughter, Lucy, he becomes aware of a variety of unusual happenings connected to the clay dragons that Liz creates and sells. As David slowly learns about the family's past and abilities, he has to decide whether to accept Gadzooks, the special dragon Liz made for him. Lucy's attempts to save the neighborhood squirrels from a scheming neighbor are a second plot focus. A fictional story David writes for Lucy about these animals mirrors real developments in their lives, creating an unusual story-within-a-story. In spite of the dragon's eye staring out from the cover, readers may not find what they expect here-there are no magical battles or world-spanning quests to be found. Instead, d'Lacey has created a realistic relationship among David, Liz, and the appealingly strong-willed Lucy, and his dragon's small size is mirrored in the limited magic it performs. Information about the dragons' past and the promise of further stories from David leave ample room for the sequel. Fire Within is a smooth read and an original addition to dragon lore.-Beth L. Meister, Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

David rents a room from Liz and her daughter Lucy and finds himself embroiled in an adventure involving squirrels, storytelling, and a lot of clay dragons who may or may not be alive. D'Lacey's characters are realistic and engaging; although his many plots are woven a bit awkwardly, the story is a page-turner. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

D'Lacey mixes up a lovely bag of dragons, squirrels and a strangely appropriate adult protagonist. Twenty-year-old David comes to live in Liz and Lucy's extra room in a house full of ceramic dragons. Liz sculpts them, but what's the Hrrr coming from her studio and how does she fire them without a kiln? Liz's young daughter Lucy knows the dragon secrets but isn't allowed to tell. Lucy latches on to David and pulls him into her search for an injured squirrel in the backyard and the nearby library gardens. She practically forces David to write a book for her about the squirrels she knows. Liz gives David a dragon named Gadzooks that seems to be helping him write somehow. Liz is an appealing mix of secretly magic-loving adult and disciplinarian. Two stories-within-the-story are inexplicably blander than the main narrative. Infused with a gentle sense of wonder. (Fantasy. 7-11) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.