Tracey West

"Rise of the Earth Dragon" by Tracy West follows the story of a young boy named Drake who, one day, is suddenly taken to the castle of King Roland the Bold. He is told that he is a Dragon Master, and is destined to train and befriend a dragon.

Well, that dragon is Worm, a seemingly underwhelming earth dragon that cannot breathe fire or fly. Throughout the story, Drake and Worm grow closer and eventually reveal his power to manipulate objects with his mind. Additionally, it is revealed that show more the dragons are not necessarily in the castle from their own free will...

Drake goes from a peasant boy picking onions in a field to a Dragon Master in just a few short days, but he also learns the importance of friendship and family after being taken away from it. After getting into trouble with his friends and his dragon, they all recognize that they placed themselves in a bad situation and own up to their mistake, which I believe is a great lesson for little kids to understand.

While this is only the first of a short series, I would strongly recommend this book for young children with a love of fantasy (and dragons)! show less

{My thoughts} – Heru is back with his Moon Dragon Wati. Upon their arrival Ana’s Sun Dragon Kepri is happy to see her twin again. Although the reunion is not a good one, it is still nice for them to be in the same place. Heru comes with news that the Prime Dragon Stone is in trouble and that the Dragon Masters must help him find it to restore it’s proper balance. While the Dragon Masters are gone with Heru, Griffith stays back to try and see what he can find in his books about the show more Prime Dragon Stone.

It turns out that in order for the Dragon Masters to get to the Prime Dragon Stone that they need to work through a series of puzzles. Once they figure out each puzzle they get one room closer to the Prime Dragon Stone. When they reach the end, even they weren’t expecting the surprise they found.

I really enjoy the tie in with the previous characters in the books into the newer books. I am also liking that there are more and more dragons being added, which is helping to keep a continued interest in the storyline. This continued interest is what is helping me to continue through the series. I look forward to reading the next book in the series soon. show less

Apparently based on some sort of animated movie. It's certainly how it reads, as the action is more or less nonstop as Anakin and Ahsoka slice their way through relentless waves of battle droids like Swiss cheese. I'm sure the Star Wars-obsessed elementary school student will want to read this, but I'm not sure who else would - I'm sure the book doesn't compare to the movie. Darth Sidious and Count Dooku make cameo appearances in order to place the book in the mythos and further the story show more arc slightly. It's so difficult to buy into Anakin at this age as ever turning to the dark side, as the authors are thrilled to make him their superhero. Still, at the elementary school level, I suppose the tortured anti-hero bit that I'm looking for doesn't really play well. show less

I was so annoyed with the last beginning chapter series I tried (Kingdom of Wrenly) that I didn't feel like ever reading another beginning chapter fantasy again. However, several people suggested this Branches series, "Dragon Masters" and I got back up onto the horse (or dragon, as it may be) and gave it a go.

I really liked it. It's not perfect, it's not exactly what I'm looking for, but it avoids a lot of the flaws I've seen in other beginning chapter fantasies and I think it will be show more popular.

In the first book, Rise of the Earth Dragon, Drake gets taken from his family's onion farm up to the castle to become a dragon master. He's assigned to an earth dragon, whom he names Worm, and meets the other dragon masters and their dragons. Drake is excited and scared to be a dragon master, especially when the other kids aren't friendly and it becomes apparent that there many secrets; what does King Roland want with the dragons? Why are they a secret?

The second book, Saving the Sun Dragon, continues the story. After the children's adventure in the tunnels, when they are saved by Worm, some of the dark magic they encounter has affected Ana's dragon, Kepri. The children and the wizard who mentors them try to heal her, especially when King Roland threatens to take away Wizard Griffiths, but they are unsuccessful. Only when Drake discovers another secret power of his dragon Worm are they able to heal Kepri - and go on an exciting adventure.

Each of the four children are loosely associated with the nationality of the mythology their dragon is drawn from. Worm and Drake, and the general setting of the story, are Welsh, Rori and her dragon Vulcan are Irish/British, Bo and his dragon Shu are Asian, Ana and her dragon Kepri are Persian maybe? The stories still stick to the European boy as underdog hero, but at least a variety of nationalities and genders are included. I also liked that the stories don't glorify feudalism (or, at least they haven't yet). King Roland isn't the good and wise king of Disneyfied fairy tales and the children and dragons miss their homes and families.

Verdict: There are not a lot of beginning chapter fantasies available and I don't get asked for them often, but I wonder if that's cause and effect; if there were more available (and I promoted them more) would kids ask for them more? Regardless, I think this is the best that I've looked at so far. Tracey West has an engaging writing style and knows what kids will enjoy reading. If you're looking for beginning chapter fantasies, these are a good choice.

Rise of the earth dragon
ISBN: 9780545646239

Saving the sun dragon
ISBN: 9780545646253

Published 2014 by Scholastic; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library show less