The Fire Within

I have been seeing this book around for years. I love dragons, but only recently decided to FINALLY pick it up and read it. Even now, it was only after my mom and sister picked up a used copy of the second book and gave it to me. I read this one for my local library's summer reading program, as a way to start catching up to books I already own and have been meaning to read. I really believe that when you're meant to read a book or watch a movie, you will, and not a moment sooner than necessary. That proved true with this book.

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I got. I was almost expecting an entire fantasy world, like the kind you get in a standard dragon book. I should know better by now. This book was a total show more surprise to me and I actually enjoyed it a whole lot. It was much more "domestic" than I thought it would be, centering around a mom, her daughter, and a college student who lives with them as their tenant, who all live in the real world we know. The dragons are clay. This I definitely wasn't expecting. I also didn't expect the college student to turn into a writer, or for the book to inspire me so much writing wise. I've been trying to do some more writing lately, but my last story was all show and no tell. I was just getting it down on paper to have it there...and it has absolutely little, to no, heart in it....yet. Reading this book made me rethink my writing process. It made me think harder about what I do as a writer and what I could do. It made me do a lot of reflection on myself, while telling a very entertaining and heartfelt story. I would definitely read this book again and it's one that I would love to own. I would even consider it a good lesson in story telling. I will probably revisit this story again and again and constantly keep it in mind when I am writing.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go try and make myself a clay dragon...I think it's just the thing I need to have right now.

You can read more in depth book reviews on my blog: www.therealworldaccordingtosam.blogspot.com show less

We read this for my Summer 2023 Fantasy Fans (elementary) book club. Friends, the Fantasy Fans and I did not like this book. The premise is great (college student moves in with eccentric woman and her very friendly daughter) but the execution leaves something to be desired, namely dragons.

Do you see the dragon's eye on the cover? You'd think there'd be a lot of dragons, right? No. This book is mostly about squirrels. Which is fine if you want to read a book about squirrels but we wanted to read a book about dragons. Miles read the second book and said there are waaaaaay more dragons in that one (and zero squirrels) but I'm sorry, I have lost all faith in books that say they're about dragons. We would not recommend this book to our friends.

College student, David, rents a room from Liz Pennykettle and her 11 year old daughter, Lucy. Liz is a potter who makes dragons and gives David a dragon of his own, which he names Gadzooks. Lucy has a special affinity for squirrels who have been disappearing from their yard, looking for food ever since the large oak in the neighborhood was chopped down. Only one remains; one with one eye whose sense of direction and equilibrium is now faulty. She involves David in helping to save it. David is drawn in, to the squirrels and the unusual family with its mysterious dragons. As he becomes more involved he begins to write the tale of Conker, the one-eyed squirrel, with the aid of his dragon. Lovely children's story with a tale of fantasy show more woven through. show less

I decided to read a children’s book as a change of pace, and Chris D’Lacey’s The Fire Within was a perfect choice. A young college student, David, moves into the home of mother and daughter, Elizabeth and Lucy, expecting just a room to sleep in and food to eat. But he soon becomes part of the family, helping Lucy in her quest to save the squirrel next door which was left injured when its tree was chopped down. The novel has a beautiful mixture of nature and fantasy, with delightful relationships, childlike innocence, and a real concern for the environment blended with an intriguing touch of magic. For Elizabeth makes beautiful kiln-fired dragons, and no one should ever make a dragon cry.

The fire of the title lies in the heart, of show more dragon or man. It’s kindled in story-telling and fills the pages of books and libraries. It conquers tragedy with honest tales and tears. And it’s wakened by love.

The Fire Within is a great book for any child who loves squirrels and/or cats and/or dragons. It’s a wonderful source of encouragement for library visits, nature quests, art and writing. The simple text and many layers of story should intrigue both eager and reluctant readers and inspire them to look for more. I really loved this book. show less

It’s now been a while since I read this book so I’ve forgotten so many details. But I particularly wanted my first blog entry [this was originally posted on my newly created blog] to be about The fire within because I was so delightfully surprised by it.

My bookshelf is crammed with books waiting to be read - sometimes I wonder how I ever ended up with so many. And the list of books I either want to borrow or buy is even longer. Perhaps I should give up work and devote more time to simply reading.

Anyway, I have arranged my “to be read” shelves in order - basically along the lines of “newest acquisition to the back” but also with an eye to providing balance and contrast. I also cheat sometimes and bring absolute must reads show more straight to the front.

As a result, some of the books on my shelf have been there for years, and I am determined to get through them all. I can usually remember exactly where, when and why I picked them up. Not so this one. When I finally reached the turn of The fire within I couldn’t for the life of me remember how I’d ended up with it. I groaned inwardly at the prospect of reading it because it showed a dragon on the cover, and, with exceptions, I am bored by much of fantasy.

But, having reached it, I decided I might as well at least have a look. And was immediately captivated. I can’t even quite decide the intended audience of the book. It is written as though for a younger audience - say a 10 year old - but the protagonist is 20 and his 10/11 year old friend is portrayed as very immature (if nice).

Far more important to me is that it isn’t fantasy at all. Not in the sense of a fantasy universe populated by princesses and dragons. Instead, it dwells on that delightful knife-edge between reality and “what if...” At no point does it become obvious whether or not the dragons are real, or whether they are simply a creative visualisation. The dragons could simply be a kind of imaginary “spirit guide” - a means of accessing the subconscious. Or, there could be more to the universe than we will ever understand.

In other words - this book dances in the wonder of our own universe, reminding us that life is infinite while our understanding is not. In that sense (but that sense only) it reminds me of David Almond, and I am so glad that it somehow at some point found its way to my shelf. show less

I really enjoyed this a lot. It was nothing like I had imagined it; much more realistic with a touch of magic, rather than blatant fantasy. It also features several more squirrels than I would have anticipated. Even so, I really liked it--perhaps more so than I would have otherwise. It was easy to imagine this family really existing, and I'm certain I'll think about them anytime I go somewhere selling dragon sculptures.

The only real complaint that I had was that I didn't think the main character was realistically 20. He kept saying "I have to go to college now," though nobody really says it like that, and the squirrel thing seemed like his whole life. I'd have expected him to have pre-existing friends and hobbies that he also would show more have, even mentioned briefly as a background thing. He also seemed just a little too attached to his teddy bear; I know a lot of adults still have their teddy bears from childhood, but I feel like it's uncommon to reference them as frequently as he referenced his. show less

I found this book rather boring and repetitive and this has left me questioning whether to carry on and read the series. A 20 year old student David comes to live with Liz and her persistent, annoying daughter Lucy. I personally found Lucy’s intrusive behaviour and her mother's pandering to her every whim annoying. Liz sculpts ceramic dragons and the house is full of them. David is left wondering what's the Hrrr coming from her studio and how does she fire them without a kiln? Lucy knows the dragon secrets but isn't allowed to tell. The dragons Liz creates for people have that person characteristics, inner desire sculpted in them. Liz sculpts David a dragon named Gadzooks that seems to be helping him write. Lucy is constantly latched show more 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. In the last few chapters David learns of the secret and that believing and loving your dragon keeps the fire within it to stay kindled. show less