Timothy and the Dragon's Gate

When we meet Timothy he has finally been kicked out of every school in London. Timothy’s problem is he’s just too smart for his own good, causing problems wherever he goes. This traditional premise underlies a book full of adventure (and wit), as Timothy is charged with helping a dragon. The characters are what make this book memorable and worthwhile. Kress even finds a way to incorporate several of the characters from her first book, Alex and the Ironic Gentleman. There is no deep message here, but who needs depth when you can have dragons, pirates, ninjas, and maybe even a laugh?

It took me a while to get around to reading this book, but when I did, I had a great time reading it. I was a bit alarmed by the beginning, since it seemed like the first few chapters were mostly the narrator taking pot-shots at adults, but it turned out that she was actually taking pot-shots at stupid adults (always a good thing), and meanwhile revealing some character flaws in her protagonist, Timothy.

The fact that this book is the second in a series affects not at all your ability to read it as a stand-alone novel... though reading this text only got me interested in reading the first book in the series, to see how the young lady named Alex, who turns up in this story about two-thirds of the way in, became the wonderful character show more she is.

In any case, this is an impressive novel for young readers, but it's damn fun for adults too. Kress combines an unhinged playfulness with a kind of hilariously cynical realism, and the result is delightful. show less

Timothy Freshwater is a smart, cynical eleven year old who is almost too smart for his own good. After being expelled from the last school in town that would accept him, Timothy’s father brings him to work where Timothy meets the big boss, CEO Evans Bore and the company mail clerk, Mr. Shen. When timothy’s father leaves on a business trip, Timothy is left with a reclusive neighbour, Sir Bazalgette, a well-respected and famous architect. These three people, Evans Bore, Mr. Shen and Sir Bazalgette, then lead Timothy on the wildest, most unexpected adventure of his young life.

I read this book in three days and enjoyed every minute. It has all the ingredients of a rollicking good fantasy adventure story filled with bigger than life show more people, heroic heroes, colourful villains and non-stop action. The story flows from one madcap adventure into another as Timothy and his friends get out of one scrape only to land in another.

I’m happy to report that Timothy is not your typical ‘good boy’ character. I think that would be too boring. As mentioned before, he has a cynical side to him and his favourite word to any adult that tries to be condescending is ‘whatever’. There is plenty to like about his character, though, and that makes this story special.

Though Timothy and The Dragon’s Gate is a YA novel, adults can enjoy it as well. As a matter of fact, this book is littered with all sorts of clever and unexpected bits of humour that would appeal to many adults. From page 225:

Captain Magnanimous smiled and they all followed him down into the hold of the Valiant, where, in this case, the cells were completely filled with cutthroat pirates.
“And little old ladies?” whispered Timothy to Alex.
“Don’t get me started on them,” replied Alex, glaring at a group of five little old ladies in a separate cage who, in turn, glared right back at her.

This is a great ‘can’t put it down’ book for kids. And for those adults who loved the Harry Potter books – you'll love this one too! show less

For my fourth Canadian author I chose Adrienne Kress, who, amusingly enough, turns out to be an old school friends-fiance's-cousin. Apparently, contrary to popular belief, the world is so small I may just fall off the edge one of these days.

Oddly I had trouble getting a hold of her first book, Alex and the Ironic Gentleman, but it didn't appear they were related so I grabbed the first copy of Timothy and the Dragon's Gate I could find and got down to reading. And what an entertaining few days it has been! Adrienne has this wonderfully funny, tongue and cheek way of writing, that not only completely suits her intended audience but was thoroughly entertaining for me as well, and clearly I am not 11. Though maybe not that clearly as you show more can't actually see me.

Timothy is a troublemaker. He's been expelled from every school in the city, so his dad takes him to work with him (at a total loss what to do with him other than that); where one thing leads to another and pretty soon he's embroiled in the biggest bit of trouble he's ever managed. Mr Shen is a dragon, trapped in a man's body, who's a slave to whomever has possession of his key. The plan is to get Mr Shen to China, to the Dragon's Gate where they can release him from his bondage after all these years but with Pirates, Ninjas, Shaolin Monks, some crazy black cabs, a Teacher and his Parents in the way, it could be somewhat tricky.

Turns out this book was linked up to Alex and the Ironic Gentleman, but it was easily read independently so no worries if you too have trouble getting your hands on it first. As I mentioned, Adrienne's brand of humor is really enjoyable, a mix of the staccato laughs an 11 year old would love mixed with a certain amount of the world weariness only an adult writer would be able to provide. Although most 11 year olds might not realize it yet, the practicalities of getting a job as a Ninja after finishing Ninja school can be challenging, and the little blurb Adrienne casually throws in about that particular problem had me laughing out loud. What I also really loved was how this didn't stop Adrienne's particular Ninja, she still went on to a professional living. I'm a big fan of leaving practicalities until such a point in life they can't be avoided, if you want to be a Ninja when you grow up, then by all means you should do it (I might still do it, as long as I don't discover I'm a really rich faeire princess first).

A super read that makes me wish I had someone little to read it out loud with (not my own of course, just a cute borrowed one off the street. The non-lippy version I can give away when they get too demanding or exhausting.) show less

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

Timothy Freshwater, 11 years old, has been expelled from the last school in the city. He’s played too many pranks and his teachers say he’s “too smart for his own good.” Since he’s now out of school, Mr. Bore, the CEO of the company his dad works for, recruits Timothy as his intern so Timothy can teach Mr. Bore how to make people like him. In Mr. Bore’s office, Timothy also meets Mr. Shen, a small Chinese man who happens to be an enslaved dragon. In order to free him so he can regain his dragon form, someone must steal a golden key from Mr. Bore and take Mr. Shen to China so he can pass through the Dragon’s Gate. That someone turns out to be Timothy, but it’s not as easy as he show more hopes because he’s being pursued by a Ninja and three mysterious black taxicabs.

Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate is Adrienne Kress’s second children’s novel, following her debut Alex and the Ironic Gentleman. Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate stands alone, but Alex, the heroine of the first novel, turns up somewhere in the middle of this story.

I read one third of Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate and then I called it quits. I had three problems with the book. I would have been able to get past one or two of them, but this particular triumvirate was just too much and I eventually decided that there are better ways to spend my time.

My first issue was that I disliked Timothy. He’s sullen, cynical, and completely disinterested in other people. All he wants to do is watch TV. He’s a brat. As far as I could tell, Timothy had no positive personality traits. Based on the blurb for the book, I was expecting Timothy to be clever, but I didn’t think he was particularly clever. The author tells us he is, but I think he only seemed clever in contrast to the adults we meet.

Which brings me to my second issue: the adults in the first third of the novel, without exception, are unbelievably absurd. With parents like that, it’s no wonder Timothy’s so obnoxious. And Mr. Bore the CEO taking advice about personality improvement from Timothy and asking him to plan a fancy party? Right. I’m sure Adrienne Kress meant for the adults to be ludicrous — there’s a quirky feel to the novel that often works — but this unpleasantness was just another brick in the wall for me.

Thirdly, though I usually think an intrusive narrator is fun, I didn’t like this one. He’s supposed to be drily humorous, but it wasn’t working for me. I just didn’t think these sorts of intrusions were funny: “The crazy man nodded that he understood, or maybe just nodded because he liked the sensation of nodding, and stood quickly.” I listened to the audiobook version of Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate, produced by Brilliance Audio and read by Christopher Lane. I could not tell if I just didn’t like the intrusive narrator in audio, or if it would have come across the same way in print. I did think Christopher Lane did a great job with the character voices, though.

Again, any of these issues by itself wouldn’t have kept me from continuing Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate — there were some parts that were delightfully quirky (e.g., the fish herder was hilarious) and I was interested in the female Ninja’s story. I feel certain that Timothy’s nasty personality would have mellowed and redeemed itself by the end of the book, too. But the journey wasn’t pleasant for me and I didn’t want to be around Timothy and all those stupid adults anymore, so I quit. I think I would have liked Adrienne Kress’s first novel, Alex and the Ironic Gentleman, better. show less

This simplistic young-adult novel was really quite fun. It mostly seemed like an adventure novel, with the main character, Timothy, as the too-smart-for-his-own-good kid who gets expelled from all the schools in his city in the first chapter. Hilarity ensues. Really, there were a lot of times that I just wanted to smack the kid. I'm not sure if the author intended for there to be serious irony every time the main character expressed his annoyance with another character, but I did start to feel like he was a spoiled brat by the end of it.

I had not read the first book in the series, although I understand them to be complete stories in and of themselves. (This one certainly ends, as opposed to leaving us at a cliff hanger, which is a show more plus.) Overall, a rather enjoyable "young adult" novel, but nothing terribly important or urgent. show less

[LT early reviewer]
One of my kids read this before I did. Here's my 12-year old's review, followed by my own. The 'star' rating is my own:

"Overall, I liked this book because it had a lot of action, there was a lot of description, and the plot was amazing. This book is one of my favorites and definitely one of a kind. Once I started it I couldn't put it down! I think that you should read this book if you like adventure and science fiction. It is now my favorite book! Compared to the Harry Potter books, this one has the same amount of action, if not more, but a different setting and character personalities. I love the Harry Potter series, but this one I love just as much!"

My review:
It's hard to review a book aimed at the pre-teen show more audience, because I can't really use the same standards and comparisons I would use for 'grown-up' literature. However, the best overall observation I could make to get across my take on this work is that I often found myself thinking "Now that's how you write for my kids!" Kress seems to be very aware of her audience and makes sure their needs are met, while not talking down to them - incorporating "grown-up" language and style, but to a limited extent (almost surepticiously). At the same time, I have to say I stayed engaged in the story, and, after the first third of the book, had to finish it to find out how things turned out. It's a good fun story, it involves kids who are realistic (meaning, warts and insecurities and all). The kids exceed expectations, but Kress doesn't try to hammer home a moral. There are lessons in there, but they are very much left for the subconcious to note.

All in all, a good fun read for any tween (or precocious 8-year old), with a fun story, lots of action, and plenty of wise-cracks.

Os. show less