Dragonhaven facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Robin McKinley |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Pamelina Hovnathnian |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Putnam |
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Publication date
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2007 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 352 |
| ISBN | 978-0-399-24675-3 |
| OCLC | 122525557 |
| LC Class | PZ7.M1988 Dr 2007 |
Dragonhaven is an exciting fantasy novel written by Robin McKinley. It was published by Putnam in 2007. This book takes readers on an adventure where a young boy forms a special bond with a dragon.
Contents
What is Dragonhaven About?
The story of Dragonhaven takes place in a special place called Smokehill National Park. This park is a huge wildlife preserve. Its main goal is to protect and study dragons. Dragons are very shy creatures here. You can find signs that they exist everywhere, but it's rare to actually see one.
Jake's Big Discovery
The main character is a young boy named Jake Mendoza. He lives in the park with his father, who is in charge of everything. One day, Jake goes out on his first solo overnight trip. This is a big step for him. During his trip, he finds a dying dragon. This dragon was badly hurt by a poacher. A poacher is someone who illegally hunts animals. This poacher had broken into the park's protected area.
A Secret Baby Dragon
Finding a dragon that has been hurt by a human is a huge problem for Smokehill National Park. The park already faces challenges because some people don't want dragons to be protected. But Jake's discovery gets even more complicated. He realizes the dying dragon was a mother, and her baby dragon is still alive! It is against the rules to save the baby dragon. However, Jake can't leave it to die. So, he secretly takes the tiny dragon home and starts to raise it.
Challenges and Friendship
Jake's secret creates a lot of trouble. The family of the poacher wants the dragons in the park to be killed. Jake and the park rangers work hard to convince everyone that dragons are peaceful and friendly creatures.
Most of the story shows Jake's growing friendship with the young dragon, who he names Lois. He learns all about caring for a wild animal that has no parents. The book also shows how Jake grows up from a child into a young adult. At first, the story is told in a simple way, like a child would write. But as Jake matures, his writing style in the book changes too.
Saving Dragonhaven
In the end, Jake and his dragon friends manage to save Smokehill National Park. They slowly learn how humans and dragons can talk to each other using their minds. This amazing discovery proves that dragons are just as smart as humans. It also shows that dragons want to live in peace with people.
Main Characters
- Jake Mendoza - The main character of the story.
- Lois - The baby dragon Jake finds and raises.
- Martha - A friend of Jake's.
- Eleanor - Martha's younger sister.
- Billy - The Head Ranger at Smokehill National Park.
- Frank Mendoza - Jake's father and the park director.
- Eric - Someone who doesn't like Jake.
- Snark - Jake's dog, who has passed away.
- Bud and Gulp - Two dragons Jake becomes friends with because of Lois.
- Grace - Billy's wife.
- Katie - Martha and Eleanor's Mother.
- Poacher - The person who harms Lois's mother.
