Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
The destruction of several books is featured
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s hard for me to believe that I didn’t do this review earlier, though we did finish reading as I was tackling a sizable backlog. Boo! This series deserves better than a months-stale review. But it is what it is, and the least the series deserves is a late review.
Amazon's blurb for the first book is as follows: "Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon. Can Hiccup do it without being torn limb from limb? Join the adventures and misadventures as he finds a new way to train dragons...and becomes a hero."
I think we ended up reading book number one of this fairly hefty twelve-volume series because it was on a fourth grade reading list. Little did I know that book one would not be enough for us, and that we would end up buying Eamon the entire box set and giving months of our bedtime reading to enjoying this together. I suppose that I expected something akin to the How to Train Your Dragon movies and maybe even the TV series, and I imagine I thought that the books were not going to be as good. And why were there twelve, anyhow? The movie is just one fairly simple story.
Well, that’s because the books and the movies are nothing alike.
Honestly, I find myself a little irritated that the movie even goes by the same title as the books. “Inspired by,” (and naming characters after) would be more accurate. Other than the names and a similar world, the books and movie have different moods, feels, language, characters (even though they go by the same names), plot, morals, etc. Not that the movie is bad. It’s a contemporary classic for a reason (Well, the first one, anyways) but I just want to reiterate: they have not much in common. They are both brilliant in their own way.
And the books are completely brilliant. I love them. My son loved them. When painting our eight stairs with book spines, the kids each got to chose one title, and Eamon—instead of Where the Red Fern Grows, Danny the Champion of the World, or Sign of the Beaver—went for How to Train Your Dragon.
Full disclosure: these books are written by the college friend of Lauren Child. When I found this out, I understood part of why I was loving it so much. Both Cressida Cowell and Lauren Child (author of the Charlie and Lola, Ruby Redfort, and Clarice Bean series) have a similar tone and similar voice. They are both funny and wildly imaginative, both like children who have never quiet grown up, like Willy Wonka or, his creator, Roald Dahl.
All that nepotism aside, however, How to Train Your Dragon stands alone based on writing, plot, and characters. The writing is smooth and engaging. The plots keep you reading. And the characters are charming and develop over time. Though not every kid will be in for dragons and Vikings, give it a try anyhow. Your kid may just end up wanting to know what happens to Hiccup, Fishlegs, and Camicazi, wanting to join them for their continually spiraling adventures.
I probably had some complaints about these books while I was reading them (like maybe I didn't love some of the stylized illustrations (which kids will)), but time has left a pleasantly warm feeling. I would re-read them. I hope my son will, too.
Book list:
How to Train Your Dragon (2003)
How to Be A Pirate (2004)
How to Speak Dragonese (2005)
How to Cheat A Dragon's Curse (2006)
How to Twist A Dragon's Tale (2007)
A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons (2008)
How to Ride A Dragon's Storm (2009)
How to Break A Dragon's Heart (2010)
How to Steal A Dragon's Sword (2011)
How to Seize A Dragon's Jewel (2012)
How to Betray A Dragon's Hero (2013)
How to Fight a Dragon's Fury (2015)
New series, beginning 2017: The Wizards of Once
__________
MOVIE: I already mentioned the movie above. I would definitely recommend that you watch the first one, if you have not already. It’s a great movie, though hardly resembles the books. The second movie is okay. Take it or leave it. You won’t regret renting it for family movie night. (The third movie comes out this year.) The TV series, although somewhat popular, is not a favorite of mine. Read the whole book series, watch the first movie, and marvel at how different they are.
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG***
Amazon's blurb for the first book is as follows: "Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon. Can Hiccup do it without being torn limb from limb? Join the adventures and misadventures as he finds a new way to train dragons...and becomes a hero."
I think we ended up reading book number one of this fairly hefty twelve-volume series because it was on a fourth grade reading list. Little did I know that book one would not be enough for us, and that we would end up buying Eamon the entire box set and giving months of our bedtime reading to enjoying this together. I suppose that I expected something akin to the How to Train Your Dragon movies and maybe even the TV series, and I imagine I thought that the books were not going to be as good. And why were there twelve, anyhow? The movie is just one fairly simple story.
Well, that’s because the books and the movies are nothing alike.
Honestly, I find myself a little irritated that the movie even goes by the same title as the books. “Inspired by,” (and naming characters after) would be more accurate. Other than the names and a similar world, the books and movie have different moods, feels, language, characters (even though they go by the same names), plot, morals, etc. Not that the movie is bad. It’s a contemporary classic for a reason (Well, the first one, anyways) but I just want to reiterate: they have not much in common. They are both brilliant in their own way.
And the books are completely brilliant. I love them. My son loved them. When painting our eight stairs with book spines, the kids each got to chose one title, and Eamon—instead of Where the Red Fern Grows, Danny the Champion of the World, or Sign of the Beaver—went for How to Train Your Dragon.
Full disclosure: these books are written by the college friend of Lauren Child. When I found this out, I understood part of why I was loving it so much. Both Cressida Cowell and Lauren Child (author of the Charlie and Lola, Ruby Redfort, and Clarice Bean series) have a similar tone and similar voice. They are both funny and wildly imaginative, both like children who have never quiet grown up, like Willy Wonka or, his creator, Roald Dahl.
All that nepotism aside, however, How to Train Your Dragon stands alone based on writing, plot, and characters. The writing is smooth and engaging. The plots keep you reading. And the characters are charming and develop over time. Though not every kid will be in for dragons and Vikings, give it a try anyhow. Your kid may just end up wanting to know what happens to Hiccup, Fishlegs, and Camicazi, wanting to join them for their continually spiraling adventures.
I probably had some complaints about these books while I was reading them (like maybe I didn't love some of the stylized illustrations (which kids will)), but time has left a pleasantly warm feeling. I would re-read them. I hope my son will, too.
Book list:
How to Train Your Dragon (2003)
How to Be A Pirate (2004)
How to Speak Dragonese (2005)
How to Cheat A Dragon's Curse (2006)
How to Twist A Dragon's Tale (2007)
A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons (2008)
How to Ride A Dragon's Storm (2009)
How to Break A Dragon's Heart (2010)
How to Steal A Dragon's Sword (2011)
How to Seize A Dragon's Jewel (2012)
How to Betray A Dragon's Hero (2013)
How to Fight a Dragon's Fury (2015)
New series, beginning 2017: The Wizards of Once
__________
MOVIE: I already mentioned the movie above. I would definitely recommend that you watch the first one, if you have not already. It’s a great movie, though hardly resembles the books. The second movie is okay. Take it or leave it. You won’t regret renting it for family movie night. (The third movie comes out this year.) The TV series, although somewhat popular, is not a favorite of mine. Read the whole book series, watch the first movie, and marvel at how different they are.
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG***
This one was so fun! I also laughed so hard I cried at one point
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this one was just fine. a filler book really that just emphasizes that books are important. everytime i see the words “big boobied bertha” i laugh, so extra points
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
the plot got me really excited but was a bit disappointed with its delivery. felt like i was reading a filler book, where crowell wanted certain things to be achieved, and just scribbled down a quick story in order to get that outcome. nevertheless, the whole idea behind this story was entertaining, i just wish it was executed with more detail and spice
As of right now, my least favorite in the series. It just couldn’t hold my attention :/
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated