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lucychanning's review
This probably isn’t a 1 star kind of DNF but I get the impression it wasn’t going to be a 5 star for me either. The characters felt a bit lacking unfortunately and I wasn’t feeling invested in the first couple of chapters.
planetbeth91's review
4.0
A speedy little MG with lots of heart fast pace and surprises. Looking forward to the next installment.
mat_tobin's review
5.0
The idea of travelling from California to the ‘middle-of-nowhere’ China for a Summer Camp to help brush up on Cantonese is the worst possible use of holiday time for Billy Chan. Yet little does he know that fate has in store for him a trip like no other and the time spent far up in the mountains at Camp Dragon will turn out to be anything as dull as he had imagined.
Dragon Mountain has everything in it that you would want from a domestic-fantasy novel but with something far more relevant and updated with regards to relationships between friends who become family. Billy Chan, disjointed from his home and at odds with his Hong-Kong heritage, finds himself trapped on a mountain with other 11+ year olds in similar positions. Dylan O’Donnell, a reserved and cautious boy from Ireland, the over-confident ju-jjitsu specialist Charlotte Bell from the deep South and native Leng-Fei who carries a zen-like calm about her, inadvertently find themselves grouped together.
Countries and characters apart, they should have a reason for communicating yet when the Camp’s mentor, Old Gold, sets them a task each finds that they bring something special and unique to this partnership that means that it all just works – as if by magic. Yet when they encounter an other-worldly tiger and an ominous crack in the mountainside wide enough for a person to fit through, the partnership is stretched to its limits.
Dragon Mountain is the first in a series of stories by Katie and Kevin Tsang which sees our four protagonists team up with a group of dragons who need their help to save their world and the human world. Realms away, lost in time, a darkness is slowly awakening as the Dragon of Death gradually regains the strength and power it once lost. Will our protagonists and their dragon companions have the strength, cunning and teamwork required to stave off its coming?
Aside from the richly imagined dragon world, Katie and Kevin Tsang story should also be celebrated for the modern and wholesome relationships between the four children. Whilst much of this story is about each protagonist confronting their identity and understanding their strengths, it is also a story of self-belief and the power that real friendships have in fostering this. No hero here is perfect but each imperfection is what makes them unique and believable. Put together though and this sense of support, care and trust in each other makes the story and characters so very special.
I found myself particularly fascinated in Billy’s own conflict between his love of the Californian waves and the dismissiveness of his Chinese heritage. The other characters too, alongside their dragons, each have their own journeys to make and these are not rounded nicely by the end of this first instalment. Instead they each have room to grow. Some have tough exteriors that may need to crack whilst others remain self-doubting. What Katie and Kevin Tsang have here is not just a world rich in imagination but characters rich for growing and changing and building together.
Considering how much children’s fantasy is full of characters who carry on regardless of any conflicts or challenges that come their way, Dragon Mountain acknowledges that it is the inner journey that is the real adventure and how we choose to get there and who with is part of the real magic.
Dragon Mountain has everything in it that you would want from a domestic-fantasy novel but with something far more relevant and updated with regards to relationships between friends who become family. Billy Chan, disjointed from his home and at odds with his Hong-Kong heritage, finds himself trapped on a mountain with other 11+ year olds in similar positions. Dylan O’Donnell, a reserved and cautious boy from Ireland, the over-confident ju-jjitsu specialist Charlotte Bell from the deep South and native Leng-Fei who carries a zen-like calm about her, inadvertently find themselves grouped together.
Countries and characters apart, they should have a reason for communicating yet when the Camp’s mentor, Old Gold, sets them a task each finds that they bring something special and unique to this partnership that means that it all just works – as if by magic. Yet when they encounter an other-worldly tiger and an ominous crack in the mountainside wide enough for a person to fit through, the partnership is stretched to its limits.
Dragon Mountain is the first in a series of stories by Katie and Kevin Tsang which sees our four protagonists team up with a group of dragons who need their help to save their world and the human world. Realms away, lost in time, a darkness is slowly awakening as the Dragon of Death gradually regains the strength and power it once lost. Will our protagonists and their dragon companions have the strength, cunning and teamwork required to stave off its coming?
Aside from the richly imagined dragon world, Katie and Kevin Tsang story should also be celebrated for the modern and wholesome relationships between the four children. Whilst much of this story is about each protagonist confronting their identity and understanding their strengths, it is also a story of self-belief and the power that real friendships have in fostering this. No hero here is perfect but each imperfection is what makes them unique and believable. Put together though and this sense of support, care and trust in each other makes the story and characters so very special.
I found myself particularly fascinated in Billy’s own conflict between his love of the Californian waves and the dismissiveness of his Chinese heritage. The other characters too, alongside their dragons, each have their own journeys to make and these are not rounded nicely by the end of this first instalment. Instead they each have room to grow. Some have tough exteriors that may need to crack whilst others remain self-doubting. What Katie and Kevin Tsang have here is not just a world rich in imagination but characters rich for growing and changing and building together.
Considering how much children’s fantasy is full of characters who carry on regardless of any conflicts or challenges that come their way, Dragon Mountain acknowledges that it is the inner journey that is the real adventure and how we choose to get there and who with is part of the real magic.
lilymurph's review
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
3.5
matilda2011's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
juani's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
shelbi95's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
library_kb's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
I read this book via the @Libro.fm ALC program for educators. This book did not work for me. I understand that it is for elementary readers, so I didn't expect expansive worldbuilding, but this book really fell flat for me. There was no world building whatsoever, and most conflicts were solved Deus ex machina style since powers weren't foreshadowed at all, they just appeared when the kids needed them. There was also no character development...other than getting magical powers, the characters really didn't do a whole lot of growing and changing throughout the story. It is a very plot based book, so kids who like action in a problem solution problem solution problem solution format might enjoy this book.