[LM_NET] LM_Net: Share: Dragon and Thief by Timothy Zahn

[Ronda Foust <ryfoust@COMCAST.NET>]

As posted to my blog--

http://thebookdragon.blogspot.com/

Jack Morgan is 14, an orphan but for his con-artist Uncle Virgil who, for some 
reason, never seems to leave their ship, the Essenay. Jack is also in trouble, but 
for once, it's for something he didn't do. Jack and Virgil have decided to lay low 
on an out-of-the-way planet until the heat dies down, but a quiet time just isn't 
in the cards for them. They witness an attack and crash landing of a large alien 
ship, the Havenseeker, and go to investigate (and maybe see what they can pilfer in 
the process). The wreckage yields no survivors--apparently, until Jack stumbles 
across a dying dragon-like creature that, in a surprise attack, jumps over Jack and 
seems to disappear--but not exactly. Somehow, he has become flat and is riding on 
top of Jack's skin like some strange tattoo--who can move around and talk with Jack 
from this unusual location. Jacks learns that the creature's name is Draycos, a 
K'da poet-warrior, and apparently the only surviving member of an advance colony 
ship f!
 or the 
refugee K'da and Shontin peoples--who are fleeing the Death weapon being used 
against them on their home world. Thing is, the Death weapon seems to have met them 
at their new home and Draycos must find out how and who is responsible if he is to 
save his unsuspecting people. To do THAT, he must first help Jack solve his own 
problems with whoever seems to have framed him for a serious crime. I wish I could 
do this storyline justice--and hope that I'm not just making it sound silly b/c the 
story is anything but that. There is enough action, intrigue, humor, and complexity 
to leave you on the edge of your seat, and on the reserve list at the local library.

The series so far (and in order from first to latest) includes:

    * Dragon and Thief

    * Dragon and Soldier

    * Dragon and Slave

    * Dragon and Herdsman



Note to librarians and teachers: to date, I've only read the first two, but CAN NOT 
WAIT to get my hands on the 3rd to see what happens. Each book so far has moved the 
characters closer the answers they are seeking--and each book so far has had an 
ending that wraps up its own loose ends--BUT--each book has also brought into play 
new characters and added some new questions. While listed as YA, this book may also 
be popular among upper-level elementary advanced readers who are clamoring for 
titles like Eragon. 

--
Ronda Y. Foust, Librarian
Hardin Valley Elementary School
Knoxville, TN
http://hveslibrary.wikispaces.com/
http://thebookdragon.blogspot.com/

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