The Dragon's Tooth | |||||
Martin Hall | |||||
Praxis Books, 90 pages | |||||
A review by Lisa DuMond
The Dragon's Tooth is the tale of a dragon with a toothache; Mostril, the boy he befriends;
and the adventures of the two in their encounter with the captain and crew of the good ship
Kumaferon. With pirates, shipwrecks, warring countries, and dangerous seas -- really,
dragons would seem to be the least of their problems. If they survive at all, it will be thanks
to their scaly ally.
When Mostril and his friend Su-Yashi (the captain's dauntless daughter) are separated from the
ship and crew, they find themselves alone and in danger. It is going to take all of the courage
and ingenuity the young pair can muster to rescue themselves and the captive mariners. No
small task for two unarmed adventurers barely out of childhood. But, they aren't about to allow
trifles like lacking experience and being vastly outnumbered stop them from completing their mission.
Readers in the 11 to 14 range are going to feel a connection with what appears to be an impossible task.
At that age, I remember being amazed by The Island of the Blue Dolphins. That people
your own age can endure and thrive in the wilds, alone, without adults to make decisions and
protect them, is an astonishing concept. No matter how grown-ups treat you, you may at any
time be forced to take on the responsibility of taking care of yourself and other equally "helpless" souls.
That's not something they teach you in between multiplication and conjugation. Maybe you
should give it a little thought. Just in case.
Although Mostril is the focus of The Dragon's Tooth, Su-Yashi comes off as strong as
any of the male characters. Don't think that because it is full of pirates and trading ships
that the book will appeal only to the males on your shopping list. This is high adventure
for everyone; girls will not know that they aren't supposed to like swashbuckling stories unless we tell them.
And it never hurts to give a child a sense of their own power and capabilities. Youth is so
often a time of vulnerability, impotence in the face of adult supervision. What an
astonishing thing to be in the position to make decisions and take action. How much more
astounding to imagine being equal to the challenge.
Lisa DuMond writes science fiction and humour. She co-authored the 45th anniversary issue cover of MAD Magazine. Previews of her latest, as yet unpublished, novel are available at Hades Online. |
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