Dragonhaven

Robin McKinley

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Jake, a teenage boy living in a dragon preserve, changes the fierce political debate surrounding dragons when he adopts an orphaned baby dragon. The story unfolds with Jake's struggles in communication and his unique experiences with dragons, set in an alternate Earth where these creatures exist and are protected. The narrative is told in a stream of consciousness style from the perspective of a teenage boy, offering a fresh and realistic voice to describe the traumatic and inexplicable events that unfold.

Characters:

The characters are depicted with depth, particularly Jake, whose journey of raising a dragon showcases a mix of adolescent struggles and emotional growth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by a casual, conversational tone typical of a teenage boy, complete with long, rambling sentences and informal language.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Jake rescuing a baby dragon in a world where dragons exist but are endangered, leading to challenges of secrecy and conflict between dragons and humans.

Setting:

The setting is a dragon preserve in an alternate modern world, highlighting issues of conservation and the relationship between humans and dragons.

Pacing:

The pacing is initially slow due to heavy exposition, but it picks up once Jake begins to raise Lois, followed by a lengthy epilogue.

“I don’t know how—I can’t make it a story!” I shout, or rather, I don’t shout, I sort of hiss it through clenched teeth. I want to shout. “It’s not…It doesn’t have…There’s no…” I can’t think how to fi...

Notes:

Dragonhaven is a standalone urban fantasy novel published in 2007.

The story is set in an alternate Earth where various mythical creatures, including dragons, exist alongside modern technology.

It takes place primarily in Smokehill National Park, home to a population of endangered dragons.

The protagonist, Jake Mendoza, is a teenager who grew up in the dragon preserve since his mother died years earlier.

Jake discovers a dying mother dragon who has just given birth and rescues one of her baby dragons, whom he names Lois.

The narrative style is first-person, presented as Jake's memoirs, which gives it a casual and sometimes rambling tone.

The book explores themes of communication between species and the complexities of parenting a dragon.

Dragons are described as somewhat marsupial, emphasizing their unique biology and behavior.

The novel includes deeper ethical issues about conservation and the conflict between protecting dragons and human interests.

Jake's journey includes the challenges of hiding Lois and the legal implications of caring for a dragon, which is illegal in their world.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Dragonhaven include themes of death, grief, and environmental issues related to animal poaching.

From The Publisher:

Jake lives at the Makepeace Institute of Integrated Dragon Studies in Smokehill National Park. There are five million acres of the Smokehill wilderness, and the endangered dragons rarely show themselves. Jake's never seen one except at a distance. But then, on his first overnight solo in the park, he meets a dragon - and she is dying. More than that, she has just given birth, and one of the babies is still alive. . . .

Ratings (5)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (2)
Liked It (1)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (11):

Read It (5)
Want To Read (3)
Did Not Finish (2)
Not Interested (1)

2 comment(s)

shebephoebe

2 weeks

Feb 16, 2016 - couldn't get into

VioletBookworm

Hated It

9 months

I tried so hard to be interested in this one, after all I loved two of the authors' other books so theoretically, I would like this one too. Nope. Not even a little bit. The main characters life is just one long dumpster fire, and he's not even likable for it. It read sort of like a long, boring, anxiety inducing autobiography. Would not recommend.

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About the Author:

Robin McKinley has won various awards and citations for her writing, including the Newbery Medal for The Hero and the Crown and a Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword. Her other books include Sunshine; the New York Times bestseller Spindle's…

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