George R. R. Martin's children's book ~ The Ice Dragon
Written: Sep 11 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautifully written fantasy story.
Cons: Some might consider it too violent for children.
The Bottom Line: Some might consider this too violent for children, though I find it no more so than Tolkien or Lewis.
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| dramastef's Full Review: George R.R. Martin - The Ice Dragon |
The other day I was out picking up books to send to Mississippi and I came across this one, George R. R. Martin's children's book The Ice Dragon. George R. R. Martin? A children's book? Ah, yes indeed. That George R. R. Martin, who wrote what I consider to be the best series (yet unfinished) I've read to date, A Song of Ice and Fire, a series that is ripe with violence and willing, loving incest and torture and sex without the ick familial factor. So yes, I was surprised when I saw this book. And yes, I immediately bought two copies, one for me, and one for the illiteracy program in Mississippi.
Unlike his sprawling adult books, I read Martin's The Ice Dragon in one very quick sitting, though there are reminders that the same author penned both in the richly detailed landscapes, the world of fierce dragons and senseless wars. In this book, we follow seven-year-old Adara, a girl born in the most bitter cold of the harshest winter in memory. Adara's mother died at her birth, leaving this child of winter with hands cold enough to hold ice lizards that die in the heat of other children's hands. She is a child of coldness, in that she rarely smiles, and never laughs.
From the beginning of Adara's memories, she remembers the ice dragon, a beast that others believe to be a myth. Winter is her favorite season for many reasons, but mostly because her dragon can only come to her in the cold. When the war comes dangerously close to Adara's home, she has to decide whether to go with her dragon to safety or stay with her family.
The Ice Dragon, though a quick read aimed to children eight to ten, is not a light, airy young reader series-type book. It is rich with symbolism, lyrical prose, some dark themes and violent scenes. And yet, I would not hesitate to give it to my eight-year-old daughter, and I intend to do so when she next asks me for a book recommendation. Maybe even more surprising to some, I also plan on giving the book to my husband to read aloud to my five-year-old son. Violence set in worlds so obviously fantasy worlds, I have no problems with. I believe it sets the stage for conversations about reality vs. fantasy and can be wonderful platforms for imaginative play and stories.
My copy of this book is full of beautiful pencil sketches by Yvonne Gilbert. The lack of color helped to set the darker tone to the story, and the illustrations were a very nice complement to Martin's richly detailed world.
I am sending a copy of The Ice Dragon to Mississippi as a part of the Fight Illiteracy Write-Off. Please take a moment to read about it and consider joining!
Recommended:
Yes
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