Book Review – Dragonhaven
Author: Robin McKinley
Cover Artist: Pamelina Hovnatanian
Publisher: Putnam
Binding: Paperback
Publication Date: 2007
From award-winning author Robin McKinley, creator of The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown, comes a story completely different from anything she has written to date. Readers find themselves in the modern world, firmly entrenched in modern times somewhere in the mountains at Smokehill National Park, a wildlife refuge for some very wild creatures indeed.
Jake, son of the scientist who helps to run the refuge, takes us back in time to relate his adventures with Lois the dragon. Lois is a real dragon, mind you, Draco australiensis, the only true breed of dragon. Only D. australiensis breathes fire and can fly. Other breeds assumed to be dragons, such as Draco chinensis (the bearded and colorful Chinese dragon), are also kept at Smokehill because tourists are willing to pay to see them. Tourist dollars are what keep Smokehill open and provide funding to maintain the refuge for the real dragons. Unfortunately tourists are also at the root of Jake’s problem, as the reader soon finds out. Well, tourists and the government, because apparently rescuing dragons is completely and totally against the law.
The story is told from a first person point of view and the readers are taken deep within the mind of Jake as he catalogs his adventures with Lois, the baby dragon he rescues and basically adopts. This causes the story to ramble at times, mainly because of the extreme exhaustion caused by being responsible for an illegal orphan that requires twenty-four/seven supervision.
Robin McKinley is a master of her chosen art form. With a comment here and a phrase there, she builds a belief that dragons can exist in our modern world. Jake’s voice is strong and clear, his emotions raw and uncovered. He is telling the story from the present and looking back at the past, so he has a running commentary on himself and others and doesn’t hold back his criticisms.
While the rambling adds to the veracity of the tale, I began to weary of the constant interruption in the flow of the story. McKinley introduced me to a delicious form of fantasy writing with her previous works and I came to Dragonhaven with some preconceived notions about her writing. I was forced to throw those notions out the window. This is not a romantic dragon story with wizards, billowing capes, and flashing swords. This is a coming of age story, where a boy is challenged to do what is right even though it isn’t romantic or even fun.
All of that aside, while I felt disappointed in the style of the book I still finished it. I feel this is a tribute to Ms. McKinley as a writer, in that she could still keep my attention engaged even though the story wasn’t what I expected. This may not be my favorite dragon story but I feel the book will appeal to readers, especially to young readers.
About 
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.