Bullied at school about his stutter, and feeling ignored at home by his mum, stepdad and stepsister, Thomas and his dog, Lucy, head to the beach. When Lucy begins barking outside a cave, Thomas works up the courage to investigate and finds an injured dragon.
Determined to help the dragon he’s called Puff, Thomas confides in his friend Huhana, who to his surprise doesn’t dismiss his dragon as make-believe.
The dragon helps Thomas gain his confidence throughout the story, standing up to the bullies and helping uncover an illegal logging operation that threatens the town. As his confidence builds, he loses his stutter and his need for the dragon dwindles.
Author Susan Brocker already has a strong legion of fans with her animal stories, and Eye of the Dragon will capture a new generation of her readers. Short and snappy at 120 pages, this book cracks along at a whipping pace, full of action, adventure and tension.
Thomas is a realistic and relatable character many young readers will see themselves in. Brocker weaves in te ao Māori, with Huhana and her whānau providing information about taniwha. This helps place the story immediately in New Zealand and will appeal to readers who will see themselves reflected in the pages, while broadening other childrens' understandings of our space and place.
Brocker treats her readers with respect - never preaching or spelling things out to them. I especially loved how she leaves the reader with the question of whether or not the dragon is real. The book is the first in a series showing how animals can help children cope with the challenges in their lives. I look forward to seeing the series develop.
Eye of the Dragon was an unexpected and delightful read, perfect for middle primary school readers.
Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell
Scholastic