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The Secret of Dragonhome
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Plot Summary of The Secret of Dragonhome
"Melayne and her brother are "talents," which means they were born with magical powers. In their world, talents are persecuted. After their parents are killed, Melayne and her brother flee in the hopes of reaching safety. In a neighboring kingdom, she takes a job caring for a young lord's son. She discovers his castle is hiding a secret - and so is he."
Rebecca Herman, Resident Scholar

"The two main characters try to figure out their role in life after their parents are killed. They make new discoveries, aquire friends, and come to accept themselves for who they are. "
maria, Resident Scholar

"The story is about Sarrow and Malayne, brother and sister who are talents and posses magical powers. The children venture out into the world trying to stay hidden from being killed."
Kira, Resident Scholar

"A girl and her brother have special "Talents" that are unusual so people are turned against their kind. They have to escape and and find a hiding place with a Lord. He has secrets that put them in danger."
Liza, Resident Scholar

"After the death of her parents, Melayne and her younger brother Sarrow have no choice but to leave their hometown or risk being captured by the raiders who took the lives of the ones they loved. Unfortunately the find themselves on the run from the King's Seekers too, for they are Talents, born with magical powers of the dragons that once ruled the land. They finally find refuge, in a haunted castle called Dragonhome, ruled by the dark brooding Lord Sander. But Lord Sander keeps a terrible secret and Melayne finds herself intrigued...What could his dark secret be? Before she knows it Melayne finds herself confronting dragons who are in danger of dying. Will she be able to save the dragons as well as keep her Talent hidden from the King's Seekers? And will Lord Sander's own secret ever be revealed?
"

Amy Rizek, Resident Scholar

"A young woman, Melayne, is faced suddenly with the care of her little brother when her parents are killed by barbaric invaders of her country. She barely escapes death by use of her special talent, to talk to animals. After weeks of traveling, she finds shelter in an old castle, Dragonhome, ruled over by a dark and mysterious man, Lord Sander. Melayne is then faced with danger, desire, and betrayal all leading up to a thrilling climax."
Katy Jones, Resident Scholar

"Melayne and young Sarrow are both talents or people of magic powers in a world full of war and torment. The king of both sides need talents to win the war. One day Melayne and Sarrow are coming home and discover their house in flames and their parents dead. So the set off for their aunt who lives far away and must hide on the way or be caught and killed in war. On the way they find Dragonhome and the mysterious man named Lord Sander. She must find out what Lord Sander is hiding while not exposing the fact that her and her brother are talents.."
Travis Hirko, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Secret of Dragonhome
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 11.4%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 28.6%




Tone of book - depressing/sad
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - a powerful magician
Romance Yes
Romance plotlets: - destined love (dream or prediction)
Mental/magical powers focus Yes
magical powers: - good magical powers being hunted by non/weaker magical(s) (fantasy)
Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14)

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Age: - a teen
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can talk to animals
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - a kid
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Has magical powers? Yes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - throughout most of the book.
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Water - Mountains - Forests
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to The Secret of Dragonhome
The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald
The Mystery of Lord Sha by Erik L'Homme
The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches II by Robert Stanek
A Wizard Abroad - Young Wizards 4 by Diane Duane
A Wizard of Earthsea - Earthsea 1 by Ursula K. LeGuin


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John Peel Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Michael Jung  

SCHOLARS:
Travis Hirko  Katy Jones  Amy Rizek  Liza  Kira  maria  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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