On Wings of a Dragon by Cora Taylor Date of Publication: 2001 ISBN: 1550417827 Number of Pages: 251

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Average
GENRES: Fantasy, Adventure
THEMES: Family, Good versus Evil, Appearance versus Reality, Loyalty, Coming of Age

SUMMARY:
The novel begins with a girl named Kour'el who is locked in a tower, and the reader senses that someone is watching her every move. Kour'el has no idea who she is or where she came from. She begins to remember the details of her life with the help of her dragon. They escape and complete their quest.

Simultaneously, a girl name Maighalin is forcibly taken from her village to the palace to serve as a slave. Maighalin believes she is the granddaughter of the King's former huntsman.

As the two stories develop in alternating chapters, the reader comes to realize what links these two young women. Kour'el and her dragon were imprisoned because they are the sworn protectors of the royal family. They will bring about the downfall of the evil queen and her three evil daughters and place the rightful heir, Maighalin, on the throne. Before the king dies, he see his rightful heir restored to the throne.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...

• likes adventure stories that have a strong sense of justice and truth
• like medieval stories that have dragons
• identifies with strong girl heroines
• likes tales of finding one’s true identity

WHAT ELSE?
The structure of this story is a challenge because it weaves two story lines together. The merging at the end creates an exciting and a surprise ending, and the book is equally popular with boy readers as girl readers.

This book was a 2004 Red Maple Award Nominee, and a 2003 Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award Nominee. It is popular with boys as well as girls, as long as they are fantasy fans, and the sequel, On Wings of Evil, will also likely prove to be a big hit.

RELATED LINK:
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