No Such Thing as Dragons

by Philip Reeve

Overview

A thrilling adventure from award-winning master storyteller Philip Reeve!

Ansel's new master slays dragons for a living. He says he's hunted the monstrous worms all over Christendom-and he has the scars to prove it! But is Brock just a clever trickster in shining armor? Ansel is sure there is no such things as dragons. So what is the man-eating creature that lives in the crags of Dragon Mountain? As he and Brock climb the perilous ice-face to its lair, Ansel is about to discover the horrifying truth. A heart-pounding new fantasy with a brilliant twist from Philip Reeve, one of the world's greatest writers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545829861
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	01/06/2015
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	819,820
Lexile:	920L (what's this?)
File size:	31 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Philip Reeve is the bestselling author of the Mortal Engines quartet, which is now a major motion picture, and the award-winning Fever Crumb series. His other books include the highly acclaimed Here Lies Arthur and No Such Thing As Dragons. He lives in England with his wife and son. Visit him online at philip-reeve.com.

Editorial Reviews

In this somber but rewarding tale, a mute boy named Ansel is sold as a servant to Brock, an itinerant dragon-slayer. It turns out, however, that Brock is a charlatan, who travels the countryside looking for superstitious folk who believe they have a dragon problem. He then pretends, for an appropriate reward, to kill their dragon, showing them a crocodile skull as proof of his heroism. Ansel is relieved that there are no dragons, but bothered by the moral ambiguity of his position. Then, of course, the duo unexpectedly must confront a real dragon, "its head... a short, brutal blade, freckled with hard black scales, the spiny ridges over its eyes as rough as pinecones." With their lives in jeopardy, as well as that of a girl the terrified villagers have left as a sacrifice, the two try to defeat the monster. There's no real magic in this beautifully written, understated story, and the dragon may be nothing more than a pterosaur (presumably the last of its kind), but it's still a dangerous beast, and Reeve (Fever Crumb) describes their confrontation with grim economy. Ages 9-12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Gr 4–8—Reeve explores a more "realistic" vision of classic dragon tales in his newest novel. Ansel is a mute boy who is callously sold by his father to be a servant to an itinerant dragon hunter who is happy to have someone who can keep his secrets safe. Brock truly has secrets, and before long he reveals to Ansel that dragons do not really exist, and that he is, in fact, a charlatan who preys on the fears of villagers. However, a book with this title surely has to contain a dragon, and inevitably, Ansel and Brock must face off against the real thing. There is some graphic description of horses and a human being devoured by the dragon. The creature itself is portrayed somewhat sympathetically, as Ansel realizes it is just an animal. The real story, however, is how in the course of this quest, the boy is able to find his voice, both literally and figuratively. This is certainly different from anything that Reeve has done previously, but is still shot through with his trademark imagination and feel for action. It will be eagerly devoured by young readers.—Tim Wadham, St. Louis County Library, MO

School Library Journal

Dragon-slaying is the perfect medieval con, until it turns out dragons aren't so imaginary after all. Ten-year-old Ansel, mute since his mother's death, has been sold off to Brock; Ansel's father wanted gold, and Brock wanted a servant who couldn't betray his scam (find a gullible village, ride into the hills, return with sheep guts draped over the crocodile head he secretly carries, collect reward, ride on, repeat). When they find an actual dragon in the snowy mountains, death seems certain; instead, new beginnings and hope (plus some new schemes) emerge. Reeve's humor may amuse the adults who might read this aloud more than the listeners (Brock's womanizing and an indulgence-selling defrocked priest whom the dragon eats are standouts), but the chills and Ansel's recognition of the dragon's piercing loneliness make for compelling, sometimes pulse-pounding action, and Ansel's growth provides a heart beneath the adventure. A gem, much like those rumored to rest in a dragon's hoard. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews