“Fast, fun and fiery—a rousing coming-of-age fantasy.” – Kirkus
From the Publisher: “Can you be brave when it matters most?
When 12-year-old Luke Walsh finds his way through a magical portal leading to the island of Draksmore, he stumbles upon a huge secret: everyone in his family has the power to turn into a dragon; but when Luke’s little brother is captured by pirates who want dragon power for themselves, Luke must find a way to overcome his biggest fear in order to earn his wings before his brother—and all of Draksmore—is destroyed…”
More info About the Author: J.F. Baker (née Jennifer Fickley-Baker) is the author of THE BROTHERS DRAGON series. She was born in Pittsburgh and fell in love with stories before she could read by listening to books on tape. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2001, and worked as a writer and editor for Disney Parks for 19 years. She now lives in Florida with her husband, two children, and golden retriever.
Author Site
Where did the idea for this book come from?
I was inspired by the relationship between my two children. I have two boys, age 13 and 4, who have a lovely bond despite their age gap. I wanted to write something that they could read and enjoy together as they grew up.
Set up the book for us: when and where does the story take place?
It takes place during World War II, when Londoners were evacuated to the countryside. Brothers Luke and Nick are sent to the home of their mysterious Uncle Bilock, whom they’ve never met. Once there, they stumble on a crazy family secret: every member of the family has the ability to turn into dragons. The catch is that you must be 12 years old and have defeated your biggest childhood fear. The idea behind that is that a childhood fear is our first experience with fear, whether it’s a fear of strangers, or the dark, or heights. The kids must defeat their first fear to prove their ready to take on the dangerous life of a dragon. But as Luke and Nick prepare to defeat their fears and take the Oath of the Brothers Dragon, they find out they’re not the only ones wanting dragon powers.
What are Luke and Nick’s fears?
Nick’s fear is a big one. He’s afraid of heights, which is obviously a pretty big deal if you are going to be a dragon. Luke’s is more complicated, and at one point he makes up a fib about what his biggest fear is, telling everyone he’s afraid of worms instead. Part of the fun of the book is watching them attempt to defeat their fears…then comes a point where they have no choice.
What’s the brotherly relationship between Luke and Nick like?
It’s central to the story. In chapter one, their mum says goodbye to them, making Luke promise to keep Nick safe. Luke is a smart, outspoken puzzle-solver. Nick is 100% invested in books, specifically fairytales, myths and legends. Once they arrive at their uncle’s their roles swap a bit…Nick knows the fairytale world better than Luke, and finds his voice helping them navigate a lot of mythical creatures they come in contact with.
Who’s the villain in the book?
The Moordocks, a gang of pirates who live out on the sea on a floating shipwreck. They’re desperate to gain dragon powers for themselves so they can plunder ships with fire power. They’ve been planning an attack for years—and end up having an ally that helps them pull it off in an unexpected way.
Where can we buy the book?
The Brothers Dragon: Beyond Land’s End is available online via Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble.com!
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