Darwin's Dragons: a thrilling, rip-roaring adventure full of discovery and magic

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A remarkable adventure story about the cabin boy Syms who falls overboard during a voyage with Charles Darwin. Syms comes across a small volcanic island where it appears that dragons might be real, thus making the discovery of a lifetime. With short chapters and being split into parts makes Darwin’s Dragons a great choice for a class text as it is easy to fit into the very busy timetable within the primary school classroom, but also allows readers with less stamina to still access a longer text. There are also so many ways this book could be used to support wider learning, including the evolution topic in Year 6 science, or using it to inspire geography or history learning. Cabin boy, Syms Covington is aboard The Beagle. Assisting Charles Darwin in his exploration of the Galapagos Islands, it’s the voyage of a lifetime – he spends his days collecting samples, sketching wildlife, helping the world-famous scientist in his documentation of the islands’ unique species. But when Syms is lost at sea and washed up onto the tortured lava plains of Narborough Island, the cabin boy turns survivalist and naturalist, fighting to save his own life plus the lives of a class of creature he never dreamed existed beyond the realms of fantasy… A történet egy jólelkű hajósinasról szól, aki egy tengeri viharban elveszik és sikerül pont egy aktív vulkánnal és egy sárkánnyal rendelkező szigetre vetődnie… pech szériáját igyekszik jobbra fordítani, ahogy megél és túlél, közben egy sor gyerekfülnek és felnőttfülnek egyaránt megfontolandó üzenetet és értéket is képviselnek a kalandjai. Tetszett a történet is, meg a tanulságok is, a történelmi háttér is érdekes volt, főleg, hogy tudtam, az írónő kapcsolódik a természettudományokhoz és így Darwinhoz is. As I was reading this, it was difficult not to see glimpses of ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ by Michael Morpurgo and should definitely be added to the TBR pile of those who enjoyed Morpurgo’s take on finding yourself on a deserted island. Syms is a wonderful character full of grit and as a reader, you are able to gain a real insight into the motivations of the character and his inner battles. Children will really love following his story and will understand some of the trials and tribulations he is faced with.

From this outstanding book, I learnt that they we have had zoo type places for a very long time. The time it was set in, which made the book more interesting as many people did not really know what dragons looked like. So when the servant was trying to explain to his master that he had seen a dragon, which was also trying to hurt him, it took him a very long time to persuade his master that he did see a dragon. Also, it made the servant even more baffled at the sight of seeing the dragon soaring through the sky. At first Fathering was just an intelligent lizard, (or is she?) but soon Fathering became much more! She became Stym’s friend; imagining their tight nit relationship grow over the course of the story was so magical and wonderful to read about. The author tries to show how mistakes are often made by trying to do what is “best” to make things right in our own understanding but without all of the facts it can end up making things worse. When Syms Covington, assistant to Charles Darwin, falls overboard in a storm around the Galapagos, he is washed ashore on an unexplored volcanic island. There he lays eyes on a species no one knows exists. Soon, it's not only Covington's survival that hangs in the balance but how far will he go to keep these creatures safe?Eeleven-year-old Syms Covington is a fiddler, a cabin boy, and now assistant to Charles Darwin during his 1831 voyage on the HMS Beagle. There Syms becomes a keen observer describing his adventures with charm and humor. When she is not writing, she can be found reading, running or practicing yoga. She has a degree in English Language and Literature, is fascinated by psychology and the natural world, and teaches Science. Lindsay hadn’t written creatively since childhood until the idea for her debut novel The Secret Deepsplashed into her mind, and she now she’s hooked.

How often do we assume one thing and it turns out to be something totally different? A boy, who ends up stranded on an island after a storm, finds a new species of animals that are unlike any he has ever encountered. Some are very dangerous and quite fierce, but others are friendly and selfless. The question is does he eliminate the dangerous ones or do they maintain balance on the island?Syms’ life is saved by a lizard that he names Farthing – named after a shiny copper coin that he received as a reward for his fiddle playing, and Farthing becomes his saviour, friend and talisman. The teenager spends several terrifying days on the island before he is reunited with HMS Beagle and its crew. This tale is a rich tapestry of storytelling. It sews fact and fiction together in a seamlessly written plot that involves volcanic eruptions, dragon's eggs, a fiddle and Queen Victoria. Covington and Darwin are strong and likeable characters with an interesting master/servant dynamic but, for me, it is the lizard, Farthing, that steals the show in terms of character. Sharply intelligent, lively and adorable, she is definitely the teacher of this lesson- allowing the reader and Covington to uncover surprise after surprise and to discover more and more about this magical species. The relationships between Syms and Darwin and his fellow shipmates are well handled and the bond forged between the boy and Farthing is convincing and at times moving. Young readers will appreciate the powerful emotions at work here. The story storms along at a great pace and Lindsay Galvin’s attention to historical and geographical detail gives the fantasy a realistic dimension. As the author tells us, ‘This planet was once home to magnificent dinosaurs, so why not dragons?’

Farthing helps Syms escape the erupting volcano, the marauding sea lions, and the terrifying dragon. Along the way, he rescues the dragon’s eggs and shortly afterwards, he’s rescued himself by Darwin and the crew of the HMS Beagle. But that’s not the end of the story. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens. I don't want to give anything away but it just gets better and better the modern story progressed. I loved the Victorian history elements where I'm that time, we were on the verge of new discoveies.The historical side of this story made all the difference when reading it. Set in 1835 the story then takes flight, using imagination to explore what could have happened! Which I felt was a nice balance throughout my read. First of all I was drawn to this book by its great title, you immediately know this is going to involve great real historical people. Second, the cover is just stunningly beautiful and you can't wait to dive in and be swept away in time, science and adventure. The plot was very daring and adventurous, as there is a beast that hovers over the island. There was also the mystery is to if Syms was the first person ever to have been stranded on the island, and if he will ever get rescued by the HMS Beagle. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good adventure and the thrill of the unknown and uncertain. If you are a fan of Darwin or his work then this is the book for you! The only thing that nags me is what Lindsay Galvin will write next! Exciting and original historical fiction charting the discoveries of a cabin boy aboard Charles Darwin's Beagle.

Syms Covington, a real-life thirteen-year-old cabin boy in 1835, tells the story from his perspective. A cabin-boy and ship’s fiddler on HMS Beagle, he uses hard work and natural ability to become Charles Darwin’s trusted assistant during the epic five-year voyage. Whilst exploring with Darwin in the Galapagos Islands, Syms is swept overboard during a violent storm and is washed up on an uninhabited, volcanic island called Narborough. The ending, set twenty-five years later will leave the reader with a satisfying feeling of wonder and belief. Darwin’s Dragons would be a perfect book to read alongside a unit on evolution or study of Charles Darwin. Sárkányokkal engem olyannyira meg lehet venni, hogy még ezt az ifjúsági regényt is beszereztem egy óvatlan pillanatomban. Igazi nyári olvasmány, az a fajta kalandregény, amit ha gyerekként olvasod, akkor befalod a nyári szünet egy tikkadt meleg délutánján, lekváros kenyeret majszolva a nagyszüleid kertjében. Felnőttként is jó szórakozás volt, a nyelvezete persze nagyon egyszerű, de ezt nincs értelme felrónom neki, mert érezhetően az olvasni már tudó könyvmoly palántáknak lett kitalálva a nyelvezet, a szellős sorok, nagy betűk és a fejezetek hosszúsága is. I found the plot very exciting as I just wanted to find out what was going to happen next. Additionally, I would say the part of the story that most stood out to me was where Farthing was trying to help the servant survive on his island and saved him from death. To add to that, I found it interesting how the mother dragon was trying to kill him even though he was saving the eggs and Farthing from the lava. I would recommend Darwin’s Dragon to everyone as I could barely stop reading it. Furthermore, I would highly recommend this book as it is full of adventure and just drags you in on the first few words.Darwin’s Dragon was a roller coaster of a book to say the least. And I did cry. No, the book did not make me sob, but there were a few parts of the book that made me shed a few tears, and in my opinion that makes a good book. I think it’s hard to get people emotionally attached to characters, in a book specifically and to achieve that shows how well developed and fleshed out the characters really are. Is the book plot driven?… not really. It has a very interesting plot, but I think the focus is mainly on the characters, which isn’t a bad thing. Lindsay Galvin's writing style is wonderful, drawing readers into Syms Covington's world from his early days as a cabin boy to his awe-inspiring survival journey. The language is vivid and evocative, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and perils of the Galapagos Islands. The novel delves into the importance of curiosity, scientific exploration, and the pursuit of knowledge and highlights the fragile balance of ecosystems and the need for responsible stewardship of our planet. Darwin’s Dragons is a marvellous tale that plunges the reader into Charles Darwin’s HMS Beagle voyage and adds a young boy’s wonder, imagination and bravery into the historical mix. This is an excellent flight of fantasy; a fantasy firmly grounded in historical fact and geographical realism. The book felt a bit empty at times, like it was missing details. And it was a bit too dry and needed more humor. The only redeeming quality of this book was that it had dragons. There are so many other dragon books out there that have more established plots full of excitement, action, and are fast-paced, that this book wouldn't be my first choice.