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

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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. The ending, set twenty-five years later will leave the reader with a satisfying feeling of wonder and belief. During a voyage with Charles Darwin on the Beagle, Syms Covington is swept away. After making his way to an island, he must find a way to survive. However, he is not along on the island - there are creatures to contend with and an active volcano... 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.

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.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? 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. 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… Lindsay Galvin spins an exciting tale of exploration, adventure, and the marvels of science in “A Discovery of Dragons.” Through youthful Syms storytelling, you’ll learn about the natural world, friendship, and trust. Best of all, you will learn where dragons may dwell. 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.

Education Shed Ltd, Severn House, Severn Bridge, Riverside North, Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK, DY12 1ABDarwin’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. 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 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.

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?’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. Using 19th century language and attitudes, scientific observation and unbridled curiosity, Galvin makes this fictional event during a documented journey seem real. 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.

This historical adventure is a fantastic read, drawing the reader into the action right from the start. Syms is resourceful and thoughtful and I was willing him to be successful. Cue Darwin's Dragons, a stunning middle grade novel, where these mythical creatures are woven into the fabric of real historical fact. This is a history and a science lesson with an extraordinary magical twist- where imagination takes flight in the form of golden, fire-breathing creatures and where the reader can walk in the footprints of one of the most famous scientists ever known.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. 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. It's a brilliant middle-grade read that I imagine will be enjoyed by everyone. Animals, adventure, daring and... well, DRAGONS. What more could you ask for? 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. 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.