Dragonkeeper
Age 8+
General Fiction Fantasy & Magical Realism
Ancient China, Han Dynasty. A slave girl saves the life of an ageing dragon and escapes her brutal master. Pursued by a ruthless dragon hunter, the girl and the dragon begin an epic journey across China. They carry with them a mysterious stone that must be protected. Dragonkeeper is the story of a girl who believes she is not worthy even of a name, but finds within herself the strength and courage to make this perilous journey – and do what must be done.
Dragonkeeper is the first novel in the internationally bestselling and award-winning Dragonkeeper series from Australian author Carole Wilkinson. This gripping junior fiction fantasy is the perfect read for secondary school age children. Continue the story with the other books in the series: Garden of the Purple Dragon (Book 2), Dragon Moon (Book 3) and Blood Brothers (Book 4). Carole can be found online at: www.carolewilkinson.com.au
Winner, Younger Readers Category, Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards, 2004
Winner, Best Young Adult Book, Aurealis Awards, 2003
Winner, Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, 2004
Best Children's Book, Queensland Premier's Literary Award, 2004
Short-listed, NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, 2004
Winner, Kalbacher Klapperschlange Award (Germany), 2006
Special Mention, International Youth Library’s White Ravens List, 2004
Winner, Older Readers, Kids Own Australian Literary Awards (KOALA), 2006
Short-listed, Young Australian Best Book Award (YABBA), 2006
Short-listed, Canberra's Own Outstanding List (COOL) Award, 2006
“In Dragonkeeper, Carole Wilkinson transports the reader to a richly evoked ancient China during the Han Dynasty ... in an absorbing, textured, adventure story.” — Australian Book Review
“I was riveted by the magical adventures, beautifully told, of a nameless Chinese slave girl.” — Katharine England, Australian Book Review
“... entrancing, beautifully written story ... a wonderfully satisfying and unexpected climax.” — Adelaide Advertiser
“An enchanting blend of fantasy and history.” — The Age
“A journey ... is the essence of this outstanding novel ...It is a story that informs as it delights and leaves the reader with a yearning to know more.” — The Children’s Book Council of Australia, Judges’ Report
“... an ambitious novel, marrying ancient Chinese history and culture with magic and fantasy ... the sights, smells and tastes of this fantastic ancient China are fully realised.” — Australian Bookseller and Publisher
“... a superb novel ...” — Canberra Times
“Enchanting and fascinating ... something worth celebrating.” — Kate Fewster, Viewpoint
“... proof that the fantasy genre is still working its magic.” — Jodie Minus, The Weekend Australian
“Wilkinson writes with elegant simplicity and her tale acquires the force of fable. Its appeal is broad: complex enough for adults yet accessible to younger readers.” — The Saturday Age
Creators
Carole Wilkinson is an award-winning and much loved author of books for children. She has a long-standing fascination with dragons and is interested in the history of everything. Though Carole has written over 30 books, she did not write her first book until she was nearly 40. Before that she had worked as a laboratory assistant and as a film and television writer and editor.
Reviews
A story that informs as it delights and leaves the reader with a yearning to know more.
Children's Book Council of Australia
In Dragonkeeper, Carole Wilkinson transports the reader to a richly evoked ancient China during the Han Dynasty… in an absorbing, textured, adventure story.
Australian Book Review
A wonderfully fashioned tale of a young slave girl and an ageing dragon. An enchanting blend of fantasy and history.
The Age
