Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #200975 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 168 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780152062521
• Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
• Notes:
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From Publishers Weekly
Jeremy forms an unexpected bond with Tiamat the dragon in this sequel to The Monster's Ring. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-7-- In this entertaining fantasy readers will soon realize that things are not always as they seem. Jeremy Thatcher is plagued with all of the problems of a 12-year-old plus a few extra. He is pursued by Mary Lou Hutton, whom he detests, and is constantly put down by his art teacher for reasons he does not understand. One afternoon, in an effort to escape Mary Lou, Jeremy runs through alleys, side streets, and byways and finds himself in a part of town he has never seen before. He enters a small magic shop where he purchases a strange egg. A dragon that only Jeremy and Mary Lou can see enters the picture. The book is filled with scenes that will bring laughter and near tears to readers. Jeremy and his friends are believable characters; their actions and reactions are typical of the children's age. Once again, Coville offers a fantasy that younger readers can handle easily, and one in which dragons really exist for a little while. --Kenneth E. Kowen, Atascocita Middle School Library, Humble, TX
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Young Jeremy Thatcher buys a mysterious, shining ball at a magic shop that turns out to be a dragon's egg...Coville skillfully mingles fantasy with the realism of everyday life [and] gives a spirited reading, with his repertory company of actors supplying the characters' voices.  --Billboard -- Review

Customer Reviews

Great family reading
I read this book aloud with my 9 year old daughter, and she gave it the ultimate compliment: 'I wished it would never end'. I must admit, I did too. A very heartfelt and magical book about friendship. I would recommend it to any parent who likes to read with their kids.

"Nothing You Love is Lost"
For kids that are too young for the complex "Harry Potter" series, and yet interested in fantasy stories, then Bruce Coville's Magic Shop books might be the thing to hook them up with. Each book is based on a basic premise: a young child with the usual kid problems (home trouble, bullies, crushes, angry teachers, etc) stumble across Mr Elives' Magic Shop, and leave with an unusual purchase that creates more trouble for them, but ultimately teaches them important lessons.

In this case, Jeremy Thatcher escapes two bullies, the resentful nature of his art teacher and the unwanted affections of Mary Lou by ducking into the Magic Shop, where Mr Elives gruffly allows him to take home a strange glistening sphere with a sheet of mysterious instructions - it would seem Jeremy is about to hatch a dragon's egg! With the tiny dragonlet Tiamat born, but growing steadily by the day, Jeremy gains more confidence against the problems in his life, as well as more creative flair with the inspiration that Tiamat magically places in his mind's eye.

Obviously, a baby dragon in the house is not as easy as it sounds, and even though only Jeremy can see her, Tiamat is still able to manipulate circumstances around her with her fiery breath. But Tiamat must eventually return home to her own world, and along with the mysterious, beautiful Miss Priest and Mr Elives, Jeremy participates in the ritual to send her to the "dragon-world". Despite the loss however, Jeremy has found a new outlook on life, had old friendships tested and new ones forged, and come to understand a spiteful teacher better.

With little dashes of real dragon lore mingled in with his own creative liberties, Coville makes the world natural enough for belief to be suspended, although as an older reader, I would dearly like to know more about the Shop, its owner and its associate Miss Priest. Who are they really? How do they pick the children they give gifts to? How does the Shop move around? If he wished, Coville could make these short but sweet stories into something much more deep and interesting.

As I said, the Magic Shop books are great for younger readers, with enough of the every-day troubles to relate to, and enough of the fantasy elements to fire their own imaginations.

Its also worth mentioning that if you're a part of a country that recieves the Great Britain copies of these books, there are some wonderful new covers to behold by the artist Tony Diterlizzi, best know for his illustrations in the "Spiderwick Chronicles", that beautifully capture the children's personalities and their magical companions.

Excellent book, suitable for ALL ages!
This book is truly amazing. I read it as a 5th (10 yrs)or 6th grader (11 yrs) and continue to read it as a 12th grader (17 yrs). I wish more books were written as well as this one! I fell deeply in love with the dragon in this story and with the amazing connection it has with Jeremy. I fell in love with it so much that shortly after reading that book, I started a dragon figurine collection, which I still expand upon (it's grown to at least 30, maybe 40 dragons). The book got me interested in reading other fantasy books, but I haven't found any I like nearly as well as this (although Eragon by Christopher Paolini is definetely 2nd, it reminds me of a version of Jeremy Thatcher written for older audiences). I highly recommend Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher for people of all ages. Every child should definetely read this book! It's simply beautiful and also, subtly, teaches responsibility and the deepest connection anyone could have with another being - love.