DarkIsle [Paperback]

D.A. Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 12, 2010 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

IT’S A MAGICAL world if you know where to look. . . .

For 10-year-old Morag, that magical world is no farther than the cellar of her cruel foster parents’ home. That’s where she’s shocked to meet Aldiss, a talking rat, and his resourceful companion, Bertie the dodo bird.

Morag jumps at the chance to escape a life of drudgery and join them on their quest to save their homeland from an evil warlock named Devlish, who is intent on destroying it. But first, Bertie and Aldiss will need to stop bickering long enough to free the only guide who knows where to find Devlish: Shona, a dragon who’s been turned to stone. Together, these four friends begin their journey to a mysterious island beyond the horizon, where danger and glory await—along with clues to the disappearance of Morag’s parents, whose destiny seems somehow linked to her own.


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—When Morag, 10, is locked in the cellar again by her foster parents, she hears voices and follows them. They turn out to be Aldiss, a talking rat, and Bertie, a talking dodo bird, who wandered in by mistake but agree to take her with them on their journey to save their kingdom and keep Devilish from conquering the world. Along the way, they also pick up Shona, a pygmy dragon, and various other compatriots in their quest to steal the Eye of Lornish and defeat the evil warlock. Dark Isle is quirky and fun to read. There is suspense, magic, and a small bit of silliness in this adventure that should appeal to fantasy fans looking for a light read.—Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Locked in the cellar by her odious foster parents Jermy and Moira, 10-year-old Morag meets Bertie (a dodo) and Aldiss (a rat) who have taken a wrong turn in a tunnel. Morag opts to flee with the pair, joining their quest to awaken a dragon that can lead them to the Island of Murst where an evil warlock has hidden the Eye of Lornish, a supernatural stone that protects the enchanted world. Eventually a magical medallion and a fisherman join the group in a fast-paced adventure that takes them underground (via railway), where Morag is kidnapped and sold as a slave to the warlock’s daughter. Morag’s fantastic adventures in this alternative reality feature intriguing creatures and many classic tropes of this genre. A few plot points are left unresolved—notably what has happened to Morag’s parents and why their mementoes include a ticket from the enchanted underground railway—paving the way for a possible sequel. Recommend to fans of Harry Potter and Mollie Hunter’s Kelpie’s Pearls (1976). Grades 4-6. --Kay Weisman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (January 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375845054
• ISBN-13: 978-0375845055
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.7 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,256,291 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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