Heart's Blood: The Pit Dragon Chronicles, Volume Two [Paperback]

Jane Yolen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pit Dragon Chronicles | Publication Date: May 1, 2004

Jakkin risks everything--his freedom, his dragon, even his life--to rescue his beloved in this stirring sequel to Dragon's Blood.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Book Two of the prolific Yolen's fantasy series, "Pit Dragon Trilogy," finds the hero Jakkin—now seventeen—on top of his small world. He has achieved master status, has a winning pit dragon—his beloved Heart's Blood—and dragonlings on the way. Only the missing Akki could complete his happiness. Meanwhile, it seems that revolution is brewing on the convict planet of Austar IV, and Akki is smack in the middle of it. Drawn against his will into the politics of the time, Jakkin must learn to judge humans as well as dragons. His head bursting with intrigues on top of dragon messages, Jakkin is shoved into his much-desired manhood before he is ready for the consequences. After a slow start, the adventure works up to an action-packed ending. 2004 (orig. 1984), Magic Carpet/Harcourt, Ages 12 up. (Children's Literature -Kathleen Karr )

About the Author

JANE YOLEN has written more than two hundred books for children and adults, including the three volumes in the Young Merlin Trilogy: Passager, Hobby, and Merlin. She has won several of the most prestigious awards in children's literature. Ms. Yolen lives in western Massachusetts and Scotland.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Graphia (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 015205118X
• ISBN-13: 978-0152051181
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born and raised in New York City, Jane Yolen now lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts. She attended Smith College and received her master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. The distinguished author of more than 170 books, Jane Yolen is a person of many talents. When she is not writing, Yolen composes songs, is a professional storyteller on the stage, and is the busy wife of a university professor, the mother of three grown children, and a grandmother. Active in several organizations, Yolen has been on the Board of Directors of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, was president of the Science Fiction Writers of America from 1986 to 1988, is on the editorial board of several magazines, and was a founding member of the Western New England Storytellers Guild, the Western Massachusetts Illustrators Guild, and the Bay State Writers Guild. For twenty years, she ran a monthly writer's workshop for new children's book authors. In 1980, when Yolen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts, the citation recognized that "throughout her writing career she has remained true to her primary source of inspiration--folk culture." Folklore is the "perfect second skin," writes Yolen. "From under its hide, we can see all the shimmering, shadowy uncertainties of the world." Folklore, she believes, is the universal human language, a language that children instinctively feel in their hearts. All of Yolen's stories and poems are somehow rooted in her sense of family and self. The Emperor and the Kite, which was a Caldecott Honor Book in 1983 for its intricate papercut illustrations by Ed Young, was based on Yolen's relationship with her late father, who was an international kite-flying champion. Owl Moon, winner of the 1988 Caldecott Medal for John Schoenherr's exquisite watercolors, was inspired by her husband's interest in birding. Yolen's graceful rhythms and outrageous rhymes have been gathered in numerous collections. She has earned many awards over the years: the Regina Medal, the Kerlan Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Society of Children's Book Writers Award, the Mythopoetic Society's Aslan Award, the Christopher Medal, the Boy's Club Jr. Book Award, the Garden State Children's Book Award, the Daedalus Award, a number of Parents' Choice Magazine Awards, and many more. Her books and stories have been translated into Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Afrikaans, !Xhosa, Portuguese, and Braille. With a versatility that has led her to be called "America's Hans Christian Andersen," Yolen, the child of two writers, is a gifted and natural storyteller. Perhaps the best explanation for her outstanding accomplishments comes from Jane Yolen herself: "I don't care whether the story is real or fantastical. I tell the story that needs to be told."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heart's Blood, December 8, 1999

By 

Robert Crookall - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart's Blood: The Pit Dragon Trilogy, Volume Two (Paperback)

This is the longest, and probably the most intricate story in the Pit Dragons trilogy. It takes us out of the small confines of the dragon nursery, and into the complex and dangerous world of the wider Austarian society and its relationship with the Galaxian Federation.

Having freed himself from the bond-slave caste, Jakkin goes in search of his beloved Akki, who has become involved in the dangerous power-struggles of the planet, through her association with the enigmatic Senator Golden. Jakkin and his dragon, Heart's Blood (who has just had five hatchlings), go to the planet's capital - Rokk Major, where Akki has been spying on a group of rebels who oppose the caste system. He eventually finds her, but by this time they are both trapped in the middle of a terrifying plot that threatens the entire society of the dragon planet.

As with the other two books, it conveys empathy for the characters which is powerful and unique. The ending of this book is perhaps the most deeply moving and touching part of the whole series.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hearts Blood, May 24, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Heart's Blood: The Pit Dragon Trilogy, Volume Two (Paperback)

I think Jane Yolen out did herself and hit a homerun, with Hearts Blood, an extraordinary book. In this vivid storyline, a boy named Jakkin risks his life, his dragon Hearts Blood's life, and his dragons hatchlings life, to save his love Akki. The risk was being involved with the rebels who are against the republic and the republic send people down to the colony to keep everything in order but then the rebels exploded the side of the Major dragon pit called in the city of Rokk. The people from the republic think Akki and Jakkin did it so they flee. Will the republic find them or not, what will happen to Jakkin and Akki? read Hearts Blood to find out. I've read the whole series, and many of her other books such as; Devils Arithmetic, The rest of the Pit Dragon trilogy, Merlin, and Armageddon Summer. Her word choice was great because she uses words that you wouldn't normally know the meaning to, but when she uses them you do; such as, "Myriad of colors", and she is very imaginative in the ways she described the dragons.
I highly recommend this book to all young adults.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book, December 4, 2001

By 

"rosebuddy11" (Wanship, Utah, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart's Blood: The Pit Dragon Trilogy, Volume Two (Paperback)

This book was one of the best books I have ever read. I read alot, I mean reading is basiclly my whole life! My family and I were in the book store one day and said she would buy us all one book. One book? How was it possible to choose? There were so many! I started to scan the sci-fi/fantasy section(my personal favorite genre) when I came to a book called Dragon's Blood. I love fantasy, adventure, mid-evil, dragons kind of stuff so I stopped to read the back. When I finished, I was certain this was the right book to choose. I took it home and read it in 2-3 days. I couldn't put it down. The word choice was excellent, because even though I'm only 13, I understood everything. I couldn't stop thinking and talking about it so my older sister read it. She loved it too. (...) I knew there were more books after Dragon's Blood. This was my chance to use it! I can't wait for my new books to come in the mail! If you are reading this and havn't read these books, I seriously recomend you do a.s.a.p. All books have effects on your life, this one made me wonder if there really is another planet with dragons!