The Search for the Red Dragon (Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica) (Hardcover)

by James A. Owen (Author, Illustrator)
Key Phrases: great whatsit, golden fleece, time storm, Laura Glue, Indigo Dragon, Lost Boys (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Owen’s second entry in the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series surpasses his first, delivering a more cohesive story while sustaining the intricate connections among history, mythology, and literature. Nine years after their first adventure, the three Caretakers of the Imaginaruim Geographica return to the Archipelago of Dreams to solve a mystery: all of the children have vanished overnight, along with all of the Dragonships. To succeed, the Caretakers must piece together clues drawn from disparate sources, including Greek mythology, Peter Pan lore, the Pied Piper legend, and the historical Children’s Crusade. While the plot sometimes drags under the weight of its exposition, strong mystery elements, lots of action, and an irresistible sense of fun make this compulsively readable. The hitch lies in the question of audience: the allusions and references will mean the most to high school students, but the author’s writing style seems geared toward somewhat younger readers. Nevertheless, those who appreciate literary scavenger hunts, or those who can read past the allusions to the adventure underneath, will enjoy this standalone sequel. Grades 8-11. --Krista Hutley

Product Description
"'The Crusade has begun'...

"There's an old myth in the Archipelago," he went on softly, shaking his head. "A legend, really...I recall it mentioned a Crusade, but those events happened seven centuries ago. We always thought it was only a story."

It has been nine years since John, Jack, and Charles had their great adventure in the Archipelago of Dreams and became the Caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica. Now they have been brought together again to solve a mystery: Someone is kidnapping the children of the Archipelago. And their only clue is a mysterious message delivered by a strange girl with artificial wings: "The Crusade has begun." Worse, they discover that all of the legendary Dragonships have disappeared as well.

The only chance they have to save the world from a centuries-old plot is to seek out the last of the Dragonships -- the Red Dragon -- in a spectacular journey that takes them from Sir James Barrie's Kensington Gardens to the Underneath of the Greek Titans of myth. With friends both familiar and new, they will travel through an extraordinary landscape where history, myth, and fable blend together to tell the oldest story in the world. And along the way, the Caretakers of the Geographica will discover that great deeds alone do not make heroes, and that growing up may be unavoidable...but growing old doesn't have to be.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416948503
• ISBN-13: 978-1416948506
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #287,441 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wild ride of an adventure!, January 21, 2008

By	Happy 2 B Me - See all my reviews

What a wonderful story by a fabulous author! The Search for the Red Dragon had me on the edge of my seat several times! It is also laugh out loud funny in parts. I LOVED it! I thought the first book was amazing, little did I know Mr. Owen was just setting us up for a Really wild ride on the Red Dragon...a ride no lover of a great fiction or science fiction stories should miss. Don't be put off because the book is classified as Young Adult....I haven't been young in a few decades but this book made me feel young.....Bravo James Owen for giving us such a wonderful story that we check every day to see when the next installment will be out so we can devour all of it's delicious twists and flavors.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars James Owen stands on the shoulders of giants..., January 18, 2008

By	Andres Carrandi (Mexico City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

And he stands tall. This book is a masterpiece of fantastic literature that has something to please everyone.

A perfect merge of his own storyline with history, mythology,and prominent fantastical and science-fictional litearure will make this book a delight for anyone who picks it up, child or adult.

As an adult, you will feel compelled to brush on your literature, as the great masters of universal storytelling are referenced time and again. And you will find children interested in many classic authors, opening their horizons considerably. These books will make kids go back to Cervantes, Dickens, Verne and many more, and do it joyfully.

This is an absolute recommendation for anyone who loves fantasy, literature, and good stories in general. Be sure to read the whole story and pick up "Here, There be Dragons", book one of this fabulous Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica Series.

I cannot wait for part three to come out.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Owen's Latest Masterpiece, January 16, 2008

By	J. C. Thompson (Mesa, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In "The Search for the Red Dragon" James Owen continues to show readers, young and old, the fantastical landscape of the Archipelago of Dreams through the eyes of the Caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica.

Owen writes about characters and stories anyone might remember from their own from childhood, weaves in figures from classical literature folklore and mythology, then applies his trademark spin to the lot and presents you with something new and captivating.

I devoured this book! In a single sitting I read through 103 pages. The illustrations were the proverbial icing on the cake, my favorite dealt with a certain scarecrow fans of "Here There be Dragons" will recognize.

This book has earned a place of honor in my library, next to its predecessor and 4 other masterpieces of word and illustration, all signed, by James A. Owen