The Dragons of Ordinary Farm

A joy to read. It was a lovely children's book to cleanse the palate after reading heavy, dreary adult stuff. Everyone needs a happy ending every once in a while and the resolution to the dragon problem made this old dragon dreamer very happy.

Tad Williams and Deborah Beale have created a young adult novel that transcends all ages - much like Clive Barker's Abarat series. What starts off as what you believe is going to be yet another typical children's fantasy adventure (with all your standard magical beasts making their appearance) quickly turns into a fantasy novel of high adventure, daring plot twists, and even a tug or two at your heart! I would highly recommend this novel - to kids of all ages!

I loved this book! It's such a fun read. I truly enjoyed it, and can't wait to give it as a gift to young friends and relatives. Dragons of Ordinary Farm starts with a great premise - who wouldn't want to go to a farm full of magical creatures? - and delivers with an exciting, page-turning story. Everyone wants an adventure at least once in a while, and summer is the perfect time - both for the reader, and for the book's frustrated siblings, the latter who are facing a summer with Star-Wars-obsessed cousins (but wait, what's wrong with that....?) while their mother escapes to a singles' retreat. Fortunately for all, along comes an invitation from a mysterious, unknown relative, bringing the children to this farm full of magic and mystery. The story is told with a pleasant humor, as well as an easy touch with a multi-layered plot. In addition, the array of human characters rivals the creatures for being varied and captivating. Overall, Dragons is a delightful read, and I highly recommend it!

While it isn't literally true that I couldn't put the book down anymore, I did read it all in one day. I can't wait for the next books to come out!

The husband-and-wife team of Tad Williams & Deborah Beale publish the first volume in their Ordinary Farm series (which will eventually run to five volumes). THE DRAGONS OF ORDINARY FARM is aimed at a somewhat younger audience than Tad Williams' other books, but his adult readers will probably like it just as well. The two main protagonists Tyler and Lucinda, who are unwillingly sent away to the suppossedly boring farm of a very distant relative to spend their summer there, are quickly drawn into the many secrets of Ordinary farm, its strange inhabitant and its even stranger livestock. The book is fast-paced despite the large cast of characters and the plot thickens quickly. The tone is modern (think of "Otherland for kids") and the story is less straightforward fantasy but rather science fantasy. Many secrets are revealed and some mysteries solved, but although the first book offers closure, the story is far from over and many mysteries remain intact to be solved in future volumes. Perfect summer book for kids and parents alike.