Shard

by Zimmermann, Andreas

• ISBN13: 9781462083503
• ISBN10: 1462083501
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-04-10
• Publisher: Author Solutions

Summary

On the first day of summer vacation, Alex, Jared, and Madison find something more waiting for them at home than the normal freedom that comes with the end of school. Uncle Richard has come for a visit, bringing presents with him as always. This time, he gives the siblings their own miniature dragon figurines, each one a different color. But an even bigger surprise lies in store for them when, the next morning, Alex awakens to find that his green dragon has come alive! The children learn that the dragons are not simple statues as they had assumed, but are actually living, breathing dragons. And as the family settles into a new routine with three not-quite housebroken pets, Alex, Jared, and Madison learn that there is more to their story than they know. When an elder dragon from another realm appears and calls the young dragons back to his world, the siblings are accidentally pulled in too. They discover that the gateway of the magical realm and Earth has been magically sealed. To be sent home again requires the permission of the Dragon Council. But the journey is treacherous, and there are few who are happy with the children's arrival. Protected only by an elder and their own young dragon friends, the children must find a way to reach the council and convince its leaders to send them home-preferably alive.

Excerpts

Rex and Penelope launched into the air, then with great urgency dove downwards, accelerating at phenomenal speed. Kishar waited three heartbeats and then vaulted straight up, gaining as much sky as he could. Alex looked below them and saw a blast of black and green mist hit the very spot Alex and his dragon had just been standing on. Large shelves of slivered rock sheared off the plateau, falling the great distance to the ground below, leaving a melted pool in its wake, the liquid congealing there and biting its way through the remaining stone. ... The giant green veered up, startlingly agile for its impressive bulk, but not as elegant as Kishar and the others had been. A nasty green and white smile flashed as it gained height, closing the distance. "What do we do?" Alex cried out, terrified. It was all he could do to hold onto the scales around Kishar's neck and shoulders. Kishar did not answer. He did not want to reveal his own fear as well and so stayed silent. Kishar banked and changed his direction into the sun, climbing high and racing for the light on the horizon. ... The great green changed course to pursue Kishar, growling threats in a language that Alex didn't understand, but was sure he could guess their meaning. After Kishar had gone an acceptable distance, he banked in a shallow dive, then folded his wings close and plummeted into a free fall... their plight was desperate, and increasing their speed to escape was their only hope.