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Translated from the Old Norse by Cressida Cowell Although Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was actually first introduced in a picture book, (The Seasick Viking) his struggle with being the most un-Viking Viking eventually grew into a series of novels. How to Speak Dragonese is third in the series. The stories tell us that as an adult, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was the greatest Viking warrior who ever lived - but we aren't interested in that fellow. Instead, these books focus on his not-quite-12-year-old self. Seems he wasn't so heroic then, being small, scrawny and far too thoughtful to be a good Viking. Still, Hiccup's father is the leader of the Hairy Hooligans and Hiccup's destiny is to be leader some day. So Hiccup and his best friend Fishlegs and much beloved dragon Toothless struggle along though Viking lessons - mostly not very successfully. During a lesson in attacking innocent fishing boats, Hiccup and Fishlegs end up accidentally attacking a Roman ship and learn of an evil Roman plot. Not that anyone will listen to the boys once they escape and get home. As the Roman plot unfolds, old villains reappear and new friends are made. The storyline is often silly (which will delight young readers), usually irreverent (which will especially thrill boy readers) and crammed with action. The pencil and ink drawings scattered throughout the book are wonderfully kid-like and truly funny. The jokes are just a bit obvious to draw guffaws from adults, but for the 'tween male target audience - it's a riotous romp that will keep them laughing from cover to cover. |
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How to Speak Dragonese