Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Publisher: Harper Audio
Release Date: 2004
ISBN: 0-06-059759-3
Awards:  
Format Reviewed: 10 hours / 7 cassettes
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Genre:   Young Adult / Adventure Fantasy (Present Day)
Reviewed: 2004
Reviewer: Carisa Weeaks
Reviewer Notes:  
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Kingdom of the Golden Dragon
By Isabel Allende
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    Alexander Cold and his grandmother Kate Cold have returned from their adventures in the Amazon and the isolated tribe of “invisible Indians” near the “City of the Beasts”. Now Kate, a reporter for International Geographic is taking a journey to the Himalayas, and brings Alex and his friend Nadia (who is from the isolated tribe that they interacted with in the Amazon) along with her. Kate is used to having things happen that are not normal in most people’s terms, but when she and the teenagers start having to keep the precious Golden Dragon oracle from being stolen by a greedy collector who wants to use the dragons future telling powers to become the richest man in the world instead of being the SECOND richest man for the rest of his life, Kate, Alex, and Nadia realize that there is a whole lot more to the Kingdom of the Golden Dragon than they thought.

     “Kingdom of the Dragons” is an incredible adventure of an ethereal boy, his stubborn “you’re-only-as-old-as-you-feel” grandmother, and mystical, animal-talking best friend in a land of ice, snow, and ancient ways. The relationship between Kate and Alexander is absolutely wonderful and hilarious. The descriptions of their attire make them shine even more as characters. It’s not often you hear about one of the main characters walking around in khaki shorts and broken glasses that are mended with tape paying more attention to what they are trying to accomplish or protect than how what they’re wearing affects those around them. Both of the Colds are intriguing characters with traits that bind them together and characteristics and personalities that keep them worlds apart at some points. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who’s into adventure, humor, strength of heart, and the triumph of the mind over all things bad and nasty.