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The kids and I listened to this one with Brendan Frasier reading--excellent. ( )

This beautiful fantasy story for children weaves together different magical creatures and traditions into a tale that is both timeless and thoroughly modern. At the heart of this story are a dragon and a boy, and their adventure is so much bigger and brighter than I could possibly describe. The characters are all distinctive and richly developed (and some are just downright hilarious!), and I found the story itself to be good fun. A compelling plot, lots of delightful moments on the way, and a climactic struggle that kept me on the edge of my seat. And if you think that sounds wonderful, let me just say that the version I read was even better than that, since I listened to the audio book performed by Brendan Fraser, who reads with such energy and skill that I had a hard time believing he was the only performer. Highly recommended! ( )

Dragon rider is about a brave young dragon and a lonely boy, Ben. They want to come together and find the place where silver dragons can live in peace forever . ( )

Adventure

Inkheart is my favorite. ( )

Flashing back to HS- I saw a dragon, and that was enough for me to grab it off the library's shelf and read it. I remember eating frozen pizza and reading away my afternoons with this book. (I can still smell frozen pizza whenever I see this book cover) Whimsical, well-written, at times sassy, and all around a delightful read. I think it covers all the emotional ranges, so it is a fun rollercoaster. It's a long read, but it isn't slow or boring at all. I think any fan of How to Train your Dragon or Eragon (movie or books) would also love this book. I believe this would be a good children's bedtime story if you are looking for a chapter-style book to try out (That is, if your kids don't snatch it and finish it themselves.) Enjoyable for all ages! Enough there to hold the attention of both a busy adult and an energetic child. ( )

If you are reading the print version, STOP! Get your hands on the audio version read by Brendan Fraser. He breathes life into the characters with a variety of voices and even sound effects. Though intended for children, this adventure story is entertaining and exciting for all ages. It’s a sad time for dragons. Firedrake, a young dragon, must flee his home because humans are planning to destroy the valley where he resides. He must find the Rim of Heaven, but he is being pursued by a monster dragon, Nettlebrand, who was created by can alchemist. During his quest, Firedrake meets Ben, a young boy, as well as others, who come together to try to help the dragons. It’s quite a tale of courage and perseverance, of good versus evil, and of love and friendship. To get the most of this fine tale, listen to the audio version - Brendan Fraser’s outstanding performance adds much to the enjoyment of the adventure. ( )

Wow! Cornelia Funke, why have I not known about you until now! Fantasy and fun and feelgood story, this is.
When humans begin to invade one of the last safe places for silver dragons to live in peace, one young dragon, Firedrake, begins a journey to find a land where they can go to escape the humans once and for all to live peacefully without worry of humans ever bothering them again.
Along with his friend, the brownie Sorrel, Firedrake flies off in the night to find the Rim of Heaven. He meets a young human boy, Ben, who becomes the Dragon Rider, and is key to the prophecy that says a Dragon and his Rider will rid the world of the Evil Golden Dragon and ensure peace for the Silver Dragons well into the future.
The story tells us the adventures these three go through in search of the Rim of Heaven. Their meeting with a mystical mouse who gives them their map and a giant jinn with a million eyes who gives them even more detailed information, are two meetings the adventurers encounter.
Throughout, the evil golden dragon is tailing them... he wants to hunt and devour all the silver dragons, so it is very dangerous!

OK. So my description isn't so fantastic. I think the boo is, though/ I love the feelgood nature of the story telling, the positive interactions between the characters. I would love for all the Harry Potter fans to discover this story. and this author. ( )

I really enjoyed this book! This is a fantasy book with many common fantasy tropes, but some less used fantasy concepts and creatures too. The three main characters are a dragon, a brownie, and a boy. Unlike many fantasy works, this does not take place in a setting like Earth during European feudal times, it takes place in current day. Much of it does take place in Western Europe, but this journey does travel south and east to other lands and ideas.

I loved the strong female Brownie character, the calm patient dragon, and the boy filled with wonder and naivete.

I read this with my children (boys age 9 and 5) and they enjoyed it too, especially the 9 year old.

There are evidently other books that follow this, but we were content at the end of this novel. ( )

Prev. translated by Oliver Georg Latsch (2001) ( )

The gentle silver dragons of the world were long ago hunted to near extinction by Nettlebrand, the Golden One... a huge, vicious golden dragon artificially created by an ancient alchemist. Now Firedrake the dragon is on a mission to find the legendary Rim of Heaven, where it is believed some of the few surviving dragons live. He travels with Sorel, a brownie girl, and Ben, an orphaned human boy - the dragon rider of the title. But Nettlebrand has learned of Firedrake's quest and is always right on his heels.
A well told fantasy adventure tale that will keep the reader interested, but with a few weak points in the end. (Spoilers follow.)
Ben, the dragon rider, is a completely superfluous character. The book is titled after his role, but he never really does anything except be there. The defeat of Nettlebrand in the end is much too abrupt. In a 500+ page book, the final battle deserved to be longer and more complex.
Recommended most for younger children who are advanced readers, not intimidated by the length of the book. ( )

I loved the characters and Brendan Fraser as a narrator. He made all the characters have distinct voices and the sounded somewhat like their personalities. ( )

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funk proved to be a wonderful escape. I loved each of the characters and their unique personalities. Sorrell had so much spunk, Ben was kindhearted and Firedrake was calm and determined. The way that they interacted with each other seemed natural and made me laugh out loud. I was lucky enough to listen to the audio version of this 500 page book, which was read completely by Brendan Fraser. I was very impressed with all the different voices he did and the personality he helps give each character. I can still hear their voices! I was sad when the story came to an end. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy elements of the supernatural. Cornelia Funk is quite the storyteller. I have read a couple of her books and look forward to reading more in the future. ( )

Hopeful. ( )

With a lonely boy named Ben on board, the brave young dragon Firedrake sets out on a magical journey to find the mythical place where silver dragons can live in peace forever. Flying over moonlit lands and sparkling seas, they encounter fantastic creatures, summon up surprising courage--and cross the path of a ruthless villain with an ancient grudge who's determined to end their quest. Only a secret destiny can save the dragons in this enchanting adventure about the true meaning home. ( )

One of my favorites. I just love it. ( )

One of my favorites. I just love it. ( )

This book is great besides the funny creatures name ( )

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likable and often funny. The book was just a lot of fun to read. ( )

An excellent read for anyone who enjoys books about dragons. ( )

great! ( )

Very cute dragon story. Dragon Firedrake, brownie Sorrel, boy Ben and assorted creatures vie to find a legendary place called the Rim of Heaven, where dragons are rumored to be hiding. They are being followed by a dragon-like creature who wants to destroy them. Will they find the dragons in time? ( )

Really good young adult book and well worth the time. I became completely wrapped up in the life of Firedrake. ( )

Listening to the audio version of this novel was a truly sublime experience. Combining the wonderfully imaginative storytelling of Cornelia Funke with the talented and wide-ranging voice narration of Brendan Fraser, the Dragon Rider is a listening experience you won't forget. Fraser brings Funke's quirky characters to life with appropriately applied accents, like Sorrel the Scottish Brownie, and endearing imperfections, as with Stick Leg the Homunculus's lisp. Flawlessly switching from multiple characters to narrator and back, the recording recalls old time radio programs. Never losing interest, I enjoyed every moment of the adventure. Great for children and adults alike. ( )