Author & Illustrators
From the authors of the bestselling Dragon Mountain comes the first in a brand-new, action-packed, dragon-obsessed series.
Twelve-year-old Lance Lo, his younger sister Zoe and new friends have enrolled at Camp Claw to learn all the skills they need to become protectors of the new world. But when the camp is mysteriously attacked and an evil plot exposed, it’s up to the latest recruits to prove they’ve got what it takes to save the day.
The enormously fun Sam Wu series is back with the third instalment, Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of the Dark.
This time, the invitation to go camping in the woods with Sam’s best friend Bernard brings a brand new challenge to definitely-not-scared Sam. Trying not to think too much about the darkness, the monsters, the aliens and the bears, Sam ends up heading reluctantly into the woods accompanied by his cousin Stanley and Bernard’s family. If there is one person who is able to make any situation ten times worse for Sam, it’s classmate Ralph Philip Zinkerman the Third. As (bad) luck would have it, Ralph and his family just happen to pitch up at the same camping spot with their impressively-shaped tents (Ralph’s tent looks like an actual space rocket). The only bonus is that Ralph’s twin sister Regina and her friend Zoe, who are part of Sam’s friendship group, are there too (in Regina’s super-expensive castle shaped tent), and Sam knows that strength in numbers will definitely be a good thing in the face of werewolves or UFOs. Now all that is left is to face the prospect of surviving the night in the dark, dark woods…
With scary noises, strange lights, spooky shadows and the incredibly dark patch of no-man’s land (not to mention the fact that the grown-ups seem completely disinterested in taking the children seriously about all the scary stuff that might be out there), Sam and his friends are left to fend for themselves as night approaches. Can Sam overcome each frightening encounter in the dark and prove once more that he is definitely NOT afraid?
Filled with warmth and humour, these books will strike a chord with anyone who knows what it feels like to be a little more frightened than they’d like others to think. I also really enjoyed how much value Sam places on his friendships and the way that he is able to attempt to build bridges with Ralph at the end, despite their differences. The narrative’s brand of harmless humour is enhanced by the cool design features of its pages and Nathan Reed’s engaging illustrations that bring a strong a visual element to the book’s humorous tone, making it a brilliantly fun addition to lower KS2 classroom libraries.
The books in this series are popular, quick reads and do not necessarily have to be read in sequence to make sense.
The second book in a dragon-filled adventure series by Katie and Kevin Tsang, co-authors of the popular Sam Wu books.
In the midst of an action-packed summer, Billy Chan and his companions find themselves far from relaxation. A dreadful event unfolds and the fate of their friend lies in their hands, urging them to embark on a time-traveling journey back to Ancient China to rescue him. Thus begins an epic adventure that will lead them through the unforgiving depths of the Frozen Wasteland and into the opulent halls of Ancient China’s imperial palaces.
Filled with legend, magic and, of course, dragons, this series would sate any young fantasy lover’s reading appetite. There’s excitement around each corner – from magical objects to out-of-bounds adventuring. I also loved that each of the children was so different, but managed to form a loyal team, exemplifying how you don’t have to be friends with only people who are similar to you. This is a promising adventure series, filled with humour, warmth, action and magic, and this second book could be read in sequence or as a standalone adventure.
review
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?
yes
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Curriculum links (if relevant)
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