Dragon Girl and the Awakened Flames

This is the first book in the series about Emba Oak. Originally called Emba Oak and the Terrible Tomorrows, the book has undergone a name change. This book is full of jokes and slightly gross humour (all right, very gross humour in places) and it is delightfully silly. I can see lower KS2 children absolutely loving this, with its fast-paced plot and amusing characters. It has the feeling of someone chatting to you and telling you this story; the voice is so clear and individual.

There are strong themes of friendship and courage, as well as this being a really fun and easy-to-read book. David Dean’s cover and internal illustrations are a delight, and many will appreciate the great dragon pictures! The chapter heading font and the layout also add to the feeling of a book about a quest, which is exactly what this is.