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30th out of 636 books
—
1,047 voters
The Fire Within (The Last Dragon Chronicles #1)
Best-selling author, Chris d'Lacey, brings us a magical story about mysterious hand crafted clay dragons who have unusual powers.
When David moves in with Liz and Lucy, he discovers a collection of hand crafted, clay dragons that comes to life and has magical powers. David's personalized dragon, Gadzooks, can forecast the future, and inspires him to write a story which reve...more
When David moves in with Liz and Lucy, he discovers a collection of hand crafted, clay dragons that comes to life and has magical powers. David's personalized dragon, Gadzooks, can forecast the future, and inspires him to write a story which reve...more
Paperback, 340 pages
Published
March 1st 2007
by Scholastic Paperbacks
(first published September 27th 2001)
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This fantasy parts of this book were believeable but the reality parts were not. The characterization of the main character was completely ridiculous and unbelieveable. The language was terrible (who says "Aren't you supposed to be at college" instead of "aren't you supposed to be in class." The word college was seriously over-used, like the author had to keep pointing out that he was in college since his character wasn't nearly mature enough to be in college and any guy actually in college woul...more
When college student David decides to board with Liz and her daughter Lucy he soon discovers all is not as it seems. Liz makes clay model dragons to sell, and Lucy is a rambunctious kid who really wants to find out where all the squirrels have gone. When Liz gives David his own dragon, Gadzooks, a tiny little dragon chewing on the end of a pencil, David's life takes some unexpected turns.
This wasn't exactly a dragon book, in the sense of having a dragon as a main character. It was an interestin...more
This wasn't exactly a dragon book, in the sense of having a dragon as a main character. It was an interestin...more
A Fire Within, Dull and Treacly Without
"Hrrr Durr" said that dragon. If you missed it the first time, don't worry, they'll point this out like 50 other times, because it's very poignant that the dragons are...well, special.
This book is so lame. I realize this was a much lower reading level thanI thought it would be, but even my 7 yr old niece would find this book too overly precious, tautological, and redundant. There's clay dragons that are magical and cry purple fire tears and go hrr (DONT FO...more
"Hrrr Durr" said that dragon. If you missed it the first time, don't worry, they'll point this out like 50 other times, because it's very poignant that the dragons are...well, special.
This book is so lame. I realize this was a much lower reading level thanI thought it would be, but even my 7 yr old niece would find this book too overly precious, tautological, and redundant. There's clay dragons that are magical and cry purple fire tears and go hrr (DONT FO...more
How would you feel to be a college student and renting a room with a oddly woman and her child? Would you have the same thoughts as David, that they were normal?
Chris D’lacey’s novel The Fire Within focuses on a college student names David. David’s life changed when moving in with a mother named Liz and her daughter Lucy. Lucy loves the squirrels in her backyard. The neighbor does not, Mr. Bacon tired to run the squirrels out of his yard by getting the old oak cut down. Lucy then notices that a...more
Chris D’lacey’s novel The Fire Within focuses on a college student names David. David’s life changed when moving in with a mother named Liz and her daughter Lucy. Lucy loves the squirrels in her backyard. The neighbor does not, Mr. Bacon tired to run the squirrels out of his yard by getting the old oak cut down. Lucy then notices that a...more
Well my thoughts on this book are mixed.
Although, it was a good fantasy book for children, it had many flaws that made the realistic world of the book, not so real. The ending was, well, more of a cliffhanger and it kind of makes you want to read the next book, because now I want to know about these special real dragons, but not as soon as possible.
This book was SLOW. Most of it was about squirrels which was a real downer, and not enough on dragons, let alone the clay dragons. David's thinking...more
Although, it was a good fantasy book for children, it had many flaws that made the realistic world of the book, not so real. The ending was, well, more of a cliffhanger and it kind of makes you want to read the next book, because now I want to know about these special real dragons, but not as soon as possible.
This book was SLOW. Most of it was about squirrels which was a real downer, and not enough on dragons, let alone the clay dragons. David's thinking...more
When David Rain went to collage he needed a place to stay. He found a room that was owned by the Pennykettle family, on Wayward Crescent and decided he would move in as a tenant. When he got all settled in, Elizabeth (Liz) Pennykettle gave David a handcrafted clay dragon. Liz said the dragon (which David names Gadzooks) would supposedly help him write a story about gray squirrels for Lucy (Liz’s daughter).
Something that I really enjoyed about the book is that the author was able to keep someth...more
Something that I really enjoyed about the book is that the author was able to keep someth...more
In this book, a young college student named David will go to extraordinary lengths to learn more about the strange humming sound that he hears all throughout the house. Liz, David's landlord, will help on the journey to find his destiny. Ever since Liz made David's clay dragon, Gadzooks, David's mind has been feeling quite clustered and confused. Lucy, Liz's daughter will help a group of fearless squirrels with the help of David and a few other friends. Also, David will learn that once there wa...more
YAY! A dragon book! I LOVE DRAGONS!
But disappointingly so, it's NOT what I had expected for a dragon book to be 'cause it's mainly centered on squirrels! *annoyed* I know, right?! What was the author thinking?
David is this tenant who rented a room in Elizabeth Pennykettle's household. Liz owns a bunch of clay modeled dragon figures since that's what she "does" for a living and evidently have those things unwavering around the house, mostly on shelves. They don't move but they seem very alive.
L...more
But disappointingly so, it's NOT what I had expected for a dragon book to be 'cause it's mainly centered on squirrels! *annoyed* I know, right?! What was the author thinking?
David is this tenant who rented a room in Elizabeth Pennykettle's household. Liz owns a bunch of clay modeled dragon figures since that's what she "does" for a living and evidently have those things unwavering around the house, mostly on shelves. They don't move but they seem very alive.
L...more
The Fire Within by Chris D’ Lacey
When David takes a room for rent in Liz’s and Lucy Pennykettle’s home, everything seems normal enough, except for the dragons that seem to be on every shelf in the house. David pays little mind to the clay dragons till his own dragon starts appearing in his thoughts, giving him advice for stories and seemingly predicting the future. David quickly begins to realize that the dragons are more than clay. They are real.
Finding the ad for a cheap room near his colleg...more
When David takes a room for rent in Liz’s and Lucy Pennykettle’s home, everything seems normal enough, except for the dragons that seem to be on every shelf in the house. David pays little mind to the clay dragons till his own dragon starts appearing in his thoughts, giving him advice for stories and seemingly predicting the future. David quickly begins to realize that the dragons are more than clay. They are real.
Finding the ad for a cheap room near his colleg...more
Well, I found this in my teacher's library and just from reading the title of the book,I assumed that this book would be one to remember. This story is basically about a college student who moves into a home with a mother and daughter who make clay dragons and the dragons help people through telepathy but never actually move. Throughout the story, there's is just constant conflicts and they're not too crazy in depth of violence. I think one of the most unique parts of this book was the fact that...more
The Fire Within (The Last Dragon Chronicles #1)
By: Chris D'Lacey
Report Written By: Christopher Painchaud 7F-1 Monday November 28th 2011
Ah, the Pennykettle family. They sure are one of a kind in Chris D,Lacey's book "The Fire Within", the first book of this amazing series.
David Rain is 20 years old and is going for a geography class in Scrubbly
and he needs to find somewhere to stay, and then he sees a flyer for the Pennykettle family.
So, he decides to stay there. When he arrives he meets Elizabe...more
By: Chris D'Lacey
Report Written By: Christopher Painchaud 7F-1 Monday November 28th 2011
Ah, the Pennykettle family. They sure are one of a kind in Chris D,Lacey's book "The Fire Within", the first book of this amazing series.
David Rain is 20 years old and is going for a geography class in Scrubbly
and he needs to find somewhere to stay, and then he sees a flyer for the Pennykettle family.
So, he decides to stay there. When he arrives he meets Elizabe...more
The Fire Within is one of those books that might not seem very special, or as if it would be a worthwhile read, yet is actually a story that will touch the hearts of all who decide to open its cover. In my opinion, the writing style of this first installment is most suitable for someone of a younger age than my own, yet the themes expressed have the ability to capture anyone's interest. This easy read is a favorite of mine and will always remain so.
Throughout the entirety of the novel, a prevale...more
Throughout the entirety of the novel, a prevale...more
The series begins with a college student (David Rain) renting a room from a lady with a young daughter. Liz Pennykettle creates dragons that move. Her daughter, Lucy, loves squirrels and David helps her relocate a squirrel their neighbor hates. David, with the help of a dragon made by Liz, then writes a story about the squirrels.
In later books we find that David is really a world travellor with a mission to help ressurect the dragons on earth. He enlists the help of the Pennykettles, their neigh...more
In later books we find that David is really a world travellor with a mission to help ressurect the dragons on earth. He enlists the help of the Pennykettles, their neigh...more
This book tells the story of David Rain, a young college student, and the interesting family he rooms with. Liz and Lucy Pennykettle have a strange fascination with the clay dragons that Liz creates and sells as her living. Not long after joining the Pennykettle household David is gifted his very own clay dragon and is given the instruction to never let the dragon cry. The story is about David's adventures with the Pennykettle family and their dragons.
I read this book after my 4th and 2nd grader...more
I read this book after my 4th and 2nd grader...more
I decided to read a children’s book as a change of pace, and Chris D’Lacey’s The Fire Within was a perfect choice. A young college student, David, moves into the home of mother and daughter, Elizabeth and Lucy, expecting just a room to sleep in and food to eat. But he soon becomes part of the family, helping Lucy in her quest to save the squirrel next door which was left injured when its tree was chopped down. The novel has a beautiful mixture of nature and fantasy, with delightful relationships...more
When David leases a room from Liz and her daughter Lucy, he get's more than he bargened for. The Pennykettles are excentric to say the least. Liz makes little ceramic dragons and talks about them as if they were real. Even her daughter is caught up in this dragon craziness. Throw in a one eyed squirrel, in need of rescue, and you've got the makings of an interesting story.
I really wanted to like this book. The cover is cool, the possibilities are there...but I just couldn't get into it. The Daug...more
I really wanted to like this book. The cover is cool, the possibilities are there...but I just couldn't get into it. The Daug...more
This book is mainly about David Rain and how his life is living in a shared apartment with Liz and Lucy. Liz makes clay dragons in her attic upstairs and Lucy, her daughter, assists her. When David moved in, Liz made him a special dragon with a pencil and a notepad because Liz knew David loved to write and when David was writing a report for college, the dragon would come alive and write something on his notepad to provide David with an idea of what to write. David wanted to win this contest of...more
Before I write this review, I have to clarify one thing. I read the rest of the series before this book, the first. I started with the 3rd and 4th, then the 5th when that came out, and then the 1st. I read the second one later. The later books get extremely science fiction-y: parallel universes, alternate dimensions, alien beings, etc. This book was NOTHING like that. Although it kept to the dragon clay core of the series, it was more of a kiddy fantasy - about writing, and funny squirrels, and...more
The copy of this book that I read belonged to my younger brother. I was stuck for literature, so I thought--what the heck? Why not?
It was just average to me. I found it hilarious, though, that the main character's name was David and he was a tenant, so naturally I picture him as David Tennant the whole time I'm reading this. But anyway. Dragons are represented in a new way this time around--and d'Lacey went for a more subtle approach to their presence. Instead of these monstrous beasties, he's d...more
It was just average to me. I found it hilarious, though, that the main character's name was David and he was a tenant, so naturally I picture him as David Tennant the whole time I'm reading this. But anyway. Dragons are represented in a new way this time around--and d'Lacey went for a more subtle approach to their presence. Instead of these monstrous beasties, he's d...more
OH MY GOD! This book is so outrageous! It's so suspeseful and it has dragons, which I love! Well, for anyone who hasn't read this book, I'm sorry, but I HAVE to give you my part so far (so here's a spoiler alert):
'Oddly, he thought about his dragon, then; Gadzooks, sitting on the windowsill at home: a spiky silhoutte against the rain pattered glass. And, in that moment, something peculiar happened. In his mind's eye David saw Gadzooks take his pencil from his mouth and try to scribble something...more
'Oddly, he thought about his dragon, then; Gadzooks, sitting on the windowsill at home: a spiky silhoutte against the rain pattered glass. And, in that moment, something peculiar happened. In his mind's eye David saw Gadzooks take his pencil from his mouth and try to scribble something...more
Jan 23, 2010
Wendy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
To anyone who still has that child with in them
This is the first book in the Fire Tear sires. I became interested when I saw the third book of the sirese when I went to a book fair at Ambers elementary school and read it not realizing that it was the third book.
I was hooked!!. Chris D'Lacye is very good at engaging the reader from the moment that you start reading each book. But remember that when you begin the aventure you want to read the books in order at least that is my opinion. The characters or Elizabeth Pennykettle her daughter Lucy...more
I was hooked!!. Chris D'Lacye is very good at engaging the reader from the moment that you start reading each book. But remember that when you begin the aventure you want to read the books in order at least that is my opinion. The characters or Elizabeth Pennykettle her daughter Lucy...more
Jun 03, 2010
Rhett guckiean
added it
This is a sweet, entertaining children’s fantasy book and it’s the first in a trilogy. It’s a heartwarming story and focuses on rescuing a sick neighborhood squirrel. It’s also about finding the fire within you as the renter did when he finally finishes the story he was writing. By “fire”, I mean to persist towards your goal and not to give up. All too often these days people give up on their dreams because of self-doubt or because reaching their goal takes too long. This is a good lesson for ch...more
A magical adventure about the power of dragons...
When David moves in with Elizabeth Pennykettle and her eleven-year-old daughter, Lucy, he discovers a collection of clay dragons that come to life. David's own special dragon inspires him to wrote a story, which reveals the secrets behind a mystery. In order to solve the mystery and to save his dragon, David must master the magic of the fire within--not only with his hands but also his heart.
When David moves in with Elizabeth Pennykettle and her eleven-year-old daughter, Lucy, he discovers a collection of clay dragons that come to life. David's own special dragon inspires him to wrote a story, which reveals the secrets behind a mystery. In order to solve the mystery and to save his dragon, David must master the magic of the fire within--not only with his hands but also his heart.
So as far as I am in this book I have loved it so much and I can not stop reading. There is a tenent moving in the pennyketle house named David who now has to live with Liz and her charming young daughter. As far as he knows, Liz makes these pottery drgons that have alot of unique and different looks about them. Also Liz's daughter has these strange squirrles that she has named. But she is mostly fond of this unusual squirrel with only one eye. She is determind to find this squirrel, and keep hi...more
Dragons. Have you ever wanted to live in a world with dragons but still have a normal life? That’s what David Rain is experiencing. This college tendent lives in a house filled with clay dragons. He sarts learning about the dragons which are living dragons that can move, talk and breath fire but cant turn into a full sized dragon form. With all this knowledge he has to have his own dragon so Elizabeth Pennykettle and her daughter Lucy make one for this confused tendent. His dragon’s name is Gadz...more
In this book, David Rain, a college geography student, comes to Scrubbley. He finds housing at number 42 Wayward Crescent, a house with several strange characters. Liz, the sensible mom. Lucy, the daughter, who is obsessed with gray squirrels. Bonnington the cat. two squirrels, conker who has a hurt eye, and Snigger who comes from the library gardens to save Conker. Finally, Henry Bacon, the nosy neighbor that HATES squirrels.
Then that takes us to the dragons. These clay creations made by Liz ar
...more
1.This book was about a kid name David living with Liz and here daughter Lucy.David goes to college. HE is trying to become a famous writer. He can't find a story but, as time goes on he find out what Liz has really been doing in the house. She been making dragons he right his paper about it.
2.The reason why i pick three stars is cause the story was very well detail.There was some parts were the story ran long and place were it was slow but all and all I thought this was a pretty good book.
3.“Un...more
2.The reason why i pick three stars is cause the story was very well detail.There was some parts were the story ran long and place were it was slow but all and all I thought this was a pretty good book.
3.“Un...more
I got this book from the library, I’ve wanted to read this series and now seems like a perfect time. I was not sure what to expect from this book but as I started reading it I discovered that I liked it. But I do have to say that it was not what I expected it to be. I expected the dragons to be different than they are in the book but that did not diminish my liking of the book. In fact once I got over what I thought book would be about and what the book was about, I was enjoying it very much.
Bo...more
Bo...more
oh boy, these Fire Within books are all the rage with my ten year old boy and his friends! he was so excited for me to partake of the dragon-fun but I must admit, I really had to fake enthusiasm for this tortuous story about clay dragons that come to life, squirrels that may or may not be getting bullied at the town fountain by other squirrels, and a college student protagonist who is really socially over-involved with his nine-year old land-lady's daughter. (I don't mean to imply that it's cree...more
this book was amazing!!! any people who love adventure,action,stories,and dragons (hrr) should read this book and the rest!!! I will help out by naming the book series one by one: 1. The Fire Within 2. Ice Fire 3. Fire Star 4. Fire Eternal 5. Dark Fire 6. Fire World 7. Fire Ascending
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does anybody else like this book? | 8 | 13 | Jun 04, 2013 07:15pm | |
| Did you Like this Book? | 8 | 17 | Feb 21, 2013 04:52pm | |
| All of the Books | 1 | 6 | Feb 11, 2013 04:14pm | |
| Who is your favorite character? | 5 | 7 | Dec 22, 2012 08:23am | |
| I love this book | 20 | 44 | Aug 21, 2012 09:12am | |
| does david relise what he's handling? | 9 | 42 | Jul 27, 2012 05:36pm |
He was born in Valetta, Malta, but as a child moved first to Leicester and then to Bolton. After gaining a degree in biology from the University of York, he returned to Leicester and got a job at the University of Leicester in their Pre-Clinical Sciences department.
Originally his writing was confined to songs and he didn't turn to fiction until he was 32. His first piece of work was a 250,000 word...more
More about Chris d'Lacey...
Originally his writing was confined to songs and he didn't turn to fiction until he was 32. His first piece of work was a 250,000 word...more
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“What you take from the earth, you must give back. That's nature's way.”
—
61 people liked it
“Why can't I talk to her?"
"Because you're not a handsome young man."
"Well, neither is he!”
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18 people liked it
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"Because you're not a handsome young man."
"Well, neither is he!”
Oct 27, 2010 09:42am
Mar 31, 2012 07:07pm