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Iris and the Dragonflies

by Rosemary Danielis (Goodreads Author)

4.71 of 5 stars 4.71 · rating details · 21 ratings · 11 reviews

Iris, a feisty, solitary, eleven-year-old girl prefers being down by the creek near her house more than anywhere else in the world.

School is nothing but a joyless prison and uninterested in her classmates she spends each day gazing out the window, waiting for the dismissal bell to ring. Her only friends are the dragonflies who flit through the shoulder high bulrushes grow...more

Paperback, 2nd edition, 322 pages

Published September 17th 2010 by Rosemary Danielis (first published August 29th 2010)

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Mar 24, 2012 Damla rated it 5 of 5 stars

The title suggests that this book is about a person called Iris and dragon flies, and yes they do feature in the book, but I would describe the book more about an Irish adventure. The child Iris gets taken there by her family to see her grandmother and has a big adventure. The book has dragons, ghosts, the must have nasty man and lots of mystery.
I initially started reading the book with my daughter as I thought being about a little girl it would be suitable for her. It didn't take long for my ol...more

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Mar 09, 2012 aobibliophile™ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragonfly Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky. - Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Silent Noon

Iris Meadows is eleven and would rather spend her time by the creek with her dragonfly friends. she takes leave of them one summer to go to Ireland to visit her paternal grandmother. during her trip, she experiences strange visions and learns more about her heritage. when she comes back to school, Iris is now in sixth grade and meets new students in her class. she g...more Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragonfly Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky. - Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Silent Noon

Iris Meadows is eleven and would rather spend her time by the creek with her dragonfly friends. she takes leave of them one summer to go to Ireland to visit her paternal grandmother. during her trip, she experiences strange visions and learns more about her heritage. when she comes back to school, Iris is now in sixth grade and meets new students in her class. she gets involved in a school project after she finds out that her beloved Dragonfly Creek is marked as an area for real-estate development and "future expansion."
author Rosemary Danielis has written a wonderful book that not only deals with the real world and its environmental concerns but also one that involves magic and dragons. her writing flows smoothly and there is never a dull moment from one page to the next - all 338 of them!
all the characters are memorable in their own right. i love Iris. she views the world differently and is concerned about the well-being of her environment. despite her special abilities, she still acts her age and is not exempt from throwing a tantrum here and there and that makes her character realistic. i also love how the author threw in 2 boys and 2 girls from different parts of the world to be part of Iris' story.
there are supportive adults and positive role models here as well like Iris' mother, her grandmother and her caretaker Cormac, her teacher Ms. Aldrich and Mrs. Speranza, the school librarian.
the "villains" are unforgettable too especially the twin bullies Timmy and Tommy Bratwurst and the shady Solaris group.
another thing i find remarkable is how the fantasy elements are integrated effortlessly into the whole narrative.
despite my suspicions, the conclusion still comes as a surprise. it certainly hints at more adventures to come for Iris and the dragonflies.
in a nutshell, this book is pure wholesome reading entertainment! although targeted for middle grade readers and recommended as a must-read for girls, Iris and the Dragonflies is really for everyone to appreciate and enjoy. (less)

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Feb 24, 2012 Nona rated it 5 of 5 stars

This novel was written for tween-girls, but me being a 30 year old woman, I enjoyed it very much.

Once you start reading this book, you find out quickly that its not just another fantasy story about princesses, knights and dragons. This novel is really about nature, and how it should be preserved and protected.

Iris is a young outcast, thought a bit odd by her peers AND her parents because she talks to dragonflies. What they don't understand is that she really can talk to them, and can understand...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Iris and the Dragonflies was a fun, engaging read that would be good for middle graders. Iris is a social outcast. She is much more interested in hanging out by the stream and observing the wildlife there than spending time in school. The dragonflies talk to her but no one, except maybe her teacher at school believes her. Her mother is supportive but thinks she has too much imagination. Her father is abrupt and dismisses the possibility that Iris is telling the truth. Her older sister is mean an...more Iris and the Dragonflies was a fun, engaging read that would be good for middle graders. Iris is a social outcast. She is much more interested in hanging out by the stream and observing the wildlife there than spending time in school. The dragonflies talk to her but no one, except maybe her teacher at school believes her. Her mother is supportive but thinks she has too much imagination. Her father is abrupt and dismisses the possibility that Iris is telling the truth. Her older sister is mean and constantly puts Iris down. She has only one friend and Grace is a shy, withdrawn girl herself.

The summer between fifth and sixth grade Iris travels with her family to visit her grandmother in Ireland. There she explores an old castle, learns old stories that might be true from her grandmother and her grandmother's caretaker Cormac, and discovers a hidden dragon tooth. The stories are about dragons and ancient priestesses who protected the Earth from those who would exploit it. Iris comes back home with even more questions than she started with considering that she could see the past when she touched the castle walls.

When sixth grade begins Iris and Grace make new friends - Luciano from Italy, Anming from China, Karishma from India, and Jabulani from Tanzania. They work on a project together to save Iris' Dragonfly Creek from developers who want to destroy it. The kids have to deal with a mayor who seems for sale to the highest bidder, the class bullies - Timmy and Tommy, the evil development company, and the secretive Mr. Fretghar who seems to know more about Iris than she told him.

I thought the characters were well-drawn. They reminded me of a lot of the middle schoolers I work with every day. I liked that Iris was concerned about the earth but was also kid enough to almost throw a tantrum when things didn't go her way. I also liked the way the kids worked together to solve the problem. I thought both the magic and the ecological message were well-integrated into the story. And I really liked that the grown-up characters who were there to help the kids were a teacher and a librarian.

There is enough adventure in this one to satisfy the adventure lover and enough fantasy for the fantasy lover. There are enough real middle grade issues - bullies, first crushes, and school rivalries - to satisfy the realistic fiction fans. And while the story doesn't end on a cliffhanger, there are still unresolved issues that will have kids looking for the next book. I will be looking forward to a sequel to this story myself.(less)

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Jan 14, 2012 Wendy Hines rated it 4 of 5 stars

Iris loves exploring and spending time at the creek near her house. She can also talk to dragonflies, even though no one believes her but her best friend, Grace. Iris and Grace can also talk to one another in their heads - which is surreal but kind of cool. When Iris' parents decide to spend summer vacation in Ireland, Iris is enraged. She doesn't want to leave her dragonfly friends, but she doesn't get a vote.

Arriving in Ireland, Iris soon forgets her anger and loses herself in the beauty of I...more

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Dec 19, 2011 AJ Best rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not only do I love YA books, I have a thing for anything that is fantasy/sci-fi/magic/weres/vamps….let’s just leave it at I like the paranormal.
When I first started reading this bok, I thought that it was a little ‘kiddy’ but…I was reading a YA novel. So I pushed on (with no resistance) and read more. The book picked up so much more when her family took a summer vacation to Ireland (another of my favorite things to read).
I loved the power that has been passed down from generation to generation,...more Not only do I love YA books, I have a thing for anything that is fantasy/sci-fi/magic/weres/vamps….let’s just leave it at I like the paranormal.
When I first started reading this bok, I thought that it was a little ‘kiddy’ but…I was reading a YA novel. So I pushed on (with no resistance) and read more. The book picked up so much more when her family took a summer vacation to Ireland (another of my favorite things to read).
I loved the power that has been passed down from generation to generation, the storys that Grandma and the others told about the lank near by.
If it were not for Iris’ knowledge of the powers she has (though not fully developed) she would not have been able to do the things she had done, make friends, save her precious creek, and escape danger.
I am grateful that I had an opportunity to read this book. Don’t let me have think that I haven’t found some ‘flaws’ with the book. But I only did find 2.
1. The characters were well developed and some you even wanted to slap upside the head. But one of my favorite characters, Luciano, was written (in my humble opinion) was dialogued a bit hard. Even though you know what he’s saying, you spend more time trying to decipher the dialect the author is using. Maybe she could have done something like, ‘Luciano’s voice was so thick and authentic. Thankfully Iris was able to understand him perfectly.’ Maybe that would have gotten over my issue. (Again, no REAL issue)
2. How did I not know it was only one book of a series? Why did you leave me hanging? Why won’t she tell Grandma or her father? What’s going to happen while everyone is away? Is the school like Hogwarts? Tell me something, I can’t stand it. Now I have to read the next one….sigh….another book to put on my TBR pile.
I enjoyed this book and advise you to click on the cover above and pick up a Kindle copy or switch a page or to and get to the printed version (which I now want the autograph!) and buy it for yourself or the kids in your life ages 8-37 (or more if they are like me!)
(less)

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Dec 16, 2010 Elita Daniels rated it 5 of 5 stars

Iris and the dragonflies is thoroughly charming. It is a book I would revisit for the sheer pleasure of being drawn into the unusual, very captivating atmosphere. The characters are very well-developed and evoke responses similar to what one would feel toward a flesh and blood person. The family members are refreshingly loving toward each other, but not without their trails with plenty of twists and turns. When Iris finds out she has a special gift the story does not let up in its intrigue for a...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Sadrina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, reviews

Earth had gone a long time unprotected and now She could barely hold on on Her own. Without the protection of the Dragons, She is vulnerable to the people who wanted to destroy Her. The only person who can protect Her was the girl of many colors. That girl is Iris.
Iris is an eleven year old girl that could communicate with dragonflies and was not taken seriously by everyone because of her ability. When her dad announced that they'd be spending their summer vacation in Ireland with her dad's mot...more Earth had gone a long time unprotected and now She could barely hold on on Her own. Without the protection of the Dragons, She is vulnerable to the people who wanted to destroy Her. The only person who can protect Her was the girl of many colors. That girl is Iris.
Iris is an eleven year old girl that could communicate with dragonflies and was not taken seriously by everyone because of her ability. When her dad announced that they'd be spending their summer vacation in Ireland with her dad's mother, Iris had objected. However, Iris soon found out that she was enjoying her stay there listening to old dragon tales and going on adventures (that almost took her life). Iris also discovered that she had more abilities and found out that her grandmother also had similar abilities like hers.
When Iris got back home, she found out that her favorite creek was set to be destroyed by some company. Determined to save both the creek and its inhabitants, Iris seek the help of her new classmates-and-soon-to-be-friends - plus her only friend - and created a petition for a protest rally for the creek - which gained her some love from her parents.
Little did she know that she wasn't the only one in the group that had special abilities. And little did she know that the kind man who helped her with the campaign was actually the very man whom Iris should stay away from, who was seeking information on the mystical object Iris found back in Ireland - which she told no one of.

I like Iris' personality. She was so childish, stubborn and stands by her opinions yet she's also carefree and kind to everyone (minus a pair of identical twins). The other characters were equally amusing and lovable. And Iris' and Luciano's crush was so adorably cute!

I loved the magical world of the Dragons and I wished the author would tell more about them. The dragon tales were no doubt my favorite part of the story. I was a bit disappointed that there were barely any dragon mentioned in this. But in the end it made sense.

The story flowed really well what with the excitement building up the more you read it. I thought it veered off the main plot at some point and that confuses me. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading this and will wait for the second book.

Iris and the Dragonflies is very unique and well-written. It's a perfect combination of exciting, adventurous, fascinating and definitely full of pleasant surprises - most of the time. Lovely read!(less)

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Feb 13, 2013 Lia Burres rated it 5 of 5 stars

I got to read this for a review a while back. I cannot wait for the next one to come out and not to mention I ended up buying the print version of this book because I love it so much.

I have to recommend this book to any and everyone that loves nature, dragonflies, fantasy along with supernatural and even magic. Included are many cultures coming together, traveling to different countries, sibling conflict and this book is just way to good to pass up. You really should read this book. Rosemary don...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Melissa Haggerty rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. Iris' journey of self discovery was beautifully told. Starting with a very devastating moment for Iris, this book catches you right away. At times I became upset with Iris' father, Declan, who always seemed to be trying to stop her wonderful imagination. He could be a bit discouraging. But where he discouraged, Iris' mother, Rhea, uplifted her. Rhea was a very understanding mother, and I could tell how much she wanted her daughters to be happy. Iris' older sister, B...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Stephanje rated it 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely amazing. It reminded me of my childhood. My son was glued to it as well. Highly extremely recommended read.

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May 21, 2013 Holly Budgell marked it as to-read

Mar 27, 2013 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Feb 06, 2013 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-young-adult

Dec 05, 2012 Muriel Peretz marked it as to-read

Jul 12, 2012 Jennifer marked it as to-read

May 23, 2012 Liisi Carr rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 30, 2012 Carol marked it as to-read

Shelves: young-adult

Apr 12, 2012 Corinne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 03, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 25, 2012 Claire Carey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mar 18, 2012 Eveli Acosta marked it as to-read

Mar 16, 2012 DeAnna Felthauser marked it as to-read

Mar 14, 2012 Knitwit marked it as to-read

Mar 10, 2012 Rosemary Danielis rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Mar 07, 2012 A.D. Duling marked it as to-read

Mar 07, 2012 Georgina Morales marked it as to-read

Mar 06, 2012 Teresa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Feb 29, 2012 Laura Roberts marked it as to-read

Feb 29, 2012 C.p. Bialois marked it as to-read

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About Rosemary Danielis

Rosemary grew up in a part of Montreal that doesn't exist anymore. The creek that inspired her fascination with the outdoors is now an industrial development.
Flowers grow wherever Rosemary goes and it was the dragonflies that watched her with their globe-like eyes as she fiddled in her garden that inspired her to write this fantasy tale.

Iris and the Dragonflies
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