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The Scrapdragon Book 4 - Fear & Courage: A Tom-Tom Burrow Adventure
Hello Dear Reader,
Thank you for choosing The Scrapdragon Book 4 – Fear And Courage, the final book in the Scrapdragon series of Tom-Tom Burrow Adventures. There are four books altogether:
The Scrapdragon Book 1 – An Adventure Begins
The Scrapdragon Book 2 – To Find A Sorcerer
The Scrapdragon Book 3 – Bullies And Monsters
The Scrapdragon Book 4 – Fear And Courage
The books are all linked together and are best read in the order shown, so if you haven’t yet read the previous ones, I recommend you do so before beginning this one.
The Scrapdragon is the sort of story I have always loved to read myself. It is a tale of perseverance and hope, of never giving up, not even – especially! – when you are lost and alone, when you are surrounded by seemingly inescapable menace, or when you feel yourself drowning in an ocean of sadness and disappointment.
I wrote The Scrapdragon particularly for young people from age 10 or 11, although it is suitable from the age of 8 or 9. Tom Burrow (Tom-Tom to his friends) happens to be 12 years old – in fact, the adventure begins on his 12th birthday when he visits a fairground with his two best friends, Tinker and Tariq. In the third book of the series we find the adventurers, having thwarted Cabal’s attempts to trap them (thanks to Melvin Puddlewick) confronted by Captain Hacktree and his Bruisers. Zander does battle with the Captain but it is only the intervention of Spindigo and the arrival of Chumley that saves the day. However, their victory is tempered with sadness from the loss of their greatest friend and ally, and now everyone must somehow find the heart to carry on – but remember: this is Dulcia, a land of magic, and who knows what might happen next?
Now read on and find out for yourself the conclusion to Tom-Tom Burrow’s adventures with the Scrapdragon.
A Note To Parents
The Scrapdragon series of books was written to entertain young people from around the age of 10 and upwards, beginning with my own son. I have deliberately refrained from using any inappropriate language – they get enough of that in the schoolyard! That said, the story does not avoid unpleasant realities: bullying, fear, loneliness, and even death. I believe I have dealt with these topics sensitively and hope you will agree.
I have also not shied away from using words that are not in the vocabulary of most children of that age. It is a great mistake, I believe, to consider that children should be constrained to read only words and expressions that adults consider ‘suitable’ for young minds (which often means ignoring words of more than two syllables!) The character of the Scrapdragon, for instance, sometimes speaks in a slightly arcane manner and uses words that Tom-Tom and the others don’t properly understand. In the narrative I generally provide an alternative, so there is usually an explanation of what the Scrapdragon is saying. However, don’t be surprised if you are suddenly asked questions such as “What does longevity mean?” Or “How do you say this word?”
I encourage parents to read the story before – or at least alongside – their daughters or sons. It’s a hugely rewarding experience for any mum or dad (or mom and dad, as Tinker might say). And please, do let me know your thoughts about The Scrapdragon series by leaving feedback on the retailer’s website.
Finally, I want to say thank you for choosing my books for your children. I am sure you, and they, will not be disappointed.
Nigel Edwards, November 2014
Thank you for choosing The Scrapdragon Book 4 – Fear And Courage, the final book in the Scrapdragon series of Tom-Tom Burrow Adventures. There are four books altogether:
The Scrapdragon Book 1 – An Adventure Begins
The Scrapdragon Book 2 – To Find A Sorcerer
The Scrapdragon Book 3 – Bullies And Monsters
The Scrapdragon Book 4 – Fear And Courage
The books are all linked together and are best read in the order shown, so if you haven’t yet read the previous ones, I recommend you do so before beginning this one.
The Scrapdragon is the sort of story I have always loved to read myself. It is a tale of perseverance and hope, of never giving up, not even – especially! – when you are lost and alone, when you are surrounded by seemingly inescapable menace, or when you feel yourself drowning in an ocean of sadness and disappointment.
I wrote The Scrapdragon particularly for young people from age 10 or 11, although it is suitable from the age of 8 or 9. Tom Burrow (Tom-Tom to his friends) happens to be 12 years old – in fact, the adventure begins on his 12th birthday when he visits a fairground with his two best friends, Tinker and Tariq. In the third book of the series we find the adventurers, having thwarted Cabal’s attempts to trap them (thanks to Melvin Puddlewick) confronted by Captain Hacktree and his Bruisers. Zander does battle with the Captain but it is only the intervention of Spindigo and the arrival of Chumley that saves the day. However, their victory is tempered with sadness from the loss of their greatest friend and ally, and now everyone must somehow find the heart to carry on – but remember: this is Dulcia, a land of magic, and who knows what might happen next?
Now read on and find out for yourself the conclusion to Tom-Tom Burrow’s adventures with the Scrapdragon.
A Note To Parents
The Scrapdragon series of books was written to entertain young people from around the age of 10 and upwards, beginning with my own son. I have deliberately refrained from using any inappropriate language – they get enough of that in the schoolyard! That said, the story does not avoid unpleasant realities: bullying, fear, loneliness, and even death. I believe I have dealt with these topics sensitively and hope you will agree.
I have also not shied away from using words that are not in the vocabulary of most children of that age. It is a great mistake, I believe, to consider that children should be constrained to read only words and expressions that adults consider ‘suitable’ for young minds (which often means ignoring words of more than two syllables!) The character of the Scrapdragon, for instance, sometimes speaks in a slightly arcane manner and uses words that Tom-Tom and the others don’t properly understand. In the narrative I generally provide an alternative, so there is usually an explanation of what the Scrapdragon is saying. However, don’t be surprised if you are suddenly asked questions such as “What does longevity mean?” Or “How do you say this word?”
I encourage parents to read the story before – or at least alongside – their daughters or sons. It’s a hugely rewarding experience for any mum or dad (or mom and dad, as Tinker might say). And please, do let me know your thoughts about The Scrapdragon series by leaving feedback on the retailer’s website.
Finally, I want to say thank you for choosing my books for your children. I am sure you, and they, will not be disappointed.
Nigel Edwards, November 2014
141 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2014
2 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Edwards
54 books9 followersBorn a long time ago in a distant country, Nigel is Welsh but living in England with his wife plus the occasional child or pet (currently we have a pair of rabbits).
Nigel has been a spare-time writer since around 2005 (give or take a year), and has been published by Indie Press names NewCon Press (Ian Whates) and Greyheart Press (Tim Taylor).
For a living Nigel works as a software tester/manager in the IT industry, sometimes in London, sometimes elsewhere.
Nigel's ambition is to become a world famous author and then retire to the romantic coastline of Cornwall. Until then, Nigel just puts up with having to be nice to employers and potential employers.
Nigel has been a spare-time writer since around 2005 (give or take a year), and has been published by Indie Press names NewCon Press (Ian Whates) and Greyheart Press (Tim Taylor).
For a living Nigel works as a software tester/manager in the IT industry, sometimes in London, sometimes elsewhere.
Nigel's ambition is to become a world famous author and then retire to the romantic coastline of Cornwall. Until then, Nigel just puts up with having to be nice to employers and potential employers.
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