SOLVED. Boy enters into stories he reads in a bookstore [s]

[Slinkyboy]

I read this several years ago, probably between 2000 and 2003, though I bought it used, so it definitely could be much older than that. I think most of the book involved the boy’s adventures in the books he was reading. I think they were typical things a boy might be interested in… maybe a knight fighting a dragon to save the damsel in distress, maybe a cowboy gunfighter… not sure about those. The one I remember best was around the climax of the book. He has entered into a story where he is a detective or secret agent fighting against an alien invasion of earth. The danger here comes from the fact that the aliens have psychic powers and when mind reading the secret agent discover that he is really an adolescent boy reading a story. I don’t remember how he gets out of it.

Interspersed between the boy’s adventures in the books he reads, a little of the boy’s own story comes out. He lives alone with his mom. I think he has no memory of his father who left or maybe disappeared when he was very young. His mother doesn’t like him spending so much time at the bookstore, but I’m pretty sure she has no idea what goes on there. I think by the end of the book, it is rather heavily implied or maybe explicitly stated that the bookstore owner is the boy’s real father.

I remember this being a quick easy read, and considering the protagonist is an adolescent boy, I think this was probably released as YA fiction, but I’m not sure.

Oh, and I’m 64.3% certain that title has the word Dragon in it.

That’s all I’ve got. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Delanie]

It sounds a little bit like The Neverending Story? The protagonist is a fat 12 or 13 year old and he escapes into the book worlds and has adventures. He lives alone with his dad, as his mom has died recently.

[Jillian]

I initially thought of Neverending Story as well, but as I remember he only enters one book and it depicts a fantasy world lacking any detectives or aliens or the like. It's a great read but probably not what you're looking for...unless you conflated the memory of two different books?

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

Perhaps you are looking for The Pagemaster by David Kirschner.

[Slinkyboy]

It's not The Neverending Story. Although it is similar. I remeber thinking it was a similar concept when I read it.

The Pagemaster doesn't look familiar, and the description doesn't sound quite right, but I'm going to try to find a copy to verify.

Thanks to everyone who's tried to help. If anyone has any other ideas, keep them coming.

[Kate]

How about:

The Book of the King
Guided by a mysterious book and invisible guardians, meek high-schooler Owen Reeder learns that there is another world besides his ordinary one, where he is destined to face an evil dragon in order to make his own world safe and whole again.

[Mike]

Hmm, Could it possibly be: Erec Rex: The Dragon's Eye (Erec Rex) ?

[Slinkyboy]

Those aren't it either. Both were published well after I read whatever it was.

Thanks for looking, everyone.

[April Ann]

Could it be one of the Pakkins' Land Paul's Adventure books by Gary Shipman?

Could it be something in this series? The Dragonling Collector's Edition Vol. 1 by Jackie French Koller,.

There's also Dragon and Thief by Timothy Zahn, of the Dragonback series.

Dragons Don't Read Books by Brenda Bellingham, pub. 1992, but I can't find a description.

[image error] The Merchant of Death by D.J. McHale, 2002. "Pendragon" series.

[Slinkyboy]

No luck so far. Anyone have any more suggestions?

[Joseph]

I think this is a long shot, but is it Nightmare at the Book Fair by Dan Gutman?

[Slinkyboy]

That one sounds pretty good, Joseph, I may try to find a copy, but yeah, still not the one I'm looking for.

I'm still hoping it rings a bell with someone, though.

[April Ann]

Okay this is a stretch but the boy's father owns the bookstore....The Inkdrinker series


The Ink Drinker by Eric Sanvoisin, 1998.

Summary: A boy who hates books discovers an inkdrinking vampire in his father's bookshop and follows him to his underground vault.

[El]

My comment here is really probably not that helpful, but when I was in the sixth grade (we're talking '89/'90 here) I remember picking up a book a few times at the library that sort of sounds like this - I don't remember the word Dragon being in the title, and all I really remember is the boy read a book about an Arctic or Antarctic adventure... maybe he was reading a book about Cook? Does this part sound familiar? If I have that to run with I might be able to narrow it down to a definitive title.

I also remember the cover (which of course may have changed over the years) had a boy sitting in a chair with an open book. Totally vague, yeah, but it's been almost 20 years! :)

[Mawgojzeta]

This is in an attic, not a bookstore. Also, the mother has died: The Book of Lost Things - just thought I would throw that out there.

[Molly]

Mawgojzeta wrote: "This is in an attic, not a bookstore. Also, the mother has died: The Book of Lost Things - just thought I would throw that out there."

Mawgojzeta - I had that book in mind originally too when I started to read the description of the forgotten book but having just recently read The Book of Lost Things I don't believe that is right - no aliens, no bookstore. But it is an awesome book and should be checked out if you haven't read it yet, Slinkyboy.

[Lisa]

I loved The Book of Lost Things but it doesn't at all sound like the book to me. Also, it looks as though it was published later than the book Slinky is looking for.

[Slinkyboy]

Yup, not The Book of Lost Things. Although that does look pretty cool.

Do you ever feel like your To-read shelf grows exponentially?

Thanks again for looking, everyone.

[Lisa]

Do you ever feel like your To-read shelf grows exponentially?

Goodreads is a dangerous place!

[Slinkyboy]

YES!! I found it!

The book is In Between Dragons by Michael Kandel.

I found it by searching http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk for books with the word "dragons" in the title, displaying the results in order of publication date, and then looking a 40 years worth of book covers until I found one that looked familiar. A few more minutes on Google looking for a plot summary or review, and I knew I had the right one.

It's silly, but I feel like this enormous weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

[Lisa]

Thanks for letting us know Slinkyboy! Finally! I'm sure others will be interested in this book too. I'm happy that you were able to find it.

[rivka]

Slinkyboy wrote: "It's silly, but I feel like this enormous weight has been lifted from my shoulders."

I don't think it's silly. :)