Night of the Ninth Dragon

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 21, 2016

Review

This it the 55th episode in the popular Magic Tree House series for young readers in grades 2-4. The two page prologue briefly introduces Jack and Annie and the magic of the treehouse. In this episode, the kids get an unusual summons to Camelot and discovery that King Arthur has been mortally wounded. The kingdom has been vandalized by thieves who have stolen the golden dragon that allows the magicians to travel between Camelot and the realm of Avalon. Jack and Annie must find the golden dragon and return it to the secret garden in the castle or King Arthur will die and the magicians will be locked out of Camelot. During one part of the adventure, the ability of Jack, Annie and Queen Guinevere to move a large wagon that had been pulled by a pair of oxen felt over-the-top, even in a fantasy. Unlike book number 54 about Balto, this installment reminds readers of various adventures that Jack and Annie took in explaining all the various characters that are in peril. New readers may find the task of locating all those past adventures a bit daunting. This title includes a sneak peek at the Fact tracker about dragons and mythical creatures which will be a high interest item.

Overall Book Score: good