Dragonwings: 25th Anniversary Edition
by Laurence Yep
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Book Summary Information
Author: Laurence YepReader: B.d. Wong
Edition: Audio Cassette
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Published: 2001-08-01
ISBN: 0694525618
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Publisher: HarperChildrensAudio
Book Reviews of Dragonwings: 25th Anniversary Edition
Book Review: Dragonwings' Book Review
Summary: 3 Stars
"Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep is a novel I greatly enjoyed reading. I just finished it and highly recommend it because it was a believable book about the conflicts between the T'ang and Americans, with exciting but historical events. A young Chinese boy named Moon Shadow moves to San Francisco to meet his father for the first time. His father dreams of flying and building a glider, and Moon Shadow must find the courage to stand up and not be afraid of the demons, who greatly influence him and the book.
In this novel, Laurence writes of a boy who moves to San Francisco to meet the father he's never seen but heard about from his mother and grandmother. His father, Windrider, is very interested in flying and so he begins to build small-scale glider models. Moon Shadow befriends the "Company" who his father works for, and gets to know the friendly Chinese men among them. Later his father and him move out of "China Town", and come to live with an especially nice pair of demonesses who welcome them to their town, and learn to become friends with the strange "Chinamen". Robin and Moon Shadow become companions, and Miss Whitlaw learns about the dragons she believed to be terrible, while teaching Moon Shadow how to read and write. With the help of his new acquaintances friends, he learns that despite the stereotype he believes all demons are, most are actually friendly and not willing to beat him up, every chance they get. In the end, a seemingly impossible dream is accomplished, and feuding friends overcome their differences for the chance to see "Dragonwings" fly.
Some well-thought out choices the author made in this book, changed the paperback for the better, like characters personalities and setting and time period. In this publication, Windrider has a dream in which he realizes that he was a dragon in his former life. Because of this, he decides to build glider models and when he tests them out, Robin and Moon Shadow bond and become closer playmates. His new attitude and name changes him because, he becomes bolder and eventually gets himself kicked out of his own town, by killing a man. He also acquires a knack for fixing and repairing things, and ends up getting a job as a repairman. Moon Shadow's fear of demons also influences the book too because, becomes skittish, nervous, and afraid to even step outside when it gets dark. He misses opportunities to either get ridiculed or praised by another person. Uncle's stubborn characteristic affects many of the people around him, for sometimes the better, but mostly the worse. He never apologizes, leaving people unhappy and frustrated with his attitude. He refuses to believe that a demon could be nice until he meets Miss Whitlaw and he changes his mind. Refusing to leave the house when the earthquake starts, almost kills him (literally) and he puts the rest of the "Company" in peril for a while. Because the novel is slow at the beginning, it is hard to get into and many people may put it back on the shelf right away. DON'T DO THAT! It is a superb novel that deservers to be read and I warn you that despite the informative and boring intro, it gets WAY better. The absence of dialogue and action leaves many snoring, but don't despair! It gets a lot more exciting late on, even though back then its farming, and talking all about China. The time period and setting in San Francisco, really improved the book for the better. If it wasn't set in 1906, there would have been no earthquake or fire, or a China town for the T'ang to live in. they feel much more comfortable in their familiar surroundings. Since they're in America, Windrider is able to write to the Wright Brothers and ask for model dimensions. Also, the prejudice between Americans and Chinese back then, really develops an exciting plot with historical conflicts as well. The author's choices, really improve the book for the better.
Even though the beginning was slow and boring, the time and setting enhanced the novel and made the events more exciting. The characters' moods and personalities made them very believable and realistic, and because the events were actual historical facts, it made the story even more believable. I really enjoyed this book and believe that it's a fabulous read with all the believable events, conflicts, and characters (which is understandable since it is a realistic fiction). Overall, great book!
Summary of Dragonwings: 25th Anniversary Edition
Moon Shadow is eight when he sails from China to join his father, Windrider, in America. Windrider lives in San Francisco's Chinatown and works in a laundry. Moon Shadow has never seen him.
Moon Shadow soon loves and respects this father, a man of genius, a man with a fabulous dream. With Moon Shadow's help, Windrider is willing to endure the mockery of the other Chinese, the poverty, and the longing for his own country to make his dream come true.
Inspired by the account of a Chinese immigrant who made a flying machine in 1909, Laurence Yep's historical novel beautifully portrays the rich traditions of the Chinese community as it made its way in a hostile new world.
Performed by B.D. WongGeneral Books
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