The King's Dragon (Three Thieves)
Gr 6 Up—The fourth volume in the series, this title nicely weaves the tale of an honorable knight's search for three fugitives. Chantler, a Joe Shuster Award-winning cartoonist, amusingly captures the adventures of Captain Drake, an idealistic knight in service to his monarch. In black-and-white flashbacks neatly interspersed with the current narrative, readers witness the protagonist's initial knighting. He then learns that not every King's Dragon (knight) is truly in service to the crown. The color panels reveal that Drake is now operating without formal guidance. His search brings him back in contact with his former leader, and the hero must confront some of his concerns and issues with trust. Prettily drawn, in a style reminiscent of the "Prince Valiant" comics, The King's Dragon can almost stand alone. Still, those who wish to read the whole tale will need to order the first three installments and commit to purchasing future volumes. Given the popularity of complex monarchal stories for adults—such as Game of Thrones—this series serves middle and high school students interested in the same genre.—Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.