The Voice of the Wooden Dragon
Christie Waldman, author
Lane Waldman, illustrator
https://christinagwaldman.com
NFB Publishing
https://www.nfbpublishing.com
9781953610966, $16.95, PB, 252pp

https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Wooden-Dragon-Christie-Waldman/dp/195361096X

Synopsis: Things were not fair in Deweydaire, a land ruled by dragons. The humans worked while the dragons played. Even though she was a dragon, Princess Meredith had taken the side of the humans. She insisted on speaking out loudly against the injustice. She'd even been leading her band of rebel dragons against her uncle, King Harold the Humble, in a war between the Red and the White Dragons. Such destruction! Surely there had to be a better way of resolving their differences!

How could Meredith have known that she would run afoul of her bully cousin Rupert when she went to King Harold's castle to seek a truce? Or that Rupert would use a forbidden magic to try to silence her voice forever? Somehow, with the help of her loyal friends, the intrepid Peter Porter, under-rated court jester Felix, and a little girl named Suse, she must figure out how to regain all that is rightfully hers. What holds her back? And who will listen to the Voice of the Wooden Dragon?

Critique: Original, clever, and a fun read from start to finish, "The Voice of the Wooden Dragon" is especially and unreservedly recommended for elementary school, middle school, highschool, and community library Fantasy Fiction collections for young readers ages 8-18. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of dragon fans that "The Voice of the Wooden Dragon" is also readily available from NFB Publishing in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).

Editorial Note: Christina G. Waldman (https://christinagwaldman.com) is the author of "Francis Bacon's Hidden Hand in Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice': A Study of Law, Rhetoric, and Authorship". "The Voice of the Wooden Dragon" is her first novel for young readers.

The Voice of the Wooden Dragon by Christie Waldman is a children's fantasy where a human boy, Peter Porter, is caught in the conflict between rebels and the ruling dragon monarchy. Peter is accused of conspiring with Meredith, a rebellious dragon leader, and is imprisoned in Rhapsody Castle. While imprisoned, Peter learns of the political strife involving Meredith, who is trying to negotiate peace with King Harold, her uncle. Meanwhile, Peter discovers that Prince Rupert, King Harold's son, is trying to solidify his rule despite questionable legitimacy. As the plot unfolds, Peter becomes enmeshed in a tangle of intrigue, trying to help Meredith, who is being tried for treason, while uncovering secrets about his family, the monarchy, and the fate of the rebels. Peter's quest becomes one of survival and loyalty, striving to protect Meredith from unjust punishment.

Christie Waldman’s The Voice of the Wooden Dragon is a fantastic mix of fantasy fun, a bit of royal chaos, and a beautifully imagined world of dragons and humans. Sprinkled throughout the story are delightful monochrome sketched illustrations by Lane Waldman, all of which provide a little more visual depiction of the characters we are following. Waldman’s prose is clear and simple enough for readers enjoying their first chapter book, but clever enough not to bore those who might be more advanced. The plot is unpredictable, and I can honestly say that I did not expect the twists that challenged my expectations, and the direction the story would go after the prognosis of the Queen. I loved the adventure aspect, and, as a side note, my daughter and I had some fun looking up what peridot was, thanks to Mr. Carlos Giordano. Very highly recommended.