Darwin's Dragons: a thrilling, rip-roaring adventure full of discovery and magic

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Syms’ life is saved by a lizard that he names Farthing – named after a shiny copper coin that he received as a reward for his fiddle playing, and Farthing becomes his saviour, friend and talisman. The teenager spends several terrifying days on the island before he is reunited with HMS Beagle and its crew. Darwin’s Dragons would be a perfect book to read alongside a unit on evolution or study of Charles Darwin. Sárkányokkal engem olyannyira meg lehet venni, hogy még ezt az ifjúsági regényt is beszereztem egy óvatlan pillanatomban. Igazi nyári olvasmány, az a fajta kalandregény, amit ha gyerekként olvasod, akkor befalod a nyári szünet egy tikkadt meleg délutánján, lekváros kenyeret majszolva a nagyszüleid kertjében. Felnőttként is jó szórakozás volt, a nyelvezete persze nagyon egyszerű, de ezt nincs értelme felrónom neki, mert érezhetően az olvasni már tudó könyvmoly palántáknak lett kitalálva a nyelvezet, a szellős sorok, nagy betűk és a fejezetek hosszúsága is. First of all I was drawn to this book by its great title, you immediately know this is going to involve great real historical people. Second, the cover is just stunningly beautiful and you can't wait to dive in and be swept away in time, science and adventure.

In the world of children’s literature, there seems to be an ever-growing market for books about dragons, and therefore it is lovely to see a take on dragons that brings them more into real life. Lindsay Galvin has thoroughly researched the real-life dragons and historical context of the story, and this makes this book stand out from other dragon-themed books. It would be a great book for those children that are slightly older and may have previously loved dragon books but wish to find something more mature. It also leaves plenty to think about, in terms of how the complex interrelationship between the humans and the animal kingdom, and about the ethics of dealing with creatures both familiar and unknown as humans go about exploring animal habitats. Using 19th century language and attitudes, scientific observation and unbridled curiosity, Galvin makes this fictional event during a documented journey seem real.Darwin’s Dragon was a roller coaster of a book to say the least. And I did cry. No, the book did not make me sob, but there were a few parts of the book that made me shed a few tears, and in my opinion that makes a good book. I think it’s hard to get people emotionally attached to characters, in a book specifically and to achieve that shows how well developed and fleshed out the characters really are. Is the book plot driven?… not really. It has a very interesting plot, but I think the focus is mainly on the characters, which isn’t a bad thing. Written from Syms’ perspective, this story begins with a life-and-soul adventure and ends with the evolution of his attitude towards the welfare of animals, and not just the incredible creatures he finds on Narborough Island. Tangled in the observations you’d expect from a trainee zoologist – the descriptions of behaviours and habitats, which is fascinating in itself – is Syms’ growing unease at how animals are studied. This is powerfully contrasted by certain characters in the story who wish to own, keep, dissect, and cage. It’s so cleverly done, too, the story first shining a light on the importance of discovery and understanding, then lighting a blazing torch for compassion. And that’s what stays with you after you’ve read the great adventures and the thrilling encounters – the need to show kindness to all creatures. When Syms Covington, assistant to Charles Darwin, falls overboard in a storm around the Galapagos, he is washed ashore on an unexplored volcanic island. There he lays eyes on a species no one knows exists. Soon, it's not only Covington's survival that hangs in the balance but how far will he go to keep these creatures safe? With short chapters and being split into parts makes Darwin’s Dragons a great choice for a class text as it is easy to fit into the very busy timetable within the primary school classroom, but also allows readers with less stamina to still access a longer text. There are also so many ways this book could be used to support wider learning, including the evolution topic in Year 6 science, or using it to inspire geography or history learning.

It’s probably one of the reason why I just couldn’t put this book down, I didn’t want to do anything else until I could say the characters, I had come to love and adore, where out of harms reach! Cabin boy, Syms Covington is aboard The Beagle. Assisting Charles Darwin in his exploration of the Galapagos Islands, it’s the voyage of a lifetime – he spends his days collecting samples, sketching wildlife, helping the world-famous scientist in his documentation of the islands’ unique species. But when Syms is lost at sea and washed up onto the tortured lava plains of Narborough Island, the cabin boy turns survivalist and naturalist, fighting to save his own life plus the lives of a class of creature he never dreamed existed beyond the realms of fantasy…

Darwin’s Dragons – at a glance

Despite being grounded in fact, this story was highly unpredictable, with a brilliant twist. It followed the journey and the work of Charles Darwin more closely than I'd anticipated, giving it a feeling of deep authenticity. There are strong themes of ecology, friendship, loyalty balanced with the exploration of right and wrong. I particularly loved what Queen Victoria brought to the plot and it was lovely to see her in her younger years. The historical side of this story made all the difference when reading it. Set in 1835 the story then takes flight, using imagination to explore what could have happened! Which I felt was a nice balance throughout my read. After reading the synopsis, I knew immediately that I’d have to add it to my TBR list. This is not only a well-researched, thrilling historical adventure that takes the reader, quite literally, around the world, but it also tells the story of how Darwin came upon the theory of evolution. How often do we assume one thing and it turns out to be something totally different? A boy, who ends up stranded on an island after a storm, finds a new species of animals that are unlike any he has ever encountered. Some are very dangerous and quite fierce, but others are friendly and selfless. The question is does he eliminate the dangerous ones or do they maintain balance on the island? The ending, set twenty-five years later will leave the reader with a satisfying feeling of wonder and belief.

Farthing helps Syms escape the erupting volcano, the marauding sea lions, and the terrifying dragon. Along the way, he rescues the dragon’s eggs and shortly afterwards, he’s rescued himself by Darwin and the crew of the HMS Beagle. But that’s not the end of the story. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens. The Galapagos Islands landscape is drawn as a rough but remarkable jewel with its stark terrain and abundant wildlife, and the characters are great. We have the brave but sympathetic Syms, with his companions, Scratch the violin and Farthing the lizard, and the kind but firm Charles Darwin, who is generous yet so intensely focussed on his work that he is quite immovable. Other personalities muscle into this story too - some quite special - but I won't give it away. Just know that there are conflicts and friendships and that you'll love every one of them. As I was reading this, it was difficult not to see glimpses of ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ by Michael Morpurgo and should definitely be added to the TBR pile of those who enjoyed Morpurgo’s take on finding yourself on a deserted island. Syms is a wonderful character full of grit and as a reader, you are able to gain a real insight into the motivations of the character and his inner battles. Children will really love following his story and will understand some of the trials and tribulations he is faced with.

About Lindsay Galvin

Lindsay Galvin spins an exciting tale of exploration, adventure, and the marvels of science in “A Discovery of Dragons.” Through youthful Syms storytelling, you’ll learn about the natural world, friendship, and trust. Best of all, you will learn where dragons may dwell. Darwin’s Dragons is a wonderful read. Crystal clear writing and a very clever concept. For indeed there was a cabin boy on Darwin’s journeys, with whom he formed a lifelong friendship. But there’s a documented gap in their correspondence, and this is a period in history that Lindsay Galvin has plumbed with her brilliant imagination to ask ‘what if’? What if the boy discovered something new, something so incredible, something he was so passionate about that it drove a wedge between him and the clinical-minded scientist? The book felt a bit empty at times, like it was missing details. And it was a bit too dry and needed more humor. The only redeeming quality of this book was that it had dragons. There are so many other dragon books out there that have more established plots full of excitement, action, and are fast-paced, that this book wouldn't be my first choice. A történet egy jólelkű hajósinasról szól, aki egy tengeri viharban elveszik és sikerül pont egy aktív vulkánnal és egy sárkánnyal rendelkező szigetre vetődnie… pech szériáját igyekszik jobbra fordítani, ahogy megél és túlél, közben egy sor gyerekfülnek és felnőttfülnek egyaránt megfontolandó üzenetet és értéket is képviselnek a kalandjai. Tetszett a történet is, meg a tanulságok is, a történelmi háttér is érdekes volt, főleg, hogy tudtam, az írónő kapcsolódik a természettudományokhoz és így Darwinhoz is.