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Dragonfly Song Paperback – March 9, 2017
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length400 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherMurdoch Books
- Publication dateMarch 9, 2017
- Dimensions5.04 x 1.18 x 7.76 inches
- ISBN-109781743369029
- ISBN-13978-1743369029
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Product details
- ASIN : 1743369026
- Publisher : Murdoch Books (March 9, 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 400 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781743369029
- ISBN-13 : 978-1743369029
- Item Weight : 9.7 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.04 x 1.18 x 7.76 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #3,744,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2016A wonderful, imaginative recreation of the Minoan culture. The central character, Aissa, is brave and stalwart and suffers greatly, but through the problems always gleams hope and kindness. A fine adventure, beautifully written
- Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2017glorious read. A fantasy story embedded in history? A strong heroine? Sign me up!
Long story short: “Dragonfly song” was all what I expected it to be – and, at the same time, completely different. Is that a good thing? Definitely! “Dragonfly song” is a magnificent, magical book for teens and young adults. During the sleepless night, I couldn’t put the book down I suffered, laughed and, yes, cried. And although I live and die with the books I read I don’t cry often :)
But let’s start at the beginning.
Crete, Bronze Age. When Aissa is born with two additional thumbs, her mother, the oracle of Crete, casts her out. Aissa is lucky: The servant entrusted with taking her away suspects that there’s more to the girl. Instead of death, Aissa earns a second chance with a farmer’s family. When raiders kill her adoptive parents and Aissa is the lone survivor, she finds herself alone again… In a town where the mute girl is denounced as a demon bringing bad luck although surviving the raid, Aissa has to find her own way to survive and escape her miserable existence. Might the yearly lottery for bull-riders, who will send as tribute to the bull king’s island, her chance?
I expected fast action when I turned the first page of “Dragonfly song”. Instead I found a slow revealing, deep, thoughtful and almost philosophical tale of an abandoned girl and her fight for a better existence. “Dragonfly song” is more than just a good read. It’s a saga, not just a retelling of the legend of the Minotaur, but a tale of fighting for one’s identity. It’s the story of a strong girl taking her life in her own hands, finding her way against all odds.
We take part in Aissa’s thoughts, dreams and hopes and live with her through highs and lows. As a mother, it pained me to see the girl suffer, living from scrapes on a good day, going hungry for bad days. The townspeople’s treatment of a child left me angry. Then I was at the verge of crying happy tears when Aissa found a special friend in the oracle’s cat and when a bed from seaweed gave her the first good night sleep in years. I might not be the author’s anticipated target audience – but I’m a really critical reader and Wendy Orr’s ability to let me hurt like this speaks for her storytelling!
Wendy Orr slows down significantly. She incorporates rhyme, which makes “Dragonfly Song” lyrical and interesting to read. Orr’s poetry might be challenging for the average midgrade reader. The sections are not bothersome, though. Embedded in Aissa’s story, at the right time and in the right place, they intensify the feeling of “Dragonfly Song” being a saga. Orr’s writing makes the book really special and a wonderful read – even for mid-graders!
“Dragonfly Song” – an outstanding book for young (and old :) ) adults!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2017Written using a combination of the epic poem style and the familiar third person, omniscient narrator, "Dragonfly Song" is more sophisticated than many books targeted at the 10-14 year age group. A resilient, determined female protagonist exemplifies the meaning of courage, despite having multiple obstacles confronting her. Incorporating elements from the Minoan culture and the myth of the Minotaur with a "Hunger Games" style annual competition, Wendy Orr has created a wonderful adventure novel that should delight readers of all ages.
The Lady's firstborn daughter has an extra thumb on each hand. Her consort removes the thumbs and sees his daughter as perfect. However, the Lady, viewing Aissa as imperfect, gives the baby to an old wise-woman whom she tasks with killing the child. Instead, the baby is given to a family whose own baby died; Aissa grows up in a rural setting unaware she may not be who she thinks she is. Raiders destroy her adoptive family and Aissa finds herself back in the Lady's household. There Aissa faces personal humiliation and bullying. Only when she is the default choice to become one of the god-king's bull-dancers does she recognize her true talents.
The more sophisticated format of "Dragonfly Song" requires some adjustment for most readers, particularly the target group who may be unfamiliar with epic poetry. The epic poem portions of the narrative dictate a more deliberate rhythm when reading. When read aloud, these are lyrical and vivid; they reinforce the idea that one is reading an ancient myth. The third person narrative builds Aissa's story without interrupting the continuity of the narrative.
I loved Aissa's character and the positive lessons she provided for young readers. She never gave up completely; she strove to overcome obstacles society placed before her. Aissa never became cruel or vindictive toward her bullies even after her true identity was revealed. She remembered those who were kind to her or who helped her throughout her life.
"Dragonfly Song" is an outstanding work of fiction. It is not just a book for the young reader, but one that most readers who value outstanding writing and a novel approach to formatting will enjoy.
Top reviews from other countries
- MartaReviewed in Germany on January 29, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding story of a strong girl living in Minoan age
I couldn't put this book down.
Aissa's story pulls you in and flows and flows and you need to read more and more. This book is written in prose and verse and while this may sound like something that potentially could put a stop to the flow of reading, it doesn't. In fact it's perfect.
The setting is the area of ancient Crete / bronze age / Minoan age and the Minoan culture is recreated in such a vivid and real way, I felt I was right there, saw, felt, smelled, everything.
I have visited the islands of Santorini and Crete. So seeing what I had learned about and found in museums and ancient sites come to life was wonderful. The ceremonies, the bull dances - everything came to life!
Aissa is a wonderful character - she is strong, she has to be in order to survive. And she has to adapt again and again as... things happen... people happen... the plot twists and turns and Aissa has to learn, has to grow. Despite the extreme hate and bullying she has to live with for a long time she doesn't turn bitter and hateful herself. Angry, yes, but she has the ability to see things as they are - and why they are or have become like that. Something many people should remember to do. :)
Despite Aissa's hardships there is always hope. The story does not pull you down, but makes you root for Aissa, see that things can become better, they can change. And if once you've read the book you look back at the whole story - would she be the person she is at the end if she hadn't gone through all the pain and struggle?
To me this is an outstanding book. Not only for young readers (because I'm certainly not that ;)).
- TBReviewed in Canada on December 9, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous read
fabulous read
- Jason RobertsReviewed in Australia on October 3, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Dragonfly Song
I love this book because it has so many plot twists and it is really interesting. I would recommend this to everyone over six.