Dragonflight

Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey is the first book in the Dragonriders of Pern series. In this science fiction novel, animals named dragons for their mythical look-alikes are the only way people on pern can survive. After consuming rocks containing phosphine the dragons could spit flame at the enemy - Thread. Threads were mycorrhizoid spores that came from the Red Star and would fall from the sky. If allowed to land, they would eat all organic matter in their path. Therefore, the dragons and the Weyrfolk who rode them had to turn them to ashes before they hit the ground.

Lessa, heir of Ruatha Hold, has been hiding out as a kitchen drudge for years. However, when F'lar comes to call on Search for a new Weyrwoman, she finds herself on a daring adventure to rescue Pern. For the threads will come, invited or not... and they don't bother to see if you're ready for them.

Fish

The war is coming to the country where Tiger's parents are serving as aid workers. They have no choice but to pack some clothes and provisions and hotfoot it out of there. They find a guide, put their packs on his donkey, and start walking. But first, Tiger catches the fish in the puddle and puts it in a pot. The fish comes with them.

One might say that one little common fish in a puddle is not that important. Is not worth going out of your way to save. After all, there are a lot of fish in the world. But what about a fish that, other than you, your parents, and your guide, is the only thing left in your little village? For Tiger, what to do is obvious. Save the Fish.

In this book by L. S. Matthews, one could say that there are four people, a donkey, and a fish. I prefer to say that six people set off on a hike to the border, for the donkey is as smart as human and the fish, well... he reminds them of the true meaning of courage and survival.

I would recommend this book to any one 4th grade and up.

The Divide by Elizabeth Kay

Felix is, for the most part, a normal boy. But he can’t run around, can’t exert himself. He mustn’t, because he has a rare heart disease and doesn’t know how long he’ll live. Felix passes out frequently, and he knows that one day he won’t regain consciousness.



Felix wants to see the Continental Divide. He wants to put one foot on the Atlantic side, one foot on the Pacific side. Unfortunately, on the hike up to the spot his parents notice he is tiring and want to turn back. Felix knows he should obey them, but it’s only a bit farther…



Felix sprints ahead, puts one foot on each side. As he stands split in half, he feels himself lose consciousness. When he wakes up he is still on the Divide, but his parents are gone, his surroundings different, and there is a strange feather lying on his chest. He assumes someone must have moved him… until a griffin shows up. Felix then begins a journey in a world not his own to find a cure for his disease, and maybe even do some good in this magical place. But how did he get here, and how can he get back home?

The books in this series are:

1. The Divide
2. Back to the Divide
3. Jinx on the Divide

all by Elizabeth Kay.