The Voice of the Wooden Dragon


Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
252 Pages
Reviewed on 11/25/2024
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Author Biography

I had wanted to write fiction ever since I was seven years old. My second grade teacher had our class writing stories and even a class play which we performed with puppets we made. After that, my dream of writing got put on hold. I first drafted "The Voice of the Wooden Dragon" in 1983, in the summer after finishing the first year of law school. Concepts like "free speech" and "a jury of one's peers" were fresh in my mind. The idea for the story first came to me when I saw a beautiful wooden statue of a dragon being carved by a legless man, Bill Loomis, in Carbondale, Illinois. Later on, my three children helped me see the story through their eyes and improve it.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

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.