The Dragon Tree

Hall Family Chronicles #8

by Jane Langton

One mystical tree. One dangerous neighbor. Strange and magical things continually occur at the Hall family's home at 40 Walden Street. Now there's a terrible sound throughout the town of Concord€”the buzzing of a chain saw. Only one thing is worse for Eddy and Georgie Hall than that the man who causes it, Mortimer Moon. When all the trees in town are falling to his hand and he threatens the mysterious tree sprouting in the Halls' backyard, Georgie and Eddy will do anything to stop him. In the eighth installment of the Hall Family Chronicles, secrets€”all caused by the growth of a miraculous tree€”will be unlocked.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Middle Grade, Dragons, Chapter Books, Fiction, Mystery

176 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2008

About the author

Langton was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She studied astronomy at Wellesley College and the University of Michigan, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1944. She received an M.A. in art history from the University of Michigan in 1945, and another M.A. from Radcliffe College in 1948. She studied at the Boston Museum School from 1958 to 1959.

In 1961 Langton wrote and illustrated her first book for children, The Majesty of Grace, a story about a young girl during the Depression who is certain she will some day be Queen of England. Langton has since written a children's series, The Hall Family Chronicles, and the Homer Kelly murder mystery novels. She has also written several stand-alone novels and picture books.

Langton's novel The Fledgling is a Newbery Honor book. Her novel Emily Dickinson is Dead was nominated for an Edgar Award and received a Nero Award. The Face on the Wall was an editors' choice selection by The Drood Review of Mystery for 1998.

Langton lives in Lincoln, Massachusetts, near the town of Concord, the setting of many of her novels. Her husband, Bill, died in 1997. Langton has three adult sons: Chris, David and Andy.

Series:
* Hall Family
* Homer Kelly Mystery

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one hurt a little. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I read The Diamond in the Window. That was the first in Langton's Hall Family Chronicles, and in 1962 it changed my life. Langton wove an incredible story for children that managed to combine a cracking good fantasy with a clear, age-appropriate explanation of Transcendentalism. If you haven't read Diamond, please, please start with that. None of the other books in the series has approached that level of storytelling.

The Dragon Tree is just . . . not well-conceived. The only two Halls from the original are Uncle Fred and a teenaged Eddy. Eleanor has been shunted off to France for school, and Aunt Lily is presumably still in India with Prince Krishna, although no one really mentions them. The plot is flimsy, Langton omits explanations for behaviors, and instead of a magical trip the book lumbers along until it ends.

I recommend all of Langton's Hall novels, especially if you like The Green Knowe series or The Dark is Rising sequence, but I cannot emphasize this enough. Read The Diamond in the Window first.

[Rachel Armington · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great writer, but find one of her other books to read!

I was tempted to give this book only one star, but my great admiration for this writer stopped me. I didn't realize it was part of a series, not that that would make much difference. Felt patched together. The foul language confused me as to what grade level this book was supposed to be. It's not a lot of swearing, but it is unnecessary and doesn't move the story along.

[Tisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was part of a series when I started reading it. The book can definitely stand on its own. A sweet story about family, nature and love. It's almost a 4 star book.

[Meg GlitteryOtters · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Claudia Fett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children in grades 3-5 will delight in this story about a group of children who are intrigued by a fast growing tree sprout and horrified at a new neighbor ( Mr. Moon) who claims to be the new town tree warden. Mr. Moon is serious about cutting down the fast growing sprout, which happens to have grown up along the boundary of his and the Hall's yards. The tree is unique, its leaves have scribbled writing on them, which appears to be quotes from fairy and folk tales. Emerald, the Moon's second cousin, three times removed, is a young girl who strikes a great resemblance to a fairy tale princess. How will the Hall family save the Dragon Tree and the princess from Mr. and Mrs. Moon?

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable but ridiculously quick read (I finished it in like 45 minutes) - I don't remember the other books in the series being that simple! Langton's depictions of modern teenagers felt dated/off but it didn't bother me that much. I was also kind of bothered by how the villain's motivation was his abusive childhood, it seemed too intense for such a simple children's book and wasn't clear enough that it was about how cycles of abuse are perpetuated and and not about how the character's clear villainy caused him to be abused (obviously that wasn't Langton's intent but it was just weirdly done).

[Fit2bfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read almost all of the Hall Family Chronicles and was happy to find this late installment. It was fun to see some of these characters from my childhood again. I was shocked the author had some foul language in the book as this is a children's novel....... Still trying to figure that one out. The subject content was more mature than previous books too with the new neighbor turning out to be a murderer. I'm glad I read it but it lacks the charm of previous instalments.

[Virginia Walter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This latest installment in the Hall Family Chronicles is another charming, if slight, mixture of realistic fiction with some magical elements and a small dose of transcentalism. Here the children, aided by the Professors Frederick and Alexandra Hall, do battle with the new neighbor who seems bent on cutting down all the trees in Concord.

[Jennie]

The eighth book in the Hall Family chronicles series in which a new neighbor begins cutting down all the trees in town and the Halls and their friend’s band together to protect the magical and mysterious tree that has sprouted overnight in their backyard. The fourth book in the series is The Fledging, a Newbery Honor book.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice book for junior high kids. Tells the story of a group of kids who protect a very special tree. A bit of a nod to famous literature and fairy tales which is cute.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than the preceding The Mysterious Circus (thank goodness), but still not up to her old standards. Inconsistencies in characters continue to annoy me deeply.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for the great recommendation Amelia! I really enjoyed this fantasy book. And didn't realize it was going to be a bit of a thriller too!

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mthology is... the great dragon-tree of the western isles, as old as mankind. - Henry David Thoreau

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dragon Tree is a great page turner and a quick read. It was recommended by one of my teen patrons. I have to say she has good taste. I enjoyed it a lot.

[Izel Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book and I loved how the author referred the kids as people from a fairy tale.

[Jane Deaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read about 40 pages on WRBH on 4/25/09.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as well developed as some of her other books, but I loved the character of the tree

[Terry]

BTSYA / Teen Reader: This is an entertaining, suspenseful read for preteens. The story's tone is lighthearted, easy, friendly, and often humorous. Get A LOT more in the full review.