Windchaser

Dinotopia: Complete #4

by Scott Ciencin

During a mutiny on a prison ship, two boys are tossed overboard. Now they are stranded on Dinotopia. Raymond is the son of the ship's surgeon. He immediately takes to this strange new world and befriends a wounded Skybax named Windchaser. But Hugh, a London pickpocket, believes he'll never fit into this paradise. While Raymond helps Windchaser improve his shaky flying, Hugh forms a sinister plan. Soon all three are headed into a dangerous adventure that will test both their courage and their friendship...

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Dinosaurs, Childrens, Adventure, Science Fiction

148 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Scott Ciencin was a New York Times best-selling novelist of 90+ books. He wrote adult and children's fiction and worked in a variety of mediums including comic books. He created programs for Scholastic Books, designed trading cards, consulted on video games, directed and produced audio programs & TV commercials, and wrote in the medical field about neurosurgery and neurology. He first worked in TV production as a writer, producer and director. He lived in Sarasota, Florida with his wife (and sometimes co-author) Denise.

(Also wrote under the pseudonyms Nick Baron and L.J. Oliver)

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember really enjoying this book when I first read it, about the time that it first came out. It was mostly because of this book that I recommended the Dinotopia series as books for emerging readers.

As I read it out-loud to my sons at bed-time, I felt it lost some of the magic that I had initially felt, and I was even surprised at the apparent lack of dinosaurs included. However, my eldest son thought the book was "awesome" and wants me to read all the books in the series to him, so perhaps it still retains the magic after all.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This did not read like a juvenile book to me. It feels more advanced than that. The plot was intricate and the characters highly developed. And since I have read the world-building original Dinotopia by James Gurney, I was able to enter this story with no difficulty.

Hugh was my favorite character. It was interesting to watch him struggle to fit into this true utopian society with his background and wall of distrust. It reminded me greatly of another book I read that dealt with the concept of a normal person with normal human weaknesses striving to adjust to a perfect society.

It’s not all perfection on Dinotopia, however. This is seen most obviously in the case of Windchaser. One also gets to see other Dinotopians (particularly the humans) making mistakes, notably toward the end. A solid and enjoyable story for dino lovers.

[Amalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dinotopia series is a lesser-known treasure for younger readers. I have never come across a true utopian society in fiction as in the Dinotopian world. There are no crimes or bad language. Dinotopians are friendly and kind and actually think of others before themselves, so they take care of one another.

Windchaser is a great beginning. When time permits, I will keep reading this series.

Reading time - less than 2 hours.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was alright. The first half was especially good. Great detail in the opening scene on the boat upon which prisoners had revolted. You see it all through a young boy’s eyes, which makes it even more frightening.

The world itself is beautiful. Then the dinosaurs start talking. It was hard to suspend my disbelief at that point. But it wasn’t so off-putting that I stopped reading it or anything.

This is for a younger audience, and that’s another reason it lost me a few times. One of the dinosaurs points out how the protagonist and his dino companion will heal one another, and the kid acts oblivious, but by this point the trope is painfully obvious. But shit, man. If you’re a kid reading this, that cue helps, and I see why it is there for younger readers.

I’m done with the series for now, but this was a fun one. Back to the book sale you go, Dinotopia.

[Jennifer Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I took turns reading this book, and he liked it a lot. The pictures are beautiful and it is interesting to imagine a world where dinosaurs and humans exist compatibly.

[Marie -The Reading Otter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book years ago. I think I was in 4th or 5th grade.

I don't remember much about it other than I loved it.

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is relatively easy reading, but I love it!
My favorite part in this book was the "not bloke. Triceratops." line.

[AnneDrawsArt · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved it

[Caitriona Riding · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

A coming of age story involving dinosaurs, secret island nations, shipwrecks, dolphin rides, and characters who get to ride on the backs of pterodactyls!

This book is short, yet it deals with some pretty interesting subjects. I can relate to Hugh a lot, and in some ways to Raymond and Windchaser, as well. Accepting the way things are, even if at first they're scary, is a big lesson to learn. So is learning to move on and find your own place in the world, even when moving on means confronting pain and fear and loss. And what happens when you stagnate and lose confidence in yourself.

I think it deals with those subjects very well, a lot better than I was expecting actually. The adventures are also pretty riveting! I think there's something for everyone in this book and I think I'd recommend it to just about anyone.

I wasn't too sure what to make of the way the Dinotopians introduce themselves, though. I don't quite get the lineage or why it's important to state that when you first meet someone. But, maybe the answer to that lies in some of the other books. :) It's not a thing that happens too often in the book and I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about it when it wasn't currently happening so it didn't make it difficult to understand the book.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dinotopia somehow reminds me of Zootopia (Zootropolis), but two shipwrecked teenagers instead of Judy Hopps, and also post-scarcity society.

I like the attention to details like the MOSTLY accurate Japanese; however, one of the phrases used—"Tszri-Ai" meaning "balance"—is used in an obsolete format I only found in an old (1867!) book. The normal contemporary use is transliterated as "Tsuri Ai, which is slightly more approachable to readers unfamiliar with the language.

I also like the friendships between Raymond and Hugh, then shared with the titular Windchaser. It's a lovely story about shared experiences and learning to trust again: others AND themselves.

Recommended for fans of dinosaurs and communal societies! (Sure wish we had some of those... both things.)

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a huge fan of the original Dinotopia book for a long time. This off-shoot series of middle grade chapter books has been on my TBR list for some time and I'm reading them with my 6 year old son. Initially he didn't even want to start them because they have no pictures inside, but I finally convinced him to give them a try and now he's hooked. This first installment is about Hugh and Raymond, who wash ashore on Dinotopia after a mutiny and ship wreck. Hugh is a convict who was supposed to be shipped off to Australia and Raymond is the ship doctor's son. After Raymond's father is murdered by the convicts, Hugh saves Raymond's life. This book is about Hugh figuring out if and where he fits on Dinotopia and Raymond's quest to befriend a wounded skybax, Windchaser, who is just as damaged in his way as Hugh is. A fun, quick read for all age ranges.

[Rogue · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a kid I remember watching the Dinotopia films- I think there were 3? The world was so different to any others I remember seeing, although I never twigged that they would be a series of books. Finally I came to the first one this year (and again, was surprised to find it was written for children)! It's a sweet little story, a little simple at points, but probably a good read for someone looking for a good adventure story. It was very much focused on the two boys and their adventures in Dinotopia, and I think it could have been longer, but was fun for a couple of hours.

[Alec · Rating 4 out of 5]

“… Or something else may come my way. That's not really important. It's the journey that matters, not the destination."

My first venture into these shorter novels based in the Dinotopia Universe! A very great start, might I add. Loved the three main characters in this book, and the plot kept me hooked! (even if the beginning of most stories in Dinotopia can feel pretty same-y)

Would not necessarily recommend this as an introduction into the Utopian setting of Dinotopia, but a must read if you find yourself itching for more after consuming Gurney’s main works!!

[Natalie Blom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I re-read this book for a bookclub challenge where ewe looked for books we reread books we loved when we were young. I distinctly remember ordering this book from Scholastic bookclub (those mail order books catalogues you got through your school library). While the characters are pretty tropey and the narrative feels very moralistic, the world building is fun and I can definitely still see the charm for a young reader.

[Victoria Roberts]

Great quick read that includes dinosaurs and a utopia. There's some things that are unbelievable but it's a great book for children who like dinosaurs. The story involves two youths, one the son of a doctor, one an orphaned street urchin, who get stranded together. This is an older book, but it's great induction to fantasy.

[Éowyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this set of stories. Something like a mix between Journey to the Center of the Earth and Star Wars. A great read aloud that I really need to read again now that I’m older, as I am sure I would both enjoy it more and be more critical. Highly recommend this as a science-fiction staple. Also recommend the movie.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll admit it is a bit of a childish book for my age, but it was really good in my opinion, I really enjoyed the dinosaurs, and the idea of an island called Dinotopia, and the dinosaurs being able to talk, it’s pretty cool. I also really liked the friendship between Hugh and Raymond since they went from strangers to friends pretty quickly, and Hugh had major character development.

[Kaila Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depending on your kid this may be hard to keep their attention with journal style entries. However, it gave my kids an interest in journaling/keeping a diary. It was a fun tale of what life could be like with dinosaurs still around, along with a diverse lifestyle(s) human society would have. The illustrations are beautiful.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised as soon as I started reading this book. I'd seen the tv movies years ago as a kid and expected the book to be somewhat like the movie, but it wasn't. At first, I was put off, but the more I read, the more I liked it.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book once I got into it. That took a couple tries as I read at night and would fall asleep several paragraphs in.
This book has a lot of heart, laughter and adventure which makes it a great fast read. I look forward to the other books in the series.

[Hailey McCain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the movie growing up. We would go to my grandparents and watch both parts multiple times. So naturally when I found out there were books, lots of them, I had to read them. So far I've only found two.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book in a free public book shelf and it was interesting but not in a not wanting to let go of it kinda way. I like dinosaurs and the book is cute ig. Probably more interesting for kids then for me as an adult.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Opening up Dinotopia’s world to other authors gave us this wonderful idea of what happens to dolphinbacks after the story ended. Where do they end up and what do they do next? This is one example of what happens after the story book ends. I think you too will enjoy it.

[Nicole Mosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these as a child. Beautifully imagined world, swashbuckling adventure. Multiple authors for refreshing different writing styles.

[Andrés · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid, middle-grade book. Could be better-written. It's always a pleasure visiting Dinotopia.

Book 50 of 2019.

[Fox Bragg · Rating 4 out of 5]

dinotopia will always have a place in my heart

[Kathryn Lampkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a kid and I don't care what age I am now I will always love this book/series. I am glad to be reading this book again, it's like coming home.

[Micah · Rating 3 out of 5]

eh

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dont think I have ever really been in to dinosaurs