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The Dragon Boy
Orphaned twice by the time he was nine, he was living on the streets and did not even know his own name. He was not allowed to set foot inside the one place he was determined to find work. To complete the disaster of his young life, the object of his affections was Star, an immense, emerald-green dragon. But good fortune finally smiled upon him: Star was a Luck Dragon. Unexpectedly, he was admitted as a barn boy into the elite Dragon Compound. He was given three warm meals a day, work, and even a name.
Accepted by some, reviled by others, the boy is nicknamed Straw. His days are a mix of welcome work and staving off the aggressive attacks of those who believe he does not belong there. Then one day he discovers that the aloof dragon oddly pays particular attention to him alone, and once this becomes recognized by the others, this raises the boy to new responsibility. With the dragon suddenly under his daily care, the boy discovers that Star can speak in ways that only he can understand. Star reveals to him dragon lore long forgotten to the world, and offers to train the boy in the ways of the warrior. Straw discovers that although an orphan, he descends from a long line of dragon keepers and has taken his rightful place caring for Star, although this is something he can neither prove nor ever tell the others. In this way, the boy enters into a secret apprenticeship under the careful guidance of the dragon.
Years pass and, unknown to the rest, Straw is trained in the ways of a knight. Then one day, an army descends on the Dragon Compound, demanding a battle to the death between Star and their warrior king. A disaster would ensue were the otherwise gentle Star to be goaded to engage in battle. This would result in his abandoning the kingdom. When the knights of the realm fail in a tournament to curb the intentions of the warrior king, the dragon turns to Straw as his guardian to defend him. Straw, too young and inexperienced to openly challenge the king, meets him in the stables and provokes him into a fight in which the boy thrashes the far more experienced warrior.
Soon after this, Straw’s training with Star is accidentally discovered. He is accused of inciting to battle the otherwise peaceful dragon, a state which the peace of the kingdom depends. Disgraced, Straw is banished from the Dragon Compound and the kingdom. However, before leaving, Straw receives all he needs to become a wandering knight: a horse, a sword, armor, and a name.
Accepted by some, reviled by others, the boy is nicknamed Straw. His days are a mix of welcome work and staving off the aggressive attacks of those who believe he does not belong there. Then one day he discovers that the aloof dragon oddly pays particular attention to him alone, and once this becomes recognized by the others, this raises the boy to new responsibility. With the dragon suddenly under his daily care, the boy discovers that Star can speak in ways that only he can understand. Star reveals to him dragon lore long forgotten to the world, and offers to train the boy in the ways of the warrior. Straw discovers that although an orphan, he descends from a long line of dragon keepers and has taken his rightful place caring for Star, although this is something he can neither prove nor ever tell the others. In this way, the boy enters into a secret apprenticeship under the careful guidance of the dragon.
Years pass and, unknown to the rest, Straw is trained in the ways of a knight. Then one day, an army descends on the Dragon Compound, demanding a battle to the death between Star and their warrior king. A disaster would ensue were the otherwise gentle Star to be goaded to engage in battle. This would result in his abandoning the kingdom. When the knights of the realm fail in a tournament to curb the intentions of the warrior king, the dragon turns to Straw as his guardian to defend him. Straw, too young and inexperienced to openly challenge the king, meets him in the stables and provokes him into a fight in which the boy thrashes the far more experienced warrior.
Soon after this, Straw’s training with Star is accidentally discovered. He is accused of inciting to battle the otherwise peaceful dragon, a state which the peace of the kingdom depends. Disgraced, Straw is banished from the Dragon Compound and the kingdom. However, before leaving, Straw receives all he needs to become a wandering knight: a horse, a sword, armor, and a name.
248 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2008
4 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Donald Samson
15 books26 followersFor nineteen years I was a Waldorf classroom teacher in grades 1 - 8. I had the pleasure of telling my students a story every day. I was able to share all of my favorite fairy tales, saint stories, fables, myths, and historical biographies depending on the grade. One autumn, I wanted to tell my children a new story, one that had never been told before. The story went on for weeks. The children loved the story so much, they badgered me until I wrote it down for them. Once it was written, I realized it was a well-told tale and a gift for any young reader to enjoy. It was the first book in the Star Trilogy, The Dragon Boy. To learn more about my books, visit my website, www.donaldsamsonbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 5, 2014
Read this out loud to my 8-year-old son and we both loved it!
March 6, 2012
I noticed this on the shelf at Barnes and Noble the other day -- never seen it before. And when I saw that the author was from Colorado I thought, "Eh. Why not? Might be good to support a local author." But I rarely buy books before I've read them and I even more rarely buy the first in a trilogy before I see how it ends, as I have a hunch that the second and third books in a trilogy are not being edited as closely as the first. At least not in recent years.
So I requested it from the library and at first was glad I hadn't bought it -- this was a slow start for me. It was slow not because of the story, necessarily, but because of the writing. I found it hard to get in rhythm with the author's voice.
Somewhere within the first thirty pages, though, I was hooked. And I can't exactly put my finger on why -- partly, to be sure, because I kept being surprised by where the story went. It's been awhile since I read a dragon story, so some of these might simply be tropes with which I'm unfamiliar, but I found the twists and turns refreshing and unexpected.
At the end of the first book, there are still a number of mysteries left to be explained and I feel eager to know what will become of the main character.
So I requested it from the library and at first was glad I hadn't bought it -- this was a slow start for me. It was slow not because of the story, necessarily, but because of the writing. I found it hard to get in rhythm with the author's voice.
Somewhere within the first thirty pages, though, I was hooked. And I can't exactly put my finger on why -- partly, to be sure, because I kept being surprised by where the story went. It's been awhile since I read a dragon story, so some of these might simply be tropes with which I'm unfamiliar, but I found the twists and turns refreshing and unexpected.
At the end of the first book, there are still a number of mysteries left to be explained and I feel eager to know what will become of the main character.
November 8, 2012
Just got this today at Barnes & Noble. Donald Samson, the author, was there signing his books, so not only did I get another great book, it is autographed. Very cool!
Update: a great early middle grade read!
Update: a great early middle grade read!
January 5, 2025
I bought this book after meeting Donald Samson and talking to him about his experience with publishers vs. self publishing. I’ve gathered that his true-hearted writing is more important than the popularity of his books, yet I hope that anyone who should get their hands on one of his books, please do so!
His craft is simply enjoyable, and though targeted for children, so was Harry Potter (11 year old boys specifically). It is no surprise to me the countless awards the books have one. I feel a similarity with Sarah J Maas’ Throne Of Glass series, as the characters are both strongly adventurous seeking a destiny they both are unaware of is already decided for them. And recently, having expected to go into a reading slump, I believe this book has pulled me out of it. And it’s not just the story, but all of the characteristics of this book as a whole that so many others lack.
Firstly, the illustrations are beautiful. Authentic. Adam Agee has created a beautiful design within the first pages of each chapter and part, along with the beginning and ends of the book. Ugh, it makes me want to coddle the book. I love it!
As for the table of contents… thank you! Why are books removing table of contents now? What is with that? It makes me so excited to look at the first page and see that there are four parts to the next book and one of them introduces the Kingdom of Gladur Nock, and there’s a chapter called The Ruined Lands. Why? Because I smell a dark adventure, that’s why.
The characters have authenticity. They aren’t full of forced dialogue. And in an articulate yet relaxed sense, without spoilers, I think that the character impact has enabled Samson to pace the book quickly without taking away from the detail. The heart of the story seems to follow the characters more so than plot, and because of that Samson will take events and move the story up a few years in one page. I liked the approach. It worked. And it worked well.
I don’t want to spend too much time talking about the first book, because I’m aching to start the second. This book deserves way more attention, and I’m hoping in the second perhaps there’s another main character introduced. I could see a really strong female lead.
His craft is simply enjoyable, and though targeted for children, so was Harry Potter (11 year old boys specifically). It is no surprise to me the countless awards the books have one. I feel a similarity with Sarah J Maas’ Throne Of Glass series, as the characters are both strongly adventurous seeking a destiny they both are unaware of is already decided for them. And recently, having expected to go into a reading slump, I believe this book has pulled me out of it. And it’s not just the story, but all of the characteristics of this book as a whole that so many others lack.
Firstly, the illustrations are beautiful. Authentic. Adam Agee has created a beautiful design within the first pages of each chapter and part, along with the beginning and ends of the book. Ugh, it makes me want to coddle the book. I love it!
As for the table of contents… thank you! Why are books removing table of contents now? What is with that? It makes me so excited to look at the first page and see that there are four parts to the next book and one of them introduces the Kingdom of Gladur Nock, and there’s a chapter called The Ruined Lands. Why? Because I smell a dark adventure, that’s why.
The characters have authenticity. They aren’t full of forced dialogue. And in an articulate yet relaxed sense, without spoilers, I think that the character impact has enabled Samson to pace the book quickly without taking away from the detail. The heart of the story seems to follow the characters more so than plot, and because of that Samson will take events and move the story up a few years in one page. I liked the approach. It worked. And it worked well.
I don’t want to spend too much time talking about the first book, because I’m aching to start the second. This book deserves way more attention, and I’m hoping in the second perhaps there’s another main character introduced. I could see a really strong female lead.
March 26, 2012
It's not a supernatural story like I have been reading lately, but this story jumped out at me. It just looked like one of those stories that I could read to my son at bedtime soon. We LOVE dragons in this house, hence naming our son Drake, and therefore I really want to have a collection of stories about dragons that he can be read/read himself later. The Mom's Choice Award said it was good for children and the Moonbeam Children's Book Award said that kids like it.
My Opinion of the story? It took me a couple days to read it, mostly because I had a hectic weekend that left me so tired I couldn't concentrate on it. Overall though, I LOVED it. It was a wonderful story about a little boy who is being hidden away with a old lady that had changed the town where they lived by bringing a Luck Dragon home to stay. This boy is special, but no one knows why. Lady Galifalia, the one who brought the dragon and is now raised said boy, has the honor of being blessed by the dragon Star twice a year. She in turn has him bless the child in order for them to get used to each other's smell. When The Lady dies, the boy (yes he is without a real name for much of the story), is sent into poverty and learns to take care of himself on the streets. The only solution he can see to his miserable life is to prove to the guards that he can be a stable boy for the dragon. He takes on the nickname Straw since no one wants to call him Boy. He is strong, courageous, and determined. He becomes the only non-noble in the compound working with Star every day. He becomes The Dragon Boy.
Scared of nothing and more hard working than any other person there. He shows loyalty to his job and his strict adherence to the rules. The only rules he ever breaks are the ones that Star insists he breaks for their mutual benefit. Star and Straw spend their days talking, bathing, and dueling. It turns out that Straw is the first in many many years to be able to talk to Star. Star is so happy that he decides to train Straw in the ways of the knight. Star has determined that Straw is meant to be a traveling knight whose destiny is to be better than any other knight alive. The only thing that will ever stop Straw will be a dragon, but even that is questionable since Star gives Straw the secret to taming dragons.
The story ends with Straw riding away on his dragon steed (not a dragon but a horse that has no fear of dragons) to find adventure and to help the weak. His days of a wandering knight have started and where they will go will only be determined by reading Book Two. That review will be coming along shortly.
My Opinion of the story? It took me a couple days to read it, mostly because I had a hectic weekend that left me so tired I couldn't concentrate on it. Overall though, I LOVED it. It was a wonderful story about a little boy who is being hidden away with a old lady that had changed the town where they lived by bringing a Luck Dragon home to stay. This boy is special, but no one knows why. Lady Galifalia, the one who brought the dragon and is now raised said boy, has the honor of being blessed by the dragon Star twice a year. She in turn has him bless the child in order for them to get used to each other's smell. When The Lady dies, the boy (yes he is without a real name for much of the story), is sent into poverty and learns to take care of himself on the streets. The only solution he can see to his miserable life is to prove to the guards that he can be a stable boy for the dragon. He takes on the nickname Straw since no one wants to call him Boy. He is strong, courageous, and determined. He becomes the only non-noble in the compound working with Star every day. He becomes The Dragon Boy.
Scared of nothing and more hard working than any other person there. He shows loyalty to his job and his strict adherence to the rules. The only rules he ever breaks are the ones that Star insists he breaks for their mutual benefit. Star and Straw spend their days talking, bathing, and dueling. It turns out that Straw is the first in many many years to be able to talk to Star. Star is so happy that he decides to train Straw in the ways of the knight. Star has determined that Straw is meant to be a traveling knight whose destiny is to be better than any other knight alive. The only thing that will ever stop Straw will be a dragon, but even that is questionable since Star gives Straw the secret to taming dragons.
The story ends with Straw riding away on his dragon steed (not a dragon but a horse that has no fear of dragons) to find adventure and to help the weak. His days of a wandering knight have started and where they will go will only be determined by reading Book Two. That review will be coming along shortly.
April 3, 2012
The Dragon Boy by Donald Samson is the first book in his Star Trilogy Series. In the first book we are introduced to an old woman named Galifalia. Much mystery surrounds her and she ultimately takes on the duty of raising "the boy" as her own. However, Galifalia is an old woman and dies when the boy is still young. Left to fend for himself on the streets he attempts entrance in the dragon compound where he hopes to find work with the dragon. Finally, after months of waiting the boy is allowed in to the compound and begins his service as a stall boy.
The boy acquires the nickname Straw since his job is to lay the straw on which the dragon rests. Straw is very content with his life inside the compound even though he has to deal with constant bullying from some of the other kids. He loves the work, the meals and the place to sleep, but he longs to be close to Star, the dragon. The Dragon Master notices a special connection Straw has with Star and places Straw on scrub duty. This gives Straw the opportunity to spend time alone with Star, however Straws life will be forever changed.
Donald Samson is a very skilled writer and has the ability to capture the reader's attention through his vivid detail. The unexpected twists throughout the story will leave you unable to put the book down.
My son also read The Dragon Boy. Here's what he had to say: "This is a great book. I like how the author is able to make you feel like you really are in medieval times. He is really good a creating the setting. I am looking forward to reading the second book, The Dragon of Two Hearts." ~Patrick, 14
The boy acquires the nickname Straw since his job is to lay the straw on which the dragon rests. Straw is very content with his life inside the compound even though he has to deal with constant bullying from some of the other kids. He loves the work, the meals and the place to sleep, but he longs to be close to Star, the dragon. The Dragon Master notices a special connection Straw has with Star and places Straw on scrub duty. This gives Straw the opportunity to spend time alone with Star, however Straws life will be forever changed.
Donald Samson is a very skilled writer and has the ability to capture the reader's attention through his vivid detail. The unexpected twists throughout the story will leave you unable to put the book down.
My son also read The Dragon Boy. Here's what he had to say: "This is a great book. I like how the author is able to make you feel like you really are in medieval times. He is really good a creating the setting. I am looking forward to reading the second book, The Dragon of Two Hearts." ~Patrick, 14
June 22, 2016
Children's book- good for ages 9 and above
Truly a remarkable book- worth reading for those that love dragon books and how hard work pays off. Similar to Eragon- A young babe is brought to an old woman by a man. There is a story that is hinted about but not really explained- she had an adventure- did something remarkable and then settled down in a community that really didn't include her, but let her be. She accepts the baby and raises him until she dies and then he is on the streets. He wants to be with the dragon- Star- and so he keeps going to the compound asking for work. Finally, he is let in and so begins his relationship with the dragon. Through hard work, he is appreciated by the other people in the compound- all except one person who continues to heckle him and tries to hurt him. Ah- so we see how it is to be bullied. He grows, he learns, and then is kicked out because of this boy. Out in the world alone, the old man meets him and gives him his knighthood and a name. The book ends with him going on his adventures to do good. Two more books in the series and I will certainly be reading them.
Truly a remarkable book- worth reading for those that love dragon books and how hard work pays off. Similar to Eragon- A young babe is brought to an old woman by a man. There is a story that is hinted about but not really explained- she had an adventure- did something remarkable and then settled down in a community that really didn't include her, but let her be. She accepts the baby and raises him until she dies and then he is on the streets. He wants to be with the dragon- Star- and so he keeps going to the compound asking for work. Finally, he is let in and so begins his relationship with the dragon. Through hard work, he is appreciated by the other people in the compound- all except one person who continues to heckle him and tries to hurt him. Ah- so we see how it is to be bullied. He grows, he learns, and then is kicked out because of this boy. Out in the world alone, the old man meets him and gives him his knighthood and a name. The book ends with him going on his adventures to do good. Two more books in the series and I will certainly be reading them.
May 16, 2013
A nice romp, which I will definitely pass on to my kids. Good characterizations, decent plot, and beautiful silhouette illustrations at the chapter breaks.
This may seem like some standard fantasy-fare at first, but it has some nice twists. This is a world with both good (luck) dragons and dangerous (wild) dragons. So far, no signs of magic (except for the dragons). Clear hints of the history of the characters, which will impact the future.
I just ordered the next two books in this trilogy, after reading this one.
This may seem like some standard fantasy-fare at first, but it has some nice twists. This is a world with both good (luck) dragons and dangerous (wild) dragons. So far, no signs of magic (except for the dragons). Clear hints of the history of the characters, which will impact the future.
I just ordered the next two books in this trilogy, after reading this one.
July 27, 2019
Read this at bedtime with Linden over a few months. I liked it much more than any other dragon book I have read to my kids. I love how this reads like background info on St Michael, which my kids celebrate at their Waldorf school every fall at Michaelmas. We have now started on book 2 of the trilogy.
May 27, 2017
I've been lagging of this book since forever, and really, I should have just never finished it. Naive, ridiculous and cringe worthy are all terms that sum up this book's content quite remarkably.
June 1, 2017
The book had a really good story with lots of twists, but I personally didn't like the ending that much.
June 26, 2025
I quite enjoyed this fantasy novel. To be honest, it was nice to have a dragon based, calm adventure story again. It was a really brillaint coming of age and I loved all of the characters and the added elements of mysery. We had to think our way through and fill in some of the gaps that happened in the past.
So overall it was a good read. And, I will try and get my hands on the next ones in the series.
So overall it was a good read. And, I will try and get my hands on the next ones in the series.
May 23, 2017
I found the entire Dragon series to be great fun-- I was really caught up with the characters.
November 1, 2017
This is a children’s book. The story follows the unwittingly special boy. For a child, this tale may be new and different, but for an adult it is not. I have read a few children’s books as an adult and enjoyed them, just not on the same level I would have had I encountered them at a younger age. This book was not one.
The main character faces adversity in the form of a child bully, and he never does anything much about it. Besides the bully’s gang, and there are some exceptions there as well, every other character is on the boy’s side, whether overtly or secretly. Every time he runs into a real problem there are others there helping him to solve it, or giving him the solution they have already manufactured. He exists within the tale but he does not act in it. Nothing challenges him, nothing forces him to change and grow as a character, nothing he does is his idea alone. Everything is given to him. Everything is predestined. He faces no consequences in the rare moments he does act against rules under the direction of a different character. For me, this was frustrating and lead to an empty reading experience. This was not really a story, just a series of events.
The main character is very passive. The story has no drive. I rate this book 3/10.
https://readingrampant.wordpress.com/
The main character faces adversity in the form of a child bully, and he never does anything much about it. Besides the bully’s gang, and there are some exceptions there as well, every other character is on the boy’s side, whether overtly or secretly. Every time he runs into a real problem there are others there helping him to solve it, or giving him the solution they have already manufactured. He exists within the tale but he does not act in it. Nothing challenges him, nothing forces him to change and grow as a character, nothing he does is his idea alone. Everything is given to him. Everything is predestined. He faces no consequences in the rare moments he does act against rules under the direction of a different character. For me, this was frustrating and lead to an empty reading experience. This was not really a story, just a series of events.
The main character is very passive. The story has no drive. I rate this book 3/10.
https://readingrampant.wordpress.com/
April 24, 2012
This was a very cute coming of age book about a boy and his dragon that I received as a gift. I look forward to reading it to someone small I love.
It doesn't stand alone as satisfying YA fiction, but would be excellent as a challenging chapter book for an early reader, or read aloud at bedtime.
It doesn't stand alone as satisfying YA fiction, but would be excellent as a challenging chapter book for an early reader, or read aloud at bedtime.
December 18, 2013
It is a sweet story about the relationship between a boy and a dragon. Overall it was a pleasant and quick read. My one major complaint was that this story doesn't feel complete by itself, rather the whole thing feels like one large prologue to the rest of the series. I'm looking forward to reading the next books to see where it goes from here.
December 29, 2010
I don't know if I will read the next, but the series has potential, though the world does not feel very thought out. The world is bland, sort of like the characters, though those, too, have potential.
July 16, 2012
Donald Samson spoke at my daughter's school--so, of course, she needed to buy the trilogy. While she has not been tempted to read them, I have. I wish the boy's story before landing in the dragon compound was a little more developed, but I like this well enough to move on to Book Two.
February 3, 2013
Really a lovely story with positive characters. I felt buoyed and uplifted the entire time I was reading. A feel-good book without being sugary-sweet. I'm looking forward to reading the next two in the trilogy sometime soon!
October 8, 2013
Very decent book about a boy with a mysterious past who can talk to dragons. More the type of book Nik usually reads to the kids (hard life of a kid, training, weapons, bullies, etc) but still interesting enough for me to want to finish the series with the kids.
December 28, 2013
Interesting story, though the pacing is a little slow. An enjoyable read, though I wish more happened in the story. Not reading the rest of the series at this point because I am not sure how much I would get out of it.
January 19, 2011
I am reading this aloud to my 3rd/4th grade classroom and it is a great story! Yes, the details could be a bit more colorful, but I have heard the second book is better.
June 6, 2011
I love finding good books that interest my boys. I thought this was a great book and can't wait for the third in the series.
July 6, 2012
This book was such a good book. It was cute and entertaining. I have to go buy the rest of the trilogy now!
August 27, 2012
Wow, the target audience is children/young adults, but it's good enough to entertain adults - if one has any sort of imagination! Wholesome fun without being saccharine.
April 10, 2013
fantastic story. well written, engaging, thoughtful and entertaining both. utterly loved it.
January 6, 2016
a good story.
October 28, 2023
This first book was okay.
November 7, 2012
Really liked this book. Great for kids
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews