Through the Dragon's Eye

by Christine Russell

Based on the BBC School TV series, this is the story of Jenny, Scott and Amanda, who walk into the strange land of Pelamar through a mural they have painted on the playground wall. Gorwen the dragon needs their help if Pelamar is to be saved, but first the children must solve some riddles.

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 1991

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Christine Russell has worked with her husband Christopher storylining and script editing their books. 'The Quest of the Warrior Sheep' was the first book they wrote together, and they went on to write three more titles in the 'Warrior Sheep' series.

Reviews

[Edward Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember watching this as a kid and, in spite of the show having zero budget, I quite enjoyed it. Similarly this book has zero budget, and it starts off like a child wrote it, but the writing does improve as the book progresses and although it is filled with child centric puzzles to solve it is still an interesting read.

[Robert Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will always have a soft spot for this story, not just because it is a great story, but also because, although mainly an educational story designed to teach children how to read/improve their reading ability, it differs in one key aspect from many others of this nature: it's actually a really well-written, enjoyable story in its own right, which is an absoloute pleasure to learn with.

How can I say that? Simple. It's one of the books which taught me how to read and to enjoy reading, and I have benefitted hugely from that ever since.

The premise of the story is that the life-giving veetacore in the land of Pelamar has exploded and the pieces have landed everywhere, including in the neighbouring country of Widge. (Side note: Widgets are great!) Because the inhabitants of Pelamar have forgotten how to read (I find it's best not to question why - that way madness lies when you try to work out what it would take for that to actually happen; just roll with it), help must be sought from our world to read the Book of the Veetacore in order to recover the missing parts of and re-assemble the veetacore and save Pelamar.

The way in to Pelamar is through a mural which has been painted on the playground wall of a primary school, and so this is how three young friends are brought into the land of Pelamar and the story itself.

I'm not going to spoil the story here, because it's a lovely story to read and I don't want to give away plot points.

The characters are fun to spend time with, especially Boris, and it also has a memorable villain in the form of Charn, who is another who has stuck with me since I first read this some 30-ish years ago. He's a bit of a hammy villain in some ways, but also manages to convey a genuine aura of menace which is a joy to read. He has also given me a life-long aversion to strangely-coloured puddles (you'll know what I mean if you've read this story).

All-in-all a very creative, well-imagined and fabulously-executed story for young and young-ish children which, when I was a kid, made me forget that I was actually learning from it whilst still, sneakily and lovably, improving my reading ability and love of it. Well done, Christine Russell!

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well what can I say.

We was made to watch the BBC adaption at school and I must have asked my mom as a child to buy the book, but If i did read it through back then. I can't remember it. But read it as an adult.

This was great at the time, as I have said the villains in this would be too scary for present day, the likes of Charn a big bird was terrifying for us watching and reading about. I remember us being very engaged in watching the battle between Gorwen and Charn.

If you want to go back in time and its on your back shelves i'd give it a read.