The Great Ice Battle

The Secrets of Droon #5

by Tony Abbott

When Jaffa City becomes frozen as a result of the spell by Lord Sparr, Eric, Julie, Neal, and Princess Keeah have no choice but to fight him at his own game by using snowballs as their weapons of choice. Original.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Middle Grade, Magic, Chapter Books

96 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

Tony Abbott (born 1952) is an American author of children's books. His most popular work is the book series The Secrets of Droon, which includes over 40 books. He has sold over 12 million copies of his books and they have been translated into several other languages, including Italian, Spanish, Korean, French, Japanese, Polish, Turkish, and Russian. He has also written the bestseller Firegirl.

Abbott was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1952. His father was a university professor and had an extensive library of books which became one of Abbott's first sources of literature. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Connecticut where he went through elementary school and high school.

Abbott attended the University of Connecticut, and after studying both music and psychology, decided to study English and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in English literature. He attended the workshops of Patricia Reilly Giff to further develop his writing after college.

Abbott currently lives in Trumbull, Connecticut, with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs. Tony had one brother and two sisters.

Reviews

[Tyler Mauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a typo in my copy where they say Ned instead of Neal

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

note: when reviewing kids books, I grade on weather or not the book is written for the implied audience not on the comparison of a young adult book to a great novel, Secrets of Droon in no way is as good or better than Harry potter, but it is aimed at younger readers and I give it credit for that. This has been a good series with easy to follow stories and characters. it was a series that my son started reading in elementary school about the fourth grade, and he is still an avid reader and a great adult, if I do say so myself. This series makes up for the limited storylines by having so many books in the series with the same characters it's like checking up on your friends to see what is up. This was a good read.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

For once, Sparr wasn't as bumbling as usual. He even used cunning to gain entry to the city and managed to nearly accomplish his goal before the heroes turned everything around on him. A fair adventure.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this an extra star as a benefit of the doubt that maybe this would be a better book when read as an entire series than arbitrarily by itself as a random discard from the elementary school for being just a bit too worn and outdated. I could only sort of follow along since I vaguely remember reading the first book (but apparently forgot to review it), and I've unhelpfully forgotten all but the most general details about it.

The story is okay, if a little cookie cutter. There are elements that remind me of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Dumbo of all things, but spoilers why. Suffice it to say, it feels very much "Author needed an excuse to send the kids back to this other world," even if I can't really say what in particular makes it a BAD story other than forgetting the things unique to this book, like palkas (mount animals, by context) and Ninns (no idea).

Recommended for readers of the series, I guess. Can't recommend it for complete newcomers.

[Pamela Hatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets of Droon #5 -- The Great Ice Battle -- SUMMARY: Jaffa City, the royal city, is under a curse from Lord Sparr of ice and snow that has frozen everything and everyone. Eric, Julie, and Neal have been summoned again to Droon to help make matters right. But things go from bad to worse when Eric makes a mistake and mistakenly helps Lord Sparr with his evil plan.

NOTES: I finally found a copy of this title. I originally had to skip it and moved on to the others in the series. I just finished reading title #8 when I was able to go back and read #5. Although I was able to read and enjoy the other titles, it is nice to have all the details in place about the storyline and character development. In this volume it is important to see Keeah's relationship with her father and mother as well as Eric's role/relationship with Lord Sparr. It is amazing how much story Tony Abbott can pack into 87 pages.

[Mosy · Rating 2 out of 5]

از جلد قبلی شروع کرده به این حرکت که توی هر جلد یه موضوعی رو پیش میکشه و جلد بعدی میره سراغش، که اینجوری مخاطب تو تعلیق فرجام کار بمونه.
مثلا این جلد آخرش میفهمیم که یه غول باستانی که همه فکر میکردن مرده، صرفا توی یه خوابه طولانیه و شخصیت شرور داستان میخواد بره با طلسمی که تو این جلد به دست آورده، اون رو بیدار کنه.
دقیقا این ویژگی‌ایه که توی این سری خیلی پیدا میشه. منتها همشون دقیقا تو جلد بعدی رونمایی نمیشن.
:))

[Kryssy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first week i failed. I have had no motivation this week and this slipped to the next day.

However, the TWISTS!! I literally gasped at one point. This installment was fast paced and full of so much info for the rest of the series

- Eric had a dream where he was freezing but outside is sunny and warm
- Jaffa city is quickly covered in snow, frost, and ice
- Charm around the city so evil ones must be invited in
- Little boy got caught in the storm while playing. Eric helped him inside… IT WAS SPARR!!
- Galen is frozen
- Queen came in eagle form and gave magic dust
- Used an amulet to make a sword to penetrate a map of the city
- Zello made an army of kids from droon. They’re going to fight with slingshot snowballs
- Sparr is trying to resurrect the giant Zor

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is fast-paced and engaging. The evil Lord Sparr turns Jaffa City into an ice kingdom as he attempts to steal an ancient amulet. I love the characters in this series. Neal is my favorite. I always love the comic relief.

[Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not want to stop listening to on Audio

[Emma VR · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

[Paula Greenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids return to Droon to help Princess Keeah.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a fin adventure for young readers to take

[Anna Chang 8E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book, lots of adventure and fantasy in the book. I would recommend it to others because it is a short book, but very good and the story is really catchy.

[IRIFF · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ian's rating this 5 stars. He says this is the best one so far.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing stands out, these books are what they are and do it fine for new chapter book readers.

A4R5K4.5

[Jack Silvernagel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The adults of Droon are like "you know who would make EXCELLENT soldiers? Children!"

[Henry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book because even though it was exciting it was too easy to read

[Anna]

Guided Reading Level N

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've decided to read The Secrets of Droon series entirely for Christmas since i've been feeling a bit nostalgic. I want to be able to live a bit of the magic of being a kid and what beeter to help than this incredible series. I know that this series is for young kids but i feel it will still be great after all these years. In the fifth book the foreshadowing of the last book is visible when Sparr uses a spell to freeze Jaffa City. The action and plot are similar to the past ones except that Sparr is now looking to obtain a medallion. In this book we see a bit more of Sparr's character and also Eric's. In each book we delve into the secrets of Droon and find out more about its history and the characters.

[Rhiannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the first couple of books are pretty abysmal, I have to say the plotting on the Droon books gets more interesting by this one. Eric, at least, is becoming a more realized character, and the archnemesis relationship with Lord Sparr is really developing (Julie and Neal continue to have all the personality of a couple of brooms). The writing is still really dull. I feel like the humor is pretty tedious, but it kills with my 5-year old, so I suppose he knows his audience. I am starting to become interested in Keeah's story; I hope that continues to develop. I'm sure we will keep reading the series - they are a good way to satisfy my son's fantasy itch while he waits to become old enough for Harry Potter.

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, the meaning of the word Ice learned by Lord Sparr in the previous episode gets established.

He curses Jaffa City to become icy so that he can freeze everything including the wolves that are guarding the amulet of zor.

Lord Sparr inspite of the resistance shown by the kids, manages to apprehend the amulet and learns the location in Jaffa city where Zor rests. Zor is a giant who was once defeated by Queen Relna.

Princess Keeyah was able to finally communicate with her mother who is in the form of a falcon. She also helps her realize her potential in terms of magic, but unfortunately the time for being a falcon is up for the queen and she is soon to take a new form.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the last adventure, Eric heard Lord Sparr whisper the word, “Ice,” after reading the Quill’s prediction of the future. Eric returns home and can’t seem to warm up. The next time the upper world children see Jaffa City, it’s snowing and terribly cold. Eric hears a young boy crying outside the city gates. As soon as Eric lets him in, Lord Sparr changes his form and begins freezing everything and everyone. Prince Keeah’s mother, Queen Relna, appears as a white falcon and tells her daughter that she has the magical power to thaw the ice and free the city.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Liana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! This book is one of my favorites in The Secrets of Droon series. Lord Sparr takes some pretty serious action and does some pretty bad things, much more in comparison to the other books. I liked everything about the story, even its bittersweetish ending. But the best part for me was at the beginning! I loved how spooky it was for Eric.

Oh yeah, snow balls are... incredibly lethal in the Droon series. XD Maybe if it snowed all the time there, Sparr and his minions would never dare get close to the good guys again, in fear of being massacred by snowballs. ('cuz you know, they're so dangerous!) >:o

[Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a skinny chapter book but it was interesting to read. I will continue to read this series, that is for sure. I thought the part where they said all the characters, I liked Eric and King Zello the most.

Harrison, age 8.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Secrets of Droon series is generally a decent intro to fantasy. Kids discover a magical portal on the basement stairs which takes them to another world complete with Lord of the Rings or Narnia type characters.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see the appeal with this book- good read-aloud for parents, since the chapters are fairly short, the characters are enjoyable, and you could stop after one or go straight through the series. Written at exactly the right level for early chapter readers.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discovery...and Challenge

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of the red faced chubby warriors

[Brandon mendez]

i learned that if u wanna try to stop a bad thing from happining ur gonna have to put all u got in it to try and stop it.

[Cws]

JEAR3-Abb