Author(s): Sherryl Jordan

New Zealand titles - children

When Jude returns to his village to find it a charred ruin and his family dead, he is discovered, traumatised, by a travelling faire troupe who rescue him. His job is to look after the strange, yet beautiful, Jing-wei, a caged freak. One day the pair run away and meet Lan, a wise old Chinese woman, who straightens Jing-wei's bound and crippled feet and reveals to Jude his destiny - he must kill the last dragon which has been wreaking havoc everywhere it flies. But Jude has to overcome his own fears and his "mighty contrary disposition: before he and Jing-wei can put Lan's wisdom to the test. Jordan excels in conjuring up mystical worlds in medieval settings (Secret Sacrament, The Raging Quiet), and Last Dragon is another beautifully written, imaginative and romantic novel. Aimed at 11- to 15-year-olds, this enchanting story is told with humour and warmth, and blessed with an absolutely stunning cover.