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Review Summaries
"This story happens on Pern, a continent in a world which is plagued by a Red Star which throws “Threads”, an ecological destructive energy, unto their planets surface. Menolly, being the youngest daughter of a significant family in their fishing village, rebels against her parent's deprivation of her love for music. She runs away to a cave that is inhibited by fire lizards, miniature replicas of dragons, and there adopts nine of these species from birth on, teaching them to obey and sing with her.
One day, trying to outrun Thread, she is espied by a dragonrider and rescued to a nearby locale where her talents are neither depressed nor shunned, but instead appreciated, especially when the inhabitants learn that she owns fire lizards and when she is able to show them where eggs of these could be found.
Meanwhile, Menolly is unaware that she is being sought by the Harpers, musically blessed persons who play an important part in their realm as esteemed leaders and astute teachers. Her compositions and fresh ideas are thought to be vital in the further development of their nation. Finally she is found by the Masterharper Robinton, a wise old man, who is willing to take to Harper Hall where she could live and be educated at.
"
Lovely Wolff, Resident Anne McCaffrey Scholar
"Menolly is the youngest daughter of Yanus, Sea Holder of Half-Circle Sea Hold. He is a hard man who works hard and is very set in his ways. He strongly believes that girls are made to work in the kitchens and doing other chores - not playing music. It was fine for Menolly to experiment with new tunes while Petiron, the Harper was alive. But, now that he has passed on, Yanus no longer wants Menolly to have anything to do with music.
Unfortunately, a new Harper cannot arrive for some time so he lets Menolly teach the younger children while everyone waits. But when the new Harper does arrive, Yanus firmly informs Menolly that he no longer wants her to sing or to play. Menolly rebels, of course, but when she slices her hand while helping cut fish, she feels that she will never play again. She turns to spending time alone and, when she is caught out during threadfall, she takes refuge in a cave where she impresses nine fire lizards. She is quite content living alone, completely unaware that the harper at Half Circle Sea Hold is earnestly looking for the writer of the fabulous new songs that Petiron sent to Harper Hall before he died. Menolly is caught without shelter during a later threadfall and saved by a dragonrider, who takes her to Benden Weyr. There, she meets the Masterharper and finally has the chance to let people know how talented she is.
Dragonsong is the first book in the Harper Hall Trilogy, one of Anne McCaffrey's best books. I first read this book when I was in junior high school and have always loved it, reading it time and time again. Anne McCaffrey has a nice, easy writing style that it easy for all to understand and her characters are very engaging. Young adults especially will enjoy coming of age with Menolly and seeing her succeed and come into her own. If you have no previous introduction to McCaffrey's Pern/Dragonrider series, do not worry because she does a great job at putting in just enough information for those who have not read Dragonflight and Dragonquest, but not too much so the readers who are familiar with Pern do not get frustrated reading the same information. If you like reading fantasy, dragons, or music - you will love this book!
"
Debbie, Resident Anne McCaffrey Scholar
"Young Menolly of Half-Circle Sea Hold has only one dream, one she can barely whisper to herself--to become a Harper. Equally gifted on flute, drums, harp, and voice, she yearns to join that elite society of Pern. Her family disabuses her of that notion, saying only boys can become Harpers. Menolly finally can't take it any more, her family doesn't know what's in her, and she runs away. "
Tina Loflin, Resident Anne McCaffrey Scholar
"Menolly, daughter of Yanus seaholder runs away when her parents wont let her play music. She is truely gifted and she impresses nine firelizards (tiny dragons)."
Rachael, Resident Anne McCaffrey Scholar
"Dragonsong is the story of a young girl named Menolly's struggle to do what she loves against her fathers wishes. She abandons her home and old life to search for her place in the world with her new found friends, her 9 fire lizards, and finds that life can be a wonderful thing if you're in the right place at the right time. "
Onlera, Resident Anne McCaffrey Scholar
"Menolly loves to sing, play instruments, and create music, but her oppressive parents think her "tuning" is unladylike. When the small fishing community's Harper dies, however, Menolly is the only one capable of teaching the children the music that everyone must know, so her parents grudgingly let Menolly teach them until the new Harper comes. Unfortunately, Menolly cuts her hand and finds she can no longer play her instruments like she used to. When the new Harper comes, she hides from him. Finally, she can take it no more, and runs away. She ends up bonding, or Impressing, nine fire lizards. She doesn't know that there are those who are looking for her who want her for the songs she can create. She needs to learn that her music is not seen as worthless by everyone and that even a girl can get Harper training."
Melissa Cookson, Resident Anne McCaffrey Scholar
"Menolly, a young girl of Half Circle Sea Hold, wants to become a Harper--a male only job in a very controlling society on the planet Pern. An injury forces her to give up dreams of playing music, a hobby she loves and is extremely good at. She runs away and meets up with a group of fire lizards, miniature draconic creatures, that make her life a little more intriguing. "
Jenna, Resident Anne McCaffrey Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 50% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40%
Tone of book
- very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age
Yes
Youngster becomes
- a great scholar/artist
Adversaries are…
- dragon buddy
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
GIANT monster(s)
Yes
Family relations
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- musician
Age:
- a teen
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Setting
Terrain
- Water
- Mountains
- Forests
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
- empty, or nearly empty world
- very controlled society
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
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