Eragon

Bibliography: Paolini, C. (2003). Eragon. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading Level/Interest Age: 13-16

Reader's Annotation: Eragon has been chosen to be a Dragon Rider, a once powerful group that harnessed the joint abilities of rider and dragon to protect the kingdom and its people. But first he has much to learn.

Author: Born on November 17, 1983, Christopher Paolini was homeschooled in Montana where he wrote his first book at the age of fifteen. The book reflects Paolini's own reading interest and was self-published by his parents before being picked up by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers in 2002. After its enormous success, Paolini completed two additional titles and decided to add a fourth, turning the trilogy into a "Cycle."

Plot Summary: "When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands." (jacket flap)

Critical Evaluation: Before getting halfway through the prologue, I could see that this story is chocked full of stock characters and cliché Fantasy scenarios that expresses little originality. It is obviously the work of a fan of Fantasy fiction who is intimately familiar with all of the usual suspects and has no interest in exploring beyond the formula. Add to that an overly melodramatic diction and tone that sounds like something a fifteen year-old would find thrilling and you've just about summed up this novel. Yet, something about it stuck with me. I could hardly put the book down, and I couldn't get the characters out of my head when I did. Paolini may be no great artist, but he has fashioned a world that will appeal to other fans of Fantasy, of which I admit I am guilty as charged, as much as it does to him. Furthermore, he has peopled this world with a few well-crafted characters, like the hero, Eragon, that make it possible to overlook, at least a little, the one-dimensional supporting characters.

Curriculum Ties:

Book Talk Ideas:
• adapt the passage where Eragon finds the egg
• adapt the passage where Eragon first rides Saphira
• focus on Eragon's brotherly feelings for his cousin and his own mysterious past
• focus on Eragon's relationship with Brom

Challenge Issues: violence, use of magic

Challenge Defense:
• Explain library selection policies
• Provide reviews of the book from reputable sources
• Explain library challenge procedures
• Offer challenge form

Why was this text included in this project? The popularity of the series for some years now made me think I should be familiar with it.