Alex Neptune: Dragon Champion – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: fantasy, community, friendship, environment, rebirth.
Children’s book title: Alex Neptune: Dragon Champion.
Children’s author: David Owen.
Genre: Children’s fiction/fantasy.
Published by: Usborne.
ISBN: 9781805316824.
Recommended for children aged: 9-12 year-olds.
First published: Paperback January 2025.
This children’s book is ideal for: anyone who has read any of the previous four books in this series, and for looking at the destruction of the oceans in a way that can appeal to all learners.
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Our review:
Alex Neptune lives in the seaside town of Haven Bay, where sea magic is powerful and abundant. His nemesis, the pirate Brineblood, has returned with a plan to steal this magic and use it to flood the planet—with a little help from a monster lurking at the bottom of the sea!
With his two best friends, Zoey and Anil, his grandpa and his ice cream truck, and his pet octopus, Kraken, Alex must save the world from its greatest threat—one that always seems to be one step ahead of them. After Brineblood drains Alex of every last drop of his sea magic and raises the monster, Abyssal, from the ocean’s depths, it looks as if the fight is over. But he hadn’t realised just how much influence he still has. With the help of those around him, can Alex make one final push against the environmental disaster facing the world, or is it already too late?
Our verdict:
Although I think it would be useful to have read at least one or two of the previous titles (which I hadn’t) to get the full impact of this book, it can still be enjoyed as a standalone.
Brineblood the pirate has been on a quest to drain the planet of its sea magic in order to flood and ultimately rule the world. He needs to become all-powerful so he can raise the monster, Abyssal, from the depths of the ocean, and after draining Alex of his magic, he begins his quest in earnest.
As the town comes together behind Alex and his friends, the powers the trio thought were uniquely theirs are released from the artefacts collected over the years by a local family, each containing a drop of sea magic. As the residents of Haven Bay face a tsunami and its aftermath, the future finally seems positive, even after all the destruction, as they begin to work together to rebuild their lives and homes.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Alex and his friends had magic to help them save the world, but in the end, everybody worked together to ensure Haven Bay could be rebuilt. How can we make sure we are doing everything possible to be environmentally friendly in our own homes and schools?
- Are the types of pollution and environmental problems experienced in coastal locations different from those in towns? If so, why?
- The magic inside Abyssal could be used for good or evil. What simple changes can we make to live more environmentally responsible lives?
- Films and books often include messages about important issues. What would you write about to help make our planet, oceans, and wildlife safer, cleaner, and more sustainable?
Many thanks to Usborne for the review copy.
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