Galvin has paid great attention to the natural and historical details without any compromise to the pace and story. The realistic approach to the dragons is a beautiful believable choice, especially with the Galapagos setting and the uniqueness of its native wildlife. Farthing helps Syms escape the erupting volcano, the marauding sea lions, and the terrifying dragon. Along the way, he rescues the dragon’s eggs and shortly afterwards, he’s rescued himself by Darwin and the crew of the HMS Beagle. But that’s not the end of the story. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens. I found the plot very exciting as I just wanted to find out what was going to happen next. Additionally, I would say the part of the story that most stood out to me was where Farthing was trying to help the servant survive on his island and saved him from death. To add to that, I found it interesting how the mother dragon was trying to kill him even though he was saving the eggs and Farthing from the lava. I would recommend Darwin’s Dragon to everyone as I could barely stop reading it. Furthermore, I would highly recommend this book as it is full of adventure and just drags you in on the first few words. It's a brilliant middle-grade read that I imagine will be enjoyed by everyone. Animals, adventure, daring and... well, DRAGONS. What more could you ask for?

The relationships between Syms and Darwin and his fellow shipmates are well handled and the bond forged between the boy and Farthing is convincing and at times moving. Young readers will appreciate the powerful emotions at work here. The story storms along at a great pace and Lindsay Galvin’s attention to historical and geographical detail gives the fantasy a realistic dimension. As the author tells us, ‘This planet was once home to magnificent dinosaurs, so why not dragons?’ As I was reading this, it was difficult not to see glimpses of ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ by Michael Morpurgo and should definitely be added to the TBR pile of those who enjoyed Morpurgo’s take on finding yourself on a deserted island. Syms is a wonderful character full of grit and as a reader, you are able to gain a real insight into the motivations of the character and his inner battles. Children will really love following his story and will understand some of the trials and tribulations he is faced with. Cue Darwin's Dragons, a stunning middle grade novel, where these mythical creatures are woven into the fabric of real historical fact. This is a history and a science lesson with an extraordinary magical twist- where imagination takes flight in the form of golden, fire-breathing creatures and where the reader can walk in the footprints of one of the most famous scientists ever known. Exciting and original historical fiction charting the discoveries of a cabin boy aboard Charles Darwin's Beagle.Darwin’s Dragons would be a perfect book to read alongside a unit on evolution or study of Charles Darwin. When she is not writing, she can be found reading, running or practicing yoga. She has a degree in English Language and Literature, is fascinated by psychology and the natural world, and teaches Science. Lindsay hadn’t written creatively since childhood until the idea for her debut novel The Secret Deepsplashed into her mind, and she now she’s hooked. Syms’ life is saved by a lizard that he names Farthing – named after a shiny copper coin that he received as a reward for his fiddle playing, and Farthing becomes his saviour, friend and talisman. The teenager spends several terrifying days on the island before he is reunited with HMS Beagle and its crew. My 11 year old’s class is reading this one so I’ve been told I must read it too so we can discuss it! (She gets more like her mama everyday!)

I don't want to give anything away but it just gets better and better the modern story progressed. I loved the Victorian history elements where I'm that time, we were on the verge of new discoveies.Syms Covington finds himself stranded on an island in the middle of the Galapagos, separated from the crew of the Beagle with whom he had been travelling as a cabin boy before a storm hit. To make things worse, there is a huge beast threatening his survival on the island. Not just any huge beast - but a dragon. A fire-breathing, very real dragon. Syms will need to use everything he can think of to survive, as well as a little help from an unlikely friend. The plot was very daring and adventurous, as there is a beast that hovers over the island. There was also the mystery is to if Syms was the first person ever to have been stranded on the island, and if he will ever get rescued by the HMS Beagle. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good adventure and the thrill of the unknown and uncertain. If you are a fan of Darwin or his work then this is the book for you! The only thing that nags me is what Lindsay Galvin will write next! With short chapters and being split into parts makes Darwin’s Dragons a great choice for a class text as it is easy to fit into the very busy timetable within the primary school classroom, but also allows readers with less stamina to still access a longer text. There are also so many ways this book could be used to support wider learning, including the evolution topic in Year 6 science, or using it to inspire geography or history learning. The book felt a bit empty at times, like it was missing details. And it was a bit too dry and needed more humor. The only redeeming quality of this book was that it had dragons. There are so many other dragon books out there that have more established plots full of excitement, action, and are fast-paced, that this book wouldn't be my first choice. In the world of children’s literature, there seems to be an ever-growing market for books about dragons, and therefore it is lovely to see a take on dragons that brings them more into real life. Lindsay Galvin has thoroughly researched the real-life dragons and historical context of the story, and this makes this book stand out from other dragon-themed books. It would be a great book for those children that are slightly older and may have previously loved dragon books but wish to find something more mature. It also leaves plenty to think about, in terms of how the complex interrelationship between the humans and the animal kingdom, and about the ethics of dealing with creatures both familiar and unknown as humans go about exploring animal habitats.

After reading the synopsis, I knew immediately that I’d have to add it to my TBR list. This is not only a well-researched, thrilling historical adventure that takes the reader, quite literally, around the world, but it also tells the story of how Darwin came upon the theory of evolution. Sárkányokkal engem olyannyira meg lehet venni, hogy még ezt az ifjúsági regényt is beszereztem egy óvatlan pillanatomban. Igazi nyári olvasmány, az a fajta kalandregény, amit ha gyerekként olvasod, akkor befalod a nyári szünet egy tikkadt meleg délutánján, lekváros kenyeret majszolva a nagyszüleid kertjében. Felnőttként is jó szórakozás volt, a nyelvezete persze nagyon egyszerű, de ezt nincs értelme felrónom neki, mert érezhetően az olvasni már tudó könyvmoly palántáknak lett kitalálva a nyelvezet, a szellős sorok, nagy betűk és a fejezetek hosszúsága is. How often do we assume one thing and it turns out to be something totally different? A boy, who ends up stranded on an island after a storm, finds a new species of animals that are unlike any he has ever encountered. Some are very dangerous and quite fierce, but others are friendly and selfless. The question is does he eliminate the dangerous ones or do they maintain balance on the island? Darwin’s Dragons is a marvellous tale that plunges the reader into Charles Darwin’s HMS Beagle voyage and adds a young boy’s wonder, imagination and bravery into the historical mix. This is an excellent flight of fantasy; a fantasy firmly grounded in historical fact and geographical realism.

About Lindsay Galvin

Despite being grounded in fact, this story was highly unpredictable, with a brilliant twist. It followed the journey and the work of Charles Darwin more closely than I'd anticipated, giving it a feeling of deep authenticity. There are strong themes of ecology, friendship, loyalty balanced with the exploration of right and wrong. I particularly loved what Queen Victoria brought to the plot and it was lovely to see her in her younger years. A remarkable adventure story about the cabin boy Syms who falls overboard during a voyage with Charles Darwin. Syms comes across a small volcanic island where it appears that dragons might be real, thus making the discovery of a lifetime.

Cabin boy, Syms Covington is aboard The Beagle. Assisting Charles Darwin in his exploration of the Galapagos Islands, it’s the voyage of a lifetime – he spends his days collecting samples, sketching wildlife, helping the world-famous scientist in his documentation of the islands’ unique species. But when Syms is lost at sea and washed up onto the tortured lava plains of Narborough Island, the cabin boy turns survivalist and naturalist, fighting to save his own life plus the lives of a class of creature he never dreamed existed beyond the realms of fantasy…

Darwin’s Dragons – at a glance

The ending, set twenty-five years later will leave the reader with a satisfying feeling of wonder and belief.