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'If light amusement is required, Cressida Cowell's How to Break a Dragon's Heart delivers all it promises. There are lots of illustrations and a playfulness with language that will draw in even the most reluctant reader.' -- Daily Telegraph 'Cressida Cowell's splendid series about the nerdy Viking Hiccup and his tiny dragon Toothless remain perennial favourites, and the latest, How to Break a Dragon's Heart is not only funny, well written and thrilling, but also wise about what we owe those who love us.' -- Amanda Craig, The Times 'If you haven't discovered Hiccup yet, you're missing out on one of the greatest inventions of modern children's literature.' -- Julia Eccleshare, Guardian children's editor '... full of charm ... imaginative and bursting with inventive, off-the-wall humour, making them great stories to be read aloud.' -- Waterstones Books Quarterly 'Ahead of the film of the same title due to be released next March, this is a special edition of the first book in the uproarious series about Viking Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Highly original, and full of useful tips for dragon-owners everywhere.' -- Woman's Weekly 'With consistently funny stories told in inventive language - including the opportunity to extend your knowledge of Dragonese - these books always entertain.' -- Waterstone's Books Quarterly 'another triumph from the creative pen of Cressida Cowell.' -- Writeaway.org '... inspired series ... its enchantment lies primarily in the comical, affectionate and often irritable relationship between Hiccup (the only nerd in the violent Viking Hooligan tribe) and his runty little dragon Toothless.' -- Amanda Craig, The Times PRAISE FOR HICCUP:'Fiercely exciting and laugh-aloud funny, it is as full of joy for children of 7+ who have given up reading as for those who love it.' -- Amanda Craig, The Times Irresistably funny, exciting and endearing -- Amanda Craig, The Times CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK: This book is great fun and has a Blackadderish sense of humour ... full of the sort of jokes that will make schoolboys snigger. -- Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times How to Train Your Dragon is a delightful narrative caper... It offers a challenging read to 11-year-olds, and rewards reading aloud, especially for those who relish an element of theatre at story time. -- Sunday Herald, Glasgow ... raucous and slapstick ... liberally illustrated with [Cressida Cowell's] riotous drawings, notes and maps. -- The Financial Times [Cressida Cowell] puts a contemporary spin on the old brains over brawn moral and brings the story to a climax with a thrilling dragon duel. Lots for lots of different readers to enjoy. -- Books for Keeps 'a hilarious and gripping adventure, beautifully paced and studded with great dramatic scenes.' -- Amanda Craig, Times Bulging with good jokes, funny drawings and dramatic scenes, it is absolutely wonderful. -- Independent on Sunday 'Cowell writes laugh-out-loud books with plenty of boy appeal Cowells anarchic drawings suit the slapstick humour.' -- The Herald 'If light amusement is required, Cressida Cowell's How to Break a Dragon's Heart delivers all it promises. There are lots of illustrations and a playfulness with language that will draw in even the most reluctant reader.' -- Daily Telegraph 20091201 'is not only funny, well written and thrilling, but also wise about what we owe those who love us.' -- The Times 20091201 'Ahead of the film of the same title due to be released next March, this is a special edition of the first book in the uproarious series about Viking Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Highly original, and full of useful tips for dragon-owners everywhere.' -- Woman's Weekly 20091201
Product Description
THE STORY CONTINUES in the eighth volume of Hiccup's How to Train Your Dragon memoirs...Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an awesome sword-fighter, a dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. But it wasn't always like that. Hiccup's memoirs look back to when Hiccup was just an ordinary boy, and finding it very hard to be a Hero. Hiccup must battle Berserks, dodge Scarers, complete the Impossible Task and save Fishlegs from being fed to the Beast! And all while being hunted down by an old enemy with a dark secret about the Lost Throne. What's a Hero to do? How to Train Your Dragon is a DreamWorks film starring Gerrard Butler, America Ferrera and Jonah Hill, out on DVD in October 2010 adapted from the best selling How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell. Read the rest of Hiccup's exploits in the How to Train Your Dragon series in How to Train Your Dragon, How to Be a Pirate, How to Speak Dragonese, How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse, How to Twist a Dragon's Tale, A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons, and How to Ride a Dragon's Storm. Check out the all-new Hiccup website at www.howtotrainyourdragonbooks.com. It's the place to go for games, downloads, activities and sneak peeks! Read all about Hiccup and all of your favourite characters, learn to speak Dragonese and train your own Dragon to do tricks!
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Riotous Adventure Fantasy With Surprising Dramatic Depth,
By Brain Wave "Joules" (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: How to Break a Dragon's Heart (Paperback)
How to Break a Dragon's Heart is the most current book in the Hiccup Series by Cressida Crowell. Compared to its predecessors, it is similarly hysterical, with laugh out loud dialogue, fantastically funny illustrations, and caricature characters to cheer for. But there is a dark side to the light in this series, and the humor is used to accent a surprisingly haunting story.SPOILERS: Crowell explores astonishingly dramatic and moral depths within this novel, an escalating trend as the series progresses that moves these books beyond the 'good for a laugh' category and into the 'epic' category. Hiccup is becoming stronger and surer as these books progress, and he is not so much a nerd anymore as he is a boy who thinks before he acts, and acts with his own brand of 'go against the mob' courage and a strong, kind heart. He is slowly but surely becoming a real hero, one that compels love and loyalty from his friends and the reader alike. His bantering relationships with the fantastically caricatured Toothless, Camicazi, and Fishlegs are a comical, heartwarming delight, and the villains, though often cliche, are wicked and provoke deliciously conflicted plot. The dragons are eerie and powerful, funny, selfish and scary. They are wild animals that we come to respect through the danger they present, their sometimes alien seeming philosophies, and the rare deep affection and loyalty they offer to those who would listen instead of yell at them or fight them. I will admit that the story of 'Furious' the dragon near broke MY heart, and I cried at the end at what happened to him, and at what he told Hiccup. Hiccup's cry of "But I LOVE dragons!"...I get chills, everytime I think about it. The further into this series I get, the more I wonder whether this series is a comedy, or a tragedy. It's easy to be delighted by the terrific humor of the illustrations and dialogue in this story, and lulled by the easy lightness of the writing, but there are epic depths to Hiccup's story that promise no easy resolution. There are foreshadowing moments in this book in particular that make me shiver, afraid for the wild, alien dragons that I have come to respect, admire, and treasure through Hiccup's eyes. Hiccup is my anchor in these books, he is the Witness to the end of the dragons, and the beginning of his society's civilisation, and someone I am coming to love. These novels are hauntingly symbolic of the trade off we pay today with the wild places of the world for the security and peace of an exponentially expanding civilisation. Crowell delivers no trite, simplistic morals to the reader either, but leaves the judgement of whether this trade is worth it up to each of us. A delight for readers of all ages.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.9 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews) 14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific!,
By M. Sarrao - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: How to Break a Dragon's Heart (Paperback)
This is the newest episode in the adventures of Hiccup, a nerdy, bookish viking boy who is heir to his tribe's leadership. The strong, brutish, and dumb vikings make fun of him. But he uses brains and ingenuity to prevail. He owns a small, disobedient dragon and has nerdy best friend, Fishlegs. My son (now 11) has been reading these since he was 8. He is a reluctant reader, but he finishes these books in a day or day-and-a-half. He is getting a bit old for them, now, but still wanted to read this one. He is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming movie (should be out in 2010). This book seems to be available only in the UK, and I'm not sure why. I ordered it from the UK, though. Shipping was reasonable, and it arrived very quickly! I highly recommend this, and all the Hiccup books, especially for boys who are reluctant readers.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The charming zaniness we expected with a more serious edge,
By Backroads "Scatter-brained book fan" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: How to Break a Dragon's Heart (Paperback)
I have to say this installment surprised me. This is very much the kind of book to be expected from this series and certainly rises to every standard of Cressida Cowell's work. However, those expecting the same silly and light craziness may also be surprised by the further stab into the heart this book brings. Is that a bad thing? No! Cowell has always managed to bring in plenty of subtle emotion, but this one shows growth in that department that should be acknowledged when a book starts with an old Viking saga of family betrayal and murder and a (yet another) kidnapping.Be expecting epic here. Trouble arises when a love letter to the Princess Tantrum is discovered--written by someone from Berk. Hiccup takes the blame, and finds himself a fiance--and in danger of being sacrificed to a dragon. Expanding on the story is a delve into Berk history with one of the most solemn story lines yet to appear in this series. If it sounds too serious, keep in mind that this book is everything it should be. There is plenty of silliness and humor, and Cowell extends her wild creativity to delight any reader. The snappy humor and writing is still in going strong, and I think the contrast between the wackiness and the heartbreak is absolutely magical. So yes, this needs to be read by anyone who can appreciate the crazy storybook wonder. 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific Book,
By kevin - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: How to Break a Dragon's Heart (Paperback)
This is a really terrific book! We got the first How To Train Your Dragon book about a year ago, and have been hooked ever since! We like to read the books in order, because you really get a better understanding of the characters and the special bond between all of them. Cressida Cowell is a wonderful author who draws the reader into these heart pounding adventures, while still making you laugh out loud! We are looking forward to BOOK 9!!!!!!
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