Customer Reviews

Firegold

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I absoloutley loved this book! It is about a boy named Jonothan who lives in The Valley. When strange things start to happen, the people blame him because of his blue eyes and his Mothers red hair. They think he is part Dalriada. He goes to teh Red Mountains, (Where the Dalriadas live,) to find answers. He ends up on a journey for his life. I was annoyed at the end, but it was still a wonderful book.I hope you like it.

The book jumps from 1 thing to the next. I never wanted to turn the page, but I am the kind of person who starts a book and has to finish it. The boy has a journey, which could be exciting to some people--but wasn't to me or any of my friends. Almost all of my class was in agreement, the book was HORRIBLE! The 285 pages of it (paperback) were almost all about brown and blue eyes. The repetitiveness totally ruined the story. Maybe if everything hadn't been said 50 times the book would have been better...but everything was said 50 times! I say if you read the book and find it to be good...you must be reading a different book!

I am on chapter 3 and i already love this book.
i first saw the golden cover that sparkels and
read the back. it sounded terific. i love this
book. the title really catches your eye. the book
is about a kid named JONATHON and he is blamed
for destoring the vallly. he flees to the RED
MOUNTAINS. his mom and dad agreed he was not
ready to see the dangers of the RED MOUNTAINS
first hand. but know he does not care. when
in the red mountains he meets strange people
called the DALRIADAS and they are almost extinct
but think that JONATHON is here to save them.
but then he takes a dangous test.
WILL HE EVER COME HOME?
WILL HE SERVIVE THE TEST?
WILL HE HELP THE DALRIADS?
WILL HE EVER GAIN HIS FAMILY'S TRUST TO GO HUNTING ALONE?
WILL HE EVER HAVE TO STOP TAKING THOSE STUPID FIGHTING LESSONS?

Firegold is a very emotional book. As Jonathan, the main character, struggles through his mysterious life, he faces threats from many people. Jonathan's traits, which are different than the rest of his countries, send him on this emotional ride. Soon he must leave his home and join his own "race" of people---the Dalriadas. They are mystical, magical, and mysterious Indians.
The plot is not predictable. Why, when, and how events and people are doing what they do and happening are not told to you right away, and that is what keeps you reading the book. Because of the way it is written, Firegold could be classified in several different genres. They include the following: Adventure, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Historical Fiction.
Firegold has a few violent but necessary scenes. When Jonathan joins the tribe of Dalriada, he must follow their ways, which is inappropriate for immature teens and children under 11.
I'd rate it for mature audiences.

I first read this book when I was in eighth grade. I bought it from the librarian. I also met Dia Calhoun, who lives on an apple orchard (if I remember correctly) in eastern Washington. I love the fact that it is mostly about Jonathon and the horses, because I love horses.

This is an wasome book about a boy named Jonathon and his life living in the apple orchard and him finding out his past and his journey into the red mountains in search for the Dalriadas, an amazing race of people. This book is excelent and i would highly recomend it to others!

The journey this book takes the reader on is unforgettable and mystical. The way Calhoun wrote the story is awesome! This is a tale of sadness and triumph. This book warmed my heart, it is a treasure amoung other fantasy books, but it is also a book where the main charachter becomes a new person. The ending showed me that you must forgive the people who have hurt you, especially the ones that hurt you the most. The mountain people, the Dalriada, sound so beautiful and graceful. I would rather be a Dalriada, wild, fierce, strong and free, instead of the plain prejudiced valley people. I felt that Jonothan's mother was with him through his whole journey to cleanse his heart and soul, and also his body. This book is a must read !

If Dia Calhoun continues writing such works as this and "Aria of the Sea," she may become the next Robin McKinley! This book is wonderful, emotional, deep, but all wrapped in simple prose and style.

It centers around Jonathon, a teenage boy who has something that no one else in his native Valley has: blue eyes. Rumors flit about his mother, by the people who live in the valley and suspecy that the young boy is a Dalriada. The Dalriada are viewed as barbarians by the Valley folk, with their horses and astounding powers. They have blue eyes -- and, according to others, they also have horns from their foreheads. The Valley inhabitants fear that, as Jonathon reaches adulthood, he will go insane -- and mysterious welts are rising on his forehead, where horns would be...

These rumors reach their peak when Jonathon's mother dies, and he is accused of bringing a blight down. He must leave his home for his future, among the Dalriada. He will go to the ends of the world and back again, with the Firegold apples that will help him -- and those he loves -- to their destiny.

This book is elevated from a usual coming-of-age novel via Calhoun's beautiful prose and style. Her fantasy world is very similar to ours (a reference is made to a grandfather clock) yet the mythos and mystical experiences are different. It also brings to the forefront the disgusting bigotry and prejudice, without being heavy-handed in the execution.

Jonathon is a wonderful character, growing in strength and complexity as the book progresses. Some of the people who oppose him are a bit too narrow-minded for outright believability, but that is a very small flaw in a very good book.

I advise all admirers of good fiction -- fantasy or otherwise -- to check into this book. (I also advise you to read her second novel, "Aria of the Sea," which I am half done with)

Firegold is a very adventurous and exciting book. Most of the events are very surprising, but some can be predictable. I can't think of one particular climax, the book seemed to have many. The book started out a little slow, but well before half way it grew very riveting. The most important part of the book was when the main character figures out that his father didn't like him, so he doesn't belong anywhere. The book had plenty of character development. In the beginning, the main character is very unsure of himself, but he goes through some major changes and becomes strong minded at the end. I think the supporting characters were good, and very different than each other, making the book more interesting and thickening the plot. The setting of the book, in a valley and in mountains, doesn't seem too exciting. When you actually read about the setting, it is more complex and interesting than meets the eye. The book in all has a good lesson about belonging and trust, which not many others have. I suggest you go out and read Firegold; its worth your time!

This book was awsome! A mix of legends, Indians, ancient ways, and reality! The characters were very very real, set in a fantasy setting which gave the book a surreal feeling. I can't wait for a sequel!