Dragonwings

by Laurence Yep

Book Overview

Newbery Honor Book Dragonwings by Lawrence Yep takes readers on an adventure-filled journey across the world. Inspired by the story of a Chinese immigrant who created a flying machine in 1909,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0064400859
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 0.5" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

hi laurence yep

hi the book is like so cool. i love it! It ROCKS!

Dragonwings Q3 Book Project

Dragonwings By: Laurence Yep Reviewed by: K. Kim Period: P.5 Dragonwings by Laurence Yep is a fantastic book. The story revolves around a young Tang Chinese boy named Moon Shadow. He lives with his mother and grandmother in China, while his father works in the "Land of the Demons", which is really the "Land of the Americans". Moon Shadow's father is Windrider. The two have never met each other in the past, but they keep in touch by letters. Moon Shadow remembers his father's wondrous kites, and hopes to see Windrider someday. He finally gets an opportunity to when his cousin Hand Clap visits China from America to announce some surprising news. Windrider requested that his son join him in the land of the demons. At first, Moon Shadow's mother and grandmother object, but Moon Shadow is eventually allowed to go. The Americans are not known for being friendly or kind towards foreigners or even to each other. However, Moon Shadow arrives safely in California and finally meets his father. They get to know each other, and stay within the building of the Company, an organization of Tang men which acts like a guild. They mainly do the demons' laundry for a living in America. Moon Shadow soon learns of his father's lifelong dream of becoming a dragon once again. According to a meaningful dream Windrider once had, he was a dragon in the past with amazing healing powers. However, he disgraced himself and was reborn as a weakling human. Windrider believes that if he achieves flight, he may redeem himself as a dragon. In the company, there is another distant cousin named Black Dog. He was once good, but his life was harsh and he took to opium. He loots for the purpose of buying more drugs. Once, while Moon Shadow was collecting the rents of the Tang residents in the village, Black Dog stole the money bag and left Moon Shadow unconsious. Windrider promptly sought Black Dog out and a showdown took place in the darkest of alleys. Black Dog was defeated and still lived, but his cheating accomplice was killed by Windrider. Windrider and Moon Shadow then had to live someplace else in case people were vindictive and looked for revenge. They stay in a stable that belongs to a kindly "demoness", Ms. Whitlaw. She has a pure soul and a strong heart. Her niece is the same, just a bit boisterous. The four of them become good friends, and help each other through troubles such as the American bullies, a disastrous earthquake, and a wildfire. After the houses of each are burned from the fire, Windrider and Moon Shadow must move once again. The Whitlaws move as well, but all of them keep in touch. Once at their new home, Windrider and his son begin construction on Dragonwings, a flying machine. Windrider's hopes of becoming a dragon are raised as the machine is completed and approved. However, their rent money is stolen by Black Dog. Windrider and Moon Shadow don't have to worry for long, because their friends and the Company back them up wit

Dragonwings

I wish anypeople who come to read my artical would read this bookThis book talks about the racism and how much there were troubles between chinese and the americans. Laurance Yep wrote this book right after when a chineses man same time as the Right brothers made the plain the chinese man also made a flying machine. Laurance Yep is also telling that people are all same. Dragonwings also tells you about the power of nature when the earthquake comes. This also tells the steps that the boy in this book take until he belives his father and becomes mature. This book is also telling that there are non of the things that are impossible if you try your best.(sorry for the wrong grammers)

Reader from Orlando, Florida

This book kept me on the edge of my seat with its adventurous setting. When I started to read the book , I didn't really care for it, but when I got into the middle of it, i became very adventurous and exciting. If you want a good read, and love adventure, READ THIS BOOK!...

This is a good book. I like it very much.

Laurence Yep's novel DRAGONWINGS was the book that our teacher assigned to read for ESL studend. Like most of my classmates, at first I did not like this book. I thought both its story and language were so strange. But later on, I felt that the story more and more interesting, the language better and better. This novel is unusual historical novel. It describes the Chinese immigrants' life at the early of this century in San Francisco. It introduces a lot of Chinese culture and tradition to its readers which remind me what experience in my motherland China. On the other hand, it also introduces a lot of American culture from a Chinese child. It is a great reading book for ESL. Especially for Chinese students. All in all, it is worthy to read, even again. I'll suggest my son who is in third grade to read this book.