Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Dark Horse (2011), Hardcover, 144 pages
Description
Two hundred years after humans drove the dragons from the islands of May, the last wyrm rises anew to wreak havoc, with only a healer's daughter and a kite-flying, reluctant hero standing in its way.
User reviews
LibraryThing member roses7184
The Last Dragon could have been drawn from the pages of Grimm's Fairy Tales. To focus first on the illustrations, Rebecca Guay has earned her rightful place in my hall of amazing fantasy artists. Her illustrations are delicate, intricate, and flowing. It is impossible not to notice them as you
As far as the story goes, it is simplistic in the best way possible. Paired with illustrations that bring it to life, Jane Yolen shares the story of a witty young girl and a deceptive hero. I adored Tansy and her story! A dragon hatches and begins to torment her home. Of course the men believe they need a hero, and set off to find one in another city. What they get, well....he isn't quite a hero. However Tansy brings out the best in him, and they save the day. Sound like your typical fairy tale? You are correct. It's absolute perfection. For me, the one thing that was missing was just length. I really wanted to know more.
I think the humor in this book is well placed, albeit a little bit more geared toward young readers. I giggled at the anachronistic way a young boy yelled "Cool!" in one the panels. I think this is a perfect graphic novel for middle grade students who are trying to branch out. There is very mild fantasy violence, and it is such a positive story.
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read. I loved how they seemed to move and writhe on the page, and I can't deny that I fell in love from the very first panel. If I had to choose my favorite part of this graphic novel, it would absolutely be the illustrations.As far as the story goes, it is simplistic in the best way possible. Paired with illustrations that bring it to life, Jane Yolen shares the story of a witty young girl and a deceptive hero. I adored Tansy and her story! A dragon hatches and begins to torment her home. Of course the men believe they need a hero, and set off to find one in another city. What they get, well....he isn't quite a hero. However Tansy brings out the best in him, and they save the day. Sound like your typical fairy tale? You are correct. It's absolute perfection. For me, the one thing that was missing was just length. I really wanted to know more.
I think the humor in this book is well placed, albeit a little bit more geared toward young readers. I giggled at the anachronistic way a young boy yelled "Cool!" in one the panels. I think this is a perfect graphic novel for middle grade students who are trying to branch out. There is very mild fantasy violence, and it is such a positive story.
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LibraryThing member A_Reader_of_Fictions
The Last Dragon is really short, which is good on some levels, but also unfortunate, because I feel like this could have been a really awesome story in novel format or in a longer graphic novel. There really just are not enough pages to establish character or even do justice to the overall plot.
For example, I really like Tansy. She's smart and unique, and, while she needs a hero, she only needs his aid not a whole rescue. I also thought it was so cool how she looked different all the time, depending on her surroundings. She's a human chameleon! How crazy cool is that? I really loved not just this concept, but seeing how the artist managed to depict that in every scene.
To reiterate, this is a lovely graphic novel to flip through, but not long enough to have quite enough substance to be a highlight in my reading history.
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Still, the art is beautiful and I enjoyed some of the elements of this tale.For example, I really like Tansy. She's smart and unique, and, while she needs a hero, she only needs his aid not a whole rescue. I also thought it was so cool how she looked different all the time, depending on her surroundings. She's a human chameleon! How crazy cool is that? I really loved not just this concept, but seeing how the artist managed to depict that in every scene.
To reiterate, this is a lovely graphic novel to flip through, but not long enough to have quite enough substance to be a highlight in my reading history.
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LibraryThing member SDPogue
This graphic novel made me want to sigh, heavily. I can't explain the beauty of this work. Jane Yolen is a master at weaving a story.
Generations after the great Dragon Wars, a new dragon is born. The villagers are no longer able to defeat a dragon. A hero must come save them. What they get is a man
The story is simple but Jane Yolen manages to give it so much depth and life. Rebecca Guay's art compliments it perfectly, giving the reader a full on fairy tale reminiscant of days gone by.
I want to fill this post up with all sorts of descriptions and words but I find they can't express the wonder of this book - you need to go out and get it yourself.
The story will appeal to adult, child, boy or girl. The language is delicate and uncomplicated.
Generations after the great Dragon Wars, a new dragon is born. The villagers are no longer able to defeat a dragon. A hero must come save them. What they get is a man
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pretending to be a hero. Tansy, the healer, has a plan to save the village and make Lancot a hero. The story is simple but Jane Yolen manages to give it so much depth and life. Rebecca Guay's art compliments it perfectly, giving the reader a full on fairy tale reminiscant of days gone by.
I want to fill this post up with all sorts of descriptions and words but I find they can't express the wonder of this book - you need to go out and get it yourself.
The story will appeal to adult, child, boy or girl. The language is delicate and uncomplicated.
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LibraryThing member AceArtemis7
I like this book because Jane Yolen is an expert at stories about dragon. I do admit I haven't read many of her books, however, this one is a really nice dragon story. It follows the story of a dragon who was the last of its kind because humans have killed off their race, and a daughter whose dad
The artwork is colorful, dreamy realistic, though sometimes I had trouble distinguishing certain character from another because they were drawn differently, but it is not too bad.
Its really too bad, the dragon is potrayed as an evil entity, when it's only fault is to survive, be it killing livestocks and people.
Worth a read if you like dragon stories, and the art is wonderful too ofcourse.
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was killed by this dragon and who asked for a hero's help to rid the village of the dragon.The artwork is colorful, dreamy realistic, though sometimes I had trouble distinguishing certain character from another because they were drawn differently, but it is not too bad.
Its really too bad, the dragon is potrayed as an evil entity, when it's only fault is to survive, be it killing livestocks and people.
Worth a read if you like dragon stories, and the art is wonderful too ofcourse.
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LibraryThing member tapestry100
Centuries ago, humans drove the last of the dragons from islands and took them as their own and built their homes and villages on the islands. Now, the last of the dragons, lost as an egg for two hundred years, has been born and it's up the the village healer's daughter and a would-be hero to
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devise a way to dispose of the dragon before it destroys the village. I'm not going to lie. I felt bad for the dragon. It was only living it's life, doing what dragons do, eating the livestock and occasional villager, just making its lonely way on the island, and the villagers decide that it needs to be killed. Humans can be so pushy sometimes. All kidding aside, the story is actually quite lyrical and Rebecca Guay's art is GORGEOUS. I don't think story would stand up nearly as well on its own if it wasn't for the art. This is neither a long nor challenging read, so I'd recommend it with 4 stars, if not for just the art alone. Show Less
LibraryThing member sroslund
An ancient dragon egg is loosed by a falling tree - and from it, a forgotten terror is unleashed upon the isles of May. The village healer is the beast's first victim and now his daughter, Tansey, must use her knowledge and courage to save her family and home. The town sends men out to find a true
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dragonslayer to aid them in their time of need, but the man they bring back is hardly a hero. Can he and Tansey find a way to vanquish the fiery serpent before more lives are lost? Will their unfounded love for each other ruin the plot structure? Jane Yolen's “The Last Dragon” plays on old fables and cliched fantasy language to create a predictable yet slightly entertaining yarn. Though the story's been told multiple times before, Yolen at least supplies readers with a twist – a heroine with a brain. The books saving grace is Rebecca Guay's gorgeous and sweeping sketch illustrations that dutifully create a world in which women can be beautiful and smart and heroes are not always what they seem. Her use of perspectives and angles really reads like a film and readers are gifted with witty action blocks and clever inside jokes in this arid, yet attractive, graphic novel. Recommended for ages 10-13. Show Less
LibraryThing member jackiediorio
"The Last Dragon," is a beautifully illustrated book about what happens in a small town when a dragon begins ravaging the populace. The story is short but adequate, and it has themes of capability and heroism, in that it ends up taking the work of a whole village to kill the dragon, instead of just
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one storybook hero. The biggest detraction for the book is that the intended age appears to be way off; this is represented as an adult novel, when in reality it's far too simple a story for the average adult. It's much better suited to a much younger age, and children will be captivated by the vivid art. This book will be treasured in an academic library because of the amazing paintings inside, and a public library as a perfect book for a reading circle. That's because the story is simple enough to be read aloud in a fairly short period of time, as well as explained, and the art is very appealing to the eye. Show Less
LibraryThing member fyrefly98
The dragons of Dragonsfield have been long gone, or so its inhabitants thought. When one returns, they must find a hero to stop it... but their real hope is the eccentric youngest daughter of the village healer. I really enjoyed the story on this one, a proper little fairy tale that didn't always
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go the direction I was expecting. I wish that Tansy's sisters had been better-developed, and the tone of the story wasn't always entirely consistent, but I did appreciate the little bits of wry humor throughout. The artwork was absolutely lovely, making this book a real treat overall. 4 out of 5 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member zenobia158
Absolutely beautiful. The story's not bad, either.
LibraryThing member krau0098
I saw the beautiful artwork for this graphic novel at Book Expo of America at Dark Horse's booth there. Then it was available on netgalley(dot)com for review so I had to download it to read. The story has a very classic fairy tale feel to it; the artwork is beautiful and flowing.
When Tansy and her
The artwork throughout is very flowing and beautiful; almost like impressionist painting at points. While I grew to enjoy the artwork and loved how Tansy, the dragon, and the surroundings were depicted I did have a couple problems with it. The first is that you can't really tell the facial expressions on any of the characters; the are all very stoic looking. The second is that the beauty of the artwork lends a very serious and solemn quality to a cute and fun story and, at points in the story, makes the story more serious than I think it is supposed to be. So, while the artwork is perfect and stunning at times....it is also a bit too serious and formal for the story at times.
The story is very classic fairy tale and I enjoyed it. The plot is predictable and the writing simple; but that is what this is...a simple folk story. Yolen does throw some tongue and cheek humor in at places and this adds a bit of fun to the story.
Overall a solid graphic novel. The artwork is beautiful but doesn't always follow the tone of the story. The story is a straight-forward fairy tale with a folk tale feel to it and a little humor laced throughout. Fans of fairy tales and dragons will probably enjoy this book. It is appropriate for all ages.
When Tansy and her
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father are in the forest Tansy discovers Dragonsbane...which only exists where dragons are. But there aren't any Dragons left in the world anymore, are there? When livestock (and people) start disappearing Tansy begins to think otherwise. Now the town of Meddlesome will need a hero to fight a dragon. Except maybe a hero alone isn't enough...maybe the hero needs a smart girl like Tansy to help him out.The artwork throughout is very flowing and beautiful; almost like impressionist painting at points. While I grew to enjoy the artwork and loved how Tansy, the dragon, and the surroundings were depicted I did have a couple problems with it. The first is that you can't really tell the facial expressions on any of the characters; the are all very stoic looking. The second is that the beauty of the artwork lends a very serious and solemn quality to a cute and fun story and, at points in the story, makes the story more serious than I think it is supposed to be. So, while the artwork is perfect and stunning at times....it is also a bit too serious and formal for the story at times.
The story is very classic fairy tale and I enjoyed it. The plot is predictable and the writing simple; but that is what this is...a simple folk story. Yolen does throw some tongue and cheek humor in at places and this adds a bit of fun to the story.
Overall a solid graphic novel. The artwork is beautiful but doesn't always follow the tone of the story. The story is a straight-forward fairy tale with a folk tale feel to it and a little humor laced throughout. Fans of fairy tales and dragons will probably enjoy this book. It is appropriate for all ages.
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LibraryThing member WendyClements
The Last Dragon
By Jane Yolen & Illustrated by Rebecca Guay
Dark Horse Books
Pub. 9/21/11
eBook courtesy of NetGalley
***Contains Some Spoilers***
This sumptuously illustrated graphic novel is truly a treat to read and admire. The rich colors and fine details are gorgeous—and the characters are drawn
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beautifully and expressively. The characters are interesting and even while given short descriptions, summed up very well. The main character is Tansy, the youngest daughter of the healer. She is intelligent, curious about the world, imaginative, and, her father says, already as good a healer as he is. She is also the bane of her mother’s existence—those qualities her father admires in her are the qualities that make her forget what’s important to her mother, her chores and other duties around the house. Meanwhile, a long lost and forgotten dragon egg has hatched, unbeknownst to anyone. It’s first victim is the healer as he goes searching for herbs. Now, Tansy is the healer, far before she feels she is ready.
After their livestock begins to disappear, then a child, after first blaming each other, a fisherman sees the dragon. An old man in the village has an old book regarding dragons, and Tansy reads it while the villagers prepare weapons. Tansy realizes they need a dragon-slayer to kill the dragon—the villagers are not prepared. Three boys are sent to find a hero to come back with them.
The man they find, Lancot, is a would-be hero, very good at talking, possibly not so good at being a hero. They bring him back because he’s the best the boys have found.
The story is about growing up, finding one’s place in the world, and learning to work together. Lancot has to learn humility and admit fear, and Tansy takes over her fathers role. In the end, it is both of them who truly save the village, along with the help of all the villagers to make an enormous dragon kite. The town of Meddlesome has finally learned to join in and help each other when they really need to. It’s a relatively simple tale on the surface, but the underlying messages are much deeper.
This is a truly wonderful graphic novel, and one that I would definitely recommend to anyone.
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LibraryThing member salimbol
A beautifully illustrated, simply and effectively told fantasy tale - and one that's not reliant on flashy heroics but on wit and courage.
LibraryThing member vonze
The Last Dragon is visually the most stunning graphic novel I've ever encountered. It's illustrations are utterly beautiful and magical.
The Last Dragon is the story of Tansy, a young woman destined to follow in her healer father's footsteps. In Tansy's world, dragons have been extinct for hundreds
Although I'm somewhat familiar with the print edition by Jane Yolen, I haven't read it. Increasingly, I find that if I haven't read the print edition of a novel prior to reading its graphic novel format, I don't feel as connected with the characters and some of the scene changes confuse me. However, this was not true for The Last Dragon. It has been well adapted. I now plan to read the print edition of The Last Dragon, not because I have lingering questions from the graphic novel, but because I want more of this intriguing fantasy world.
The Last Dragon is the story of Tansy, a young woman destined to follow in her healer father's footsteps. In Tansy's world, dragons have been extinct for hundreds
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of years...or so everyone thought. When her father goes missing, it becomes apparent that her town will need a hero and a leader to save them.Although I'm somewhat familiar with the print edition by Jane Yolen, I haven't read it. Increasingly, I find that if I haven't read the print edition of a novel prior to reading its graphic novel format, I don't feel as connected with the characters and some of the scene changes confuse me. However, this was not true for The Last Dragon. It has been well adapted. I now plan to read the print edition of The Last Dragon, not because I have lingering questions from the graphic novel, but because I want more of this intriguing fantasy world.
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LibraryThing member waclements7
The Last Dragon
By Jane Yolen & Illustrated by Rebecca Guay
Dark Horse Books
Pub. 9/21/11
eBook courtesy of NetGalley
***Contains Some Spoilers***
This sumptuously illustrated graphic novel is truly a treat to read and admire. The rich colors and fine details are gorgeous—and the characters are drawn
Show More
beautifully and expressively. The characters are interesting and even while given short descriptions, summed up very well. The main character is Tansy, the youngest daughter of the healer. She is intelligent, curious about the world, imaginative, and, her father says, already as good a healer as he is. She is also the bane of her mother’s existence—those qualities her father admires in her are the qualities that make her forget what’s important to her mother, her chores and other duties around the house. Meanwhile, a long lost and forgotten dragon egg has hatched, unbeknownst to anyone. It’s first victim is the healer as he goes searching for herbs. Now, Tansy is the healer, far before she feels she is ready.
After their livestock begins to disappear, then a child, after first blaming each other, a fisherman sees the dragon. An old man in the village has an old book regarding dragons, and Tansy reads it while the villagers prepare weapons. Tansy realizes they need a dragon-slayer to kill the dragon—the villagers are not prepared. Three boys are sent to find a hero to come back with them.
The man they find, Lancot, is a would-be hero, very good at talking, possibly not so good at being a hero. They bring him back because he’s the best the boys have found.
The story is about growing up, finding one’s place in the world, and learning to work together. Lancot has to learn humility and admit fear, and Tansy takes over her fathers role. In the end, it is both of them who truly save the village, along with the help of all the villagers to make an enormous dragon kite. The town of Meddlesome has finally learned to join in and help each other when they really need to. It’s a relatively simple tale on the surface, but the underlying messages are much deeper.
This is a truly wonderful graphic novel, and one that I would definitely recommend to anyone.
Show Less
LibraryThing member LisCarey
Ebook isn't the best format for reading a graphic novel, so right up front let's be clear that I didn't get the best of this book. Despite that, the artwork is intricate and lovely, and well worth taking some extra time to enjoy. In print and in color, I'm sure it's immensely better.
The story
Unfortunately, it means that there is a dragon in the neighborhood, and the Healer is the first to be killed. As the deaths mount up, the village grows more and more panicked, and comes to the conclusion that they need a Hero. After the dragon eats a bull, and Tansy finds in her father's book on dragons that after consuming a bull a dragon will not eat again for fourteen days, they send off three young men to find a Hero and return within that time. The boys' journey has plenty of humor in itself, and then, at the point where they will have to turn back, they find, at last, a Hero, the brave and noble Lancot.
Or at least, the imaginative and clever Lancot. He's a storyteller and kite-maker, and has no idea what he's going to do when he finds out that he's really expected to fight a dragon. The rest of the story is a heart-stopping romp as Tansy and Lancot figure out what they're going to do about that dragon.
All in all, this is a lovely and enjoyable book, and probably even significantly better in print and in color. Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
The story
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itself is simple and engaging, with moments of humor. Tansy, one of the three daughters of the local Healer, is clearly the one who got her father's interest and talent--and annoys her sisters and mother by having little interest in chores beyond herbalism. It's not that she won't work, and willingly, if asked; it just doesn't occur to her. When Tansy finds some dragon's bane, she and her father are puzzled as to what it means--and the Healer goes off to investigate.Unfortunately, it means that there is a dragon in the neighborhood, and the Healer is the first to be killed. As the deaths mount up, the village grows more and more panicked, and comes to the conclusion that they need a Hero. After the dragon eats a bull, and Tansy finds in her father's book on dragons that after consuming a bull a dragon will not eat again for fourteen days, they send off three young men to find a Hero and return within that time. The boys' journey has plenty of humor in itself, and then, at the point where they will have to turn back, they find, at last, a Hero, the brave and noble Lancot.
Or at least, the imaginative and clever Lancot. He's a storyteller and kite-maker, and has no idea what he's going to do when he finds out that he's really expected to fight a dragon. The rest of the story is a heart-stopping romp as Tansy and Lancot figure out what they're going to do about that dragon.
All in all, this is a lovely and enjoyable book, and probably even significantly better in print and in color. Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
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LibraryThing member emeraldreverie
It was fine. Very pretty. Story was evocative of classic fairy tales with a good flow. Pretty standard, didn't stray from a classic path.
LibraryThing member kcarrigan
Review from library copy
Meh. I can't really "read" illustrations, so a good chunk of this was lost on me.
Meh. I can't really "read" illustrations, so a good chunk of this was lost on me.
LibraryThing member MrsBond
The last dragon emerges from its egg, wreaking havoc on a the inhabitants of a small town. A young girl is forced to grow up faster than expected when her father disappears. A man who plays "hero" is forced to follow through on his promise. A more mature tale than I was expecting from Yolen, a few
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of the illustrations are bit much for my middle school shelves. Show Less
Awards
Texas Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List (Selection — 2012)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
144 p.; 11.1 inches
ISBN
1595827986 / 9781595827982
Local notes
Two hundred years ago, humans drove the dragons from the islands of May. Now, the last of the dragons rises to wreak havoc anew — with only a healer’s daughter and a kite-flying would-be hero standing in its way.