From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–Simon St. George attends an elite boarding school and hasn't seen or heard from his parents in 11 years. Then one October day, a greasy-haired, ragged, and dirt-ridden man shows up on campus claiming to be his father. Before 24 hours pass, Simon finds himself abducted by this odd stranger and about to be initiated into the family business–dragon-hunting. The man explains that "the Dragon is the source of all that is rotten in the world," and that since the time of the legendary St. George of England, his descendants have been dragon-hunters. Now 13-year-old Simon is needed to join the fight. What ensues is a long series of sword-and-sorcery adventures heavy on action and light on plot–much like a video game, comic strip, or feature-length cartoon written in short sentences and simple language but without the pictures. The setting is contemporary and decidedly dark. Dragons and humans alike, with the exception of Simon, have all the subtlety of cartoon characters. His father is not exactly a noble knight, showing as little tact and feeling in his dealings with friends and family as with his sworn enemies. The cover of this book is reminiscent of Christopher Paolini's Eragon (Knopf, 2003), but readers who expect the depth and complexity of contemporary popular high fantasy will be disappointed. Those who prefer the macabre outlook and less demanding style of Darren Shan's "Cirque du Freak" series (Little, Brown) might enjoy The Saint of Dragons.–Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Booklist
Gr. 6-8. Hightman postulates that dragons, which harbor a "vast desire to do harm," exist throughout the world today, living among humans by clouding minds so people don't see the beasts in their true form. Simon St. George is a loner at an elite academy, sent there by parents he does not know. His father, Aldric St. George, the last Knight of the Order of Dragonhunters, learns Simon is in danger and retrieves the boy to help fight dragons. Their quest takes them around the world to confront the White Dragon of New York City, the Water Dragon of Venice, the Parisian Dragon, the Russian Red Dragon, and the Black Dragon of China, and eventually all the dragons together in one place for a cataclysmic climax. Filled with dragon lore and nonstop action, the humor-laced story is preposterous to be sure, but readers willing to suspend disbelief will enjoy going along on the adventure. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description

The ancient dragons -- of the time of the legendary Saint George and earlier -- have never disappeared entirely. Instead, they've moved undercover -- and into human society. Now one lonely schoolboy is about to learn where the dragons have gone ...

Educated at boarding schools, Simon St. George has never met his parents. When a ragged-looking man shows up claiming to be his father, Simon is skeptical, and when the man kidnaps him, he's indignant to say the least.

Then the man claims to be a descendant of England's Saint George and a career dragon fighter. Why should Simon believe any of this nonsense? But what if the man is telling the truth? What if the dragons know he's out there?

Rich with the dragon lore of legend, the saint of dragons continues and enlarges on the tale of the centuries-old conflict between dragons and humans that rages even today.


About the Author
Jason Hightman began writing at an early age. He attended the University of Southern California where he wrote and directed films. Since his graduation in 1993 he has written, produced and directed films, and his most recent work, "Delusion" swept the 2003 New York Independent Film and Video Festival, winning the best of show, best direction, best writing, and best cinematography awards. A member of the Writers Guild of America and co-founder of the USC Undergraduate Committee for Diversity in Film, Jason has been working as a motion-picture screenwriter for Columbia Pictures, Touchstone, and Warner Films, for the past five years. He lives in California with his wife and daughter. The Saint of Dragons is his first published book.

ANNOTATION

After a lonely childhood at the Lighthouse School for Boys, thirteen-year-old Simon learns that he is descended from a medieval dragonslayer, and that his father needs his help to face the last of these evil monsters.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The ancient dragons -- of the time of the legendary Saint George and earlier -- have never disappeared entirely. Instead, they've moved undercover -- and into human society. Now one lonely schoolboy is about to learn where the dragons have gone ...

Educated at boarding schools, Simon St. George has never met his parents. When a ragged-looking man shows up claiming to be his father, Simon is skeptical, and when the man kidnaps him, he's indignant to say the least.

Then the man claims to be a descendant of England's Saint George and a career dragon fighter. Why should Simon believe any of this nonsense? But what if the man is telling the truth? What if the dragons know he's out there?

Rich with the dragon lore of legend, the saint of dragons continues and enlarges on the tale of the centuries-old conflict between dragons and humans that rages even today.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Janet Crane Barley

Simon St. George can't remember anything before he came to live at boarding school. He doesn't know anything about his parents; he doesn't even know whether they are alive or dead. Then one day two men turn up claiming to be Simon's father. One, who drives a white Rolls Royce, carries a distinct aura of evil. The other, too scruffy and dirty to be anyone's idea of a father, turns out to be Aldric St. George, the last trained dragon fighter on earth. He wants to bring his son into the family business so that together they can try to destroy the last remaining, vicious dragon who poses as an art dealer with a white Rolls. Then the St. Georges discover that he isn't the last dragon after all. Dragons from Russia, Paris, Venice, Beijing, London and elsewhere are planning to take over the earth. Father and son travel around the world in a magical ship hunting down the threatening dragons. In this action-packed novel, the St. Georges face many seemingly insurmountable obstacles and it appears that the dragons must win their power battle. Can they be stopped? Mr. Hightman has written, produced, and directed films, winning some prestigious awards. He spends much of his time in California where, he says, there are many dragons. Readers of this book may enjoy learning more dragon lore from John Hamilton's book, Dragons, published by Abdo Publishing Company. That book provides background and insights accented by wonderful historical and contemporary art illustrations. 2004, Eos/Harper Collins Publishers, Ages 10 to 18.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Simon St. George attends an elite boarding school and hasn't seen or heard from his parents in 11 years. Then one October day, a greasy-haired, ragged, and dirt-ridden man shows up on campus claiming to be his father. Before 24 hours pass, Simon finds himself abducted by this odd stranger and about to be initiated into the family business-dragon-hunting. The man explains that "the Dragon is the source of all that is rotten in the world," and that since the time of the legendary St. George of England, his descendants have been dragon-hunters. Now 13-year-old Simon is needed to join the fight. What ensues is a long series of sword-and-sorcery adventures heavy on action and light on plot-much like a video game, comic strip, or feature-length cartoon written in short sentences and simple language but without the pictures. The setting is contemporary and decidedly dark. Dragons and humans alike, with the exception of Simon, have all the subtlety of cartoon characters. His father is not exactly a noble knight, showing as little tact and feeling in his dealings with friends and family as with his sworn enemies. The cover of this book is reminiscent of Christopher Paolini's Eragon (Knopf, 2003), but readers who expect the depth and complexity of contemporary popular high fantasy will be disappointed. Those who prefer the macabre outlook and less demanding style of Darren Shan's "Cirque du Freak" series (Little, Brown) might enjoy The Saint of Dragons.-Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews