skip navigation links

Readers > Talk it Up! > Discussion guides > Dragon Rider

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

Summary

Danger is coming to the valley of the dragons – humans and their machines are drawing ever closer to what seems to be the last safe place. Now Firedrake must set out on a journey to find the Rim of Heaven – a place that may not even exist – for it may be the only way to save the world’s last dragons.

Booktalk

Firedrake, the dragon, and his human companion Ben must find the Rim of Heaven or the world’s last dragons will die – but they don’t know where to look. They have no choice but to visit the blue djinn (genie). Professor Greenbloom tells Ben the blue djinn “can be as large as the moon or as small as a grain of sand. His skin is blue as the evening sky and covered with a thousand eyes that reflect a thousand parts of the world” (p. 147). Asif, the blue djinn knows the answer to every question in the world. But . . . he will only answer questions if three conditions are met: 1). the question must be asked by a human. 2). The question must consist of seven words – no more, no less. 3). the question must never have been asked before, or the questioner will become Asif’s servant for the rest of his life. Will Ben and Firedrake find the Rim of Heaven? Join Ben, Firedrake, the mischevious brownie Sorrel and the feisty Twigleg on their dangerous adventures as they search for a safe haven for the world’s last dragons.

523 pages, 4th grade and up

Discussion questions

Warning! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. Why was Firedrake forced to leave the Valley of the Dragons? What was threatening the dragons there?
  2. Why did Professor Greenbloom help Ben and Firedrake along their journey?
  3. What is a homunculus?
  4. Why was the blue djinn impressed with Ben’s question?
  5. The Valley of the Dragons was located in Europe. The Rim of Heaven was said to be in the Himalayas in Asia (China, Tibet, and Nepal.) Are there dragon stories that come from other parts of the world?
  6. What do you think of Twigleg’s character? Why did he keep reporting back to Nettlebrand? Did he do the right thing in the end?
  7. What was Nettlebrand’s weakness?
  8. Why did the dragons in the Rim of Heaven turn to stone?

If you liked this book, try

Snacks: Serve mushrooms, Sorrel’s favorite food! Try mushrooms on your pizza. If you don’t care for mushrooms, try mushroom-shaped cookies.

Created in part with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Send feedback to Katie O'Dell, Reading Promotions Coordinator