Jennifer Mattson (Booklist, Aug. 1, 2004 (Vol. 100, No. 22))
Here's news to quicken the pulses of Funke's many admirers: the fantasist's first novel, and her most popular so far in her native Germany, is now available to American readers. Crack open the fat volume, though, and it's instantly clear that this is different from Funke's previous books. With its large type, generous leading, and whimsical line art by the author, it simply looks more like a traditional middle-grade novel. The plot is correspondingly gentler, lighter, and more straightforward than those of The Thief Lord (2002) and Inkheart (2003), involving an ancient race of fabulous creatures under threat from a wily, vengeful foe. Funke proves she knows how to tickle the imaginations of younger readers: there's a silver dragon that absorbs moonlight as flight fuel, an orphan boy destined to become a Dragon Rider, a journey to the Himalayas, and plenty of humor, introduced in particular by the dragon's irritable brownie sidekick and by Twigleg, a homunculus prone to bowing and scraping. A full-color foldout map adds the perfect atmospheric touch. This is a good, old-fashioned ensemble-cast quest in the style of Lloyd Alexander, with a bit of Puff the Magic Dragon added to the mix. What could it be but a winner? Category: Books for Middle Readers--Fiction. 2004, Scholastic/Chicken House, $12.95. Gr. 4-6, younger for reading aloud. Starred Review

Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
Dragons are fascinating creatures and many stories and myths feature these sometimes benevolent and sometimes fearsome creatures. Funke gives us a likeable dragon in Firedrake. He is young, as far as dragons go, but he is willing to risk everything to find the mystical dragon home called The Rim of Heaven and save his kin. The main cast of characters includes Ben, a human orphan who becomes a dragon rider, Sorrel a smart-mouth always complaining Brownie, and Twigleg a homunculus. Twigleg was the slave of Nettlebrand--a horrible fabricated dragon whose whole raison d'etre is to hunt down and kill dragons and anything else that happens to get in its way. Other interesting characters include a dwarf named Gravelbeard and several helpful humans including Professor Greenbloom and his daughter, Zubeida, a dragon expert, and an entire community of Tibetan lamas. Through many arduous months and ordeals, the travelers finally reach the end of their quest. It is not, however, as they had expected, but the final chapter brings it all to a tidy and happy ending for all involved. Nettlebrand, the invincible is finally brought to a just end. Funke's story is not short, but it moves quickly and once they are into it, kids will keep the pages flipping. Also, it is nice to have a happy ending. 2004, Scholastic, $12.95. Ages 8 to 12.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2004 (Vol. 72, No. 14))
When human development threatens the remote Scottish valley where the earth's last remaining silver dragons have hidden, Firedrake, a determined young dragon, and his friend Sorrel, an irascible brownie, set out to find the Rim of Heaven, a remote Himalayan valley said to be the ancient home of the dragons. In short order they pick up Ben, a stout-hearted orphan lad, and Twigleg, a homunculus in the joyless employ of Nettlebrand, the evil artificial golden dragon whose sole purpose in life is hunting and killing silver dragons. The twin imperatives to evade Nettlebrand and to find the Rim of Heaven form the engine that drives this narrative, and the importance of belief-in goodness, in possibility, in magic, in love-provides the fuel. Various secondary characters pop up to help or to hinder, genially straining credibility with the tidiness of plot-driven need. This solid adventure lacks the lusciousness of language and intricacy of plot that marked last year's Inkheart, but it does carry the reader along at breakneck pace, the inevitably victorious ending no less satisfying for all its predictability. 2004, Chicken House/Scholastic, 528p, $12.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 8 to 12. © 2004 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jennifer Hartshorn (Library Media Connection, November/December 2004)
When Firedrake learns that the peaceful valley where he and the other silver dragons live is threatened with danger of discovery by humans, he and his friend Sorrel set off on a quest to find the mythical Rim of Heaven, the only place in the world where the dragons can be safe forever. Along the way, they meet Ben, an orphaned boy who volunteers to be their navigator and soon becomes a trusted friend. When they learn that Nettlebrand, the evil hunter of the silver dragons, is on their trail, the quest turns into a battle for survival. As the adventure draws to a close, the action builds to a final battle between good and evil, with destiny hanging in the balance. Master storyteller Cornelia Funke once again casts a magical spell with her storytelling. Dragon Rider is peopled with the enchanting characters that we have come to expect in her writing. The story is an exciting adventure tale, heartwarming, and filled with magic. The pace moves quickly and we are introduced to many fantastic new lands. New characters are added throughout the story, yet each one is allowed to develop fully. The way the past and present are connected through the unfolding and developing of each new character adds depth to this tale. Children who like fantasy will be enthralled with this new offering. Highly Recommended. 2004, The Chicken House (Scholastic), 523pp., $12.95 hc. Ages 10 to 14.

Krista Hutley (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, October 2004 (Vol. 58, No. 2))
The dragon Firedrake lives with others of his kind in an idyllic mountain valley, until the valley is threatened by humans and he must undertake a dangerous quest to find the dragons' first fabled home, the Rim of Heaven. Accompanied by a mushroom-obsessed brownie named Sorrel and an orphan boy named Ben, and guided by a map drawn by a rat cartographer, Firedrake is determined to find this safe haven. Unfortunately, he also awakens an enemy who nearly exterminated all dragons long ago and has been lying in wait for one to reappear ever since--Nettlebrand, the Golden One. The questors face many challenges on the way to the Rim of Heaven, but, unknowingly carrying one of Nettlebrand's spies, they have no idea they are in danger of betraying the very home for which they are searching. Despite the somewhat hackneyed insistence that humans are irresponsible and dangerous in their greed and ignorance, Funke still sets them as saviors; Firedrake's self-determination is therefore undercut by a prophecy tacked on near the end of the journey involving Ben as a mythical dragon rider "coming to save his friends the dragons from a terrible enemy." Aside from this conflict of purpose and the overreliance on coincidental meetings to put characters where they are needed to advance the plot, this novel (Funke's first, only now imported into the U.S.) is an attractive combination of tried-and-true fantasy elements and likable Disneyesque characters, and it will appeal to youngsters as a (lengthy) readaloud and to older kids as an uplifting readalone. A foldout map will be included in the bound book. (Reviewed from galleys) Review Code: Ad -- Additional book of acceptable quality for collections needing more material in the area. (c) Copyright 2004, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2004, Chicken House/Scholastic, 528p, $12.95. Grades 4-8.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2005)
Ben, a homeless orphan, joins a dragon and a furry, bad-tempered brownie in their quest to find the dragon home at the Rim of Heaven and in their mortal combat with Nettlebrand, a golden dragon-machine who wants to exterminate dragonkind. Despite sentimentality and some implausible motivations, this book delivers for readers who want fantastical events straight up. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2004, Scholastic/Chicken House, 523pp, 12.95. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.

Andrea Haas (The Kutztown University Book Review, Spring 2005)
Aimed at slightly younger readers than Funke’s previous novels, despite its massive five hundred pages, Dragon Rider is about a brave young dragon called Firedrake who embarks upon a dangerous journey to the Rim of Heaven in the Himalayas—a magical place where silver dragons can rest easy, free from the threat of destruction by mankind and their only hope of sanctuary. The key to its location is a map rendered by a rat who is a master cartographer. The author doesn’t fail readers with her characters. Firedrake, Ben and Sorrel are likable and well-rounded, and while Twigleg the homunculus gets annoying, he’s well-done. Nettlebrand is an intriguingly original villain, although he could have used a few more motivations. While “Dragon Rider” can be a bit overwhimsical at times, it’s a pleasant, more laid-back fantasy that brings Lloyd Alexander’s standalone fantasies to mind. Recommended for dragon-lovers everywhere. Category: Fantasy. 2004, Scholastic, $12.95. Ages 8 to 12.

Becky Young (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 17, No. 3))
In an effort to save the dragons in his hidden valley, threatened by humans building a dam, a young silver dragon named Firedrake decides that he must find the fabled land called the Rim of Heaven. He finds allies along the way when he meets a brownie named Sorrel and an orphan human boy called Ben. Armed only with hints to help them locate the homeland of all the dragons, the three courageously set out only to discover that Nettlebrand, an evil golden dragon, is stalking them. With the help of a clan of adventuresome mice, a homunculus, an archeologist, elves, dwarves, and Tibetan lamas, they find the Rim of Heaven. To their dismay, it is not the paradise they had hoped for, and they must find a way to fulfill a prophecy about the return of a dragon rider to insure prosperity to their homeland. They must also find a way to destroy Nettlebrand before he follows them to the dragons’ homelands and kills the few remaining dragons that live there. Aimed at a younger audience, this story is not as enthralling as Inkheart, the author’s previous book, but it is still a good story. Sometimes the plot is forced and some of the characters are not as developed as Firedrake is. The cast of characters is rather large, and some readers may get a little confused. However, it is full of adventure, danger, and heroic deeds. Ben and Firedrake both realize that only through teamwork and trust will they be able to survive. Sorrel and Twigleg provide a lot of comic relief. While the story is long, it moves very quickly, and students will be eager to see how the story ends. They will be satisfied with the happy conclusion. Fantasy fans and fans of Funke’s previous works will enjoy the story. Harry Potter fans will also find this an acceptable way to keep busy until the next installment of that series arrives. Fiction. Grades 4-9. 2004, Chicken House, 523p., $12.95. Ages 9 to 15.

Anita Beaman (VOYA, October 2004 (Vol. 27, No. 4))
Although not as uniquely charming as Inkheart (The Chicken House/Scholastic, 2003/VOYA December 2003), this latest adventure story of "a boy, a dragon, and a quest" will thoroughly satisfy Funke's North American fans. After hiding in rural Scotland for years, a community of dragons finds itself threatened by the incursion of man. Warned of their impending doom but frightened, the dragons refuse to act. Only one, Firedrake, and Sorrel, his Brownie companion, strike out in search of the Rim of Heaven, a haven for dragons remembered only vaguely by the oldest among them. The pair soon finds an unlikely but helpful companion in Ben, a homeless boy. Threatened by ancient predators and assisted by sympathetic scholars and other mythical creatures, the trio triumphantly locates a new haven for the dragons and discover Ben's destiny as the Dragon Rider. The plot is rich, but characters sometimes lack development. The dragon Firedrake is sympathetically drawn, but Sorrel's and Ben's characters are less complete. Sorrel's dialogue is often choppy, and readers learn nothing of Ben's past despite his lack of family or home. Still the novel is engaging and suspenseful and will be read and enjoyed by fans of Funke and fantasy. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2004, The Chicken House/Scholastic, 528p., $12.95. Ages 12 to 18.