User:Mkilgour/The Last Dragon by, Silvana De Mari

The Last Dragon is a charming children’s novel published in 2006; written by, Silvana De Mari, and Translated by, Shaun Whiteside. De Mari “born 1953, in Caserta, Italy is a writer, novelist, psychotherapist, and physician. She was a psychotherapist in private practice. She worked as a surgeon in Italy and Ethiopia.”

Plot Summery
In a two part tale, the reader embarks on a magical journey of humor, sorrow, and tenderness, within a story of cultures colliding, highlighting a young orphaned elf, the last on earth, named Yorsh. His village has been destroyed by torrential rain, and he finds himself living in a world plagued by intolerance, shrouded in darkness, hungry, cold, and wet. Upon meeting and being reluctantly befriended by a hunter named Monser and Sajra, a woman, Yorsh learns of a prophecy and his importance in saving the world of this Dark Age. To fulfill the prophecy and bring the world into an age where the sun will shine in the sky again dawning a new summer. He must first find another bereaved creature; the last dragon. Upon discovering the dragon, Yorsh decides to stay and keep her company.

The second part of the story takes place thirteen years later; the dragon dies leaving him with an egg. Yorsh takes upon the task of raising the young dragon. Yorsh, coming to miss deeply his companions the hunter and the woman, journeys back to the old village to find their daughter Robi, and learns of the hanging they endured for protecting him. Saddened Yorsh decides he will protect the young orphaned Robi. Deciding to leave, the elf, young dragon, and Robi move to a new country founding a new constitution to govern the population of their new world, “No one can hit anybody…And you can’t hang people, either.”

Awards

 * Best Children's Books of 2006
 * Mildred L. Batchelder Award (2006)
 * Main Student Book Award (Nominated for an Award) 2007
 * Nutmeg Children’s Book Award (Nominated for an Award) 2011

Book Quote
"The Human was extremely tall. On its head it had yellowish hair coiled like a rope. It had no hair on its face. And yet his grandmother had been very categorical about that. Humans have hair on their faces. Its called a beard. Its one of the many things that distinguish them from elves. The little elf concentrated, trying to remember, then it came to him.

"You must be a female man," he concluded triumphantly.

"The word is woman, fool," said the human.

"Oh, sorry, sorry, woman-fool, I be more careful, I call right name, woman-fool"...."

Author's Website
http://www.silvanademari.com/