Young Ambrose is awaiting the day he can run away from his orphanage and live the life of his dreams, traveling the world to prove dragons exist. Everything changes on his thirteenth birthday when he wakes up with super powers and then comes face to face with a live dragon.
With visions of a twin sister he never knew existed and time running out
Ambrose must unlock the secrets of his past to save mankind from the evil
wizards set on releasing dragons back into the Earth realm.
Young Ambrose is awaiting the day he can run away from his orphanage and live the life of his dreams, traveling the world to prove dragons exist. Everything changes on his thirteenth birthday when he wakes up with super powers and then comes face to face with a live dragon.
With visions of a twin sister he never knew existed and time running out
Ambrose must unlock the secrets of his past to save mankind from the evil
wizards set on releasing dragons back into the Earth realm.
āI had the dream again.ā
It seemed so real. Mom and Dad were driving in the front seat, and I was in the back. It was dark out, and my parents were arguing, but I never know what about.
Something hit the car, and we started spinning out of control. I grabbed my seatbelt and gripped tight as my mom started screaming and my dad yelled to hold on.
After spinning for what seemed like an eternity, finally, the car stopped. The throbbing in my head made it hard for me to look up, but when I did, I saw two huge yellow eyes glaring right at me. Instantly, I froze, helpless as a fly caught in a spiderās web. As the glaring eyes grew closer, I saw dark gray scales. Then wide steaming nostrils. Then sharp teeth.
I canāt look away. Still unable to move or make a sound, I saw massive wings stretch wide, covering the night sky. Something warm dripped down the side of my face as a huge claw stretched towards my window.
And then I woke up.Ā
āAmbrose,ā says Ms. Davis, āyou know it was just a dream, right?ā
Ms. Davis is the school therapist. The doctor for the crazy kids like me. She likes to hold a pen and notepad, but she never writes anything down. She just sits behind her desk and says the same thing over and over while her big round glasses slide down her face and sit on the tip of her nose. Sometimes I find myself staring, waiting for them to fall off.
āDragons aren't real,ā she says. āYou were just a child. You hit your head and thatās it, nothing more. Iāve let you read the police report. You were coming home from dinner with your parents when you were hit by a drunk driver. I believe you created this fictional creature to cope with the evil thing that happened to you.ā
I know she has good intentions, but sheās an adult. She will never understand what itās like to be a kid. I may have only been three years old, but I know what I saw.
My mind drifts as she talks on and on. My eyes fixate on the cat clock hanging on the blank white wall behind her cluttered desk.
She notices Iād stopped paying attention and sighs. āIām sorry that you lost your parents, but this is not healthy. Itās been ten years. Do you like having the other kids make fun of you? I don't understand why you continue to hold on to this belief that dragons are real.ā
This place sucks. I look again towards the clock, wondering how much longer I had to sit here.
After a long pause, she picks up her prescription pad from her desk. āI'm going to increase your dosage. I think it's time to upgrade you to big-boy pills. You can pick up your prescription later today and start taking them tonight before bed. They should help you sleep better and make those silly dreams go away.ā
I grab the slip of paper from Ms. Davisās hand and quickly take my exit. As I walk down the quiet halls to the nurseās office, I think about the tragic night that landed me here.
Ten years ago, my parents died in a car crash caused by a dragon. After that, I was taken to the Orville Boyās School, an orphanage for kids like me who donāt have a family. Iāve been here ever since, and every week Iāve had to go to therapy.
Ms. Davis is new. Sheās determined to āfixā me.
This place is my prison. I should know by now that no adult can believe in dragons. I donāt have any friends in this place. The few friends that treated me halfway decent were adopted years ago, and I gave up the hope of being adopted. No one wants a crazy kid who talks about dragons all the time. It wouldnāt suck so badly if the kids werenāt constantly teasing me, but the adults donāt get me either.
I plan to leave this place when I turn sixteen. Run away and go search for dragons. Iāll show them all one day. Iāll prove that dragons are real, and then theyāll pay. Iām working on my escape plan.Ā Tomorrow I turn thirteen, and then Iāll have only three years left before I make my move.
While Iām sitting in the waiting room of the nurseās office, waiting for my new sleeping pills, I hear the nurses giggle. I know theyāre laughing at me. Everyone is always laughing at me.
Until I see my best friend walk in. Simon.
āAhhhhh!ā screams a nurse as she drops my prescription on the floor. āSomebody get this lizard out of here!āĀ
āItās a gecko,ā I correct her.
She frantically reaches for the broom standing in the nearby corner and swings it at Simon. I pick up my pills and then grab Simon as I run out of the nurseās office.
āThat was a close one Simon. I was wondering where you ran off toāā
As I was trying to place Simon into my pocket for safe keeping, I didnāt notice anyone approaching from the adjacent hallway, and I definitely didnāt notice anyone sticking out their ankle. I trip, falling face first into the cement floor.
āHey Freak.ā For as long as I can remember, Tommy has gone out of his way to make my life more painful. āIām sorry, did my foot get in your way? Is your little pet dragon okay?ā
He and his two friends walk away laughing. If I was a dragon, Iād put him in the trash can outside, close the lid, and set it on fire.
āAre you all right?ā comes the familiar friendly voice of Mr. Quan, the janitor. He always seems to be around when I need a helping hand.
I sit up, feeling my throbbing lip and wiping away the blood. Looking around I donāt see Simon anywhere.
āHereās a rag for your lip. That should heal quickly. Donāt worry about the floor, Iāll clean up the mess.āĀ
āThanks Mr. Quan.ā I reply trying to force my lips into a smile.
āDonāt worry about it. Tommy canāt pick on you forever. Oh, before I forgetāStop by my office tomorrow, I have a surprise for you. And donāt take those pills. You donāt need them.ā
A surprise?
It is my birthday tomorrow. I wonder if he got me a present. The only thing I want is a ticket out of here.
Now where did Simon run off to? I glance around and down the halls but donāt see him. Oh well, he always shows up eventually.
I head to the library, my favorite place to hang out, to get online. I belong to an online group, True Believers. We know there are things in this world that are covered up, dragons included.
My friend Draven leads the group, but we call him Dre for short. He started the online group to help spread the truth about all the unexplained events in the world. There are five of us who are faithful members. Thereās me, Dre, another kid about my age named Bartholomew, and an old husband and wife couple that live off the grid. They believe that my parents died in a car crash caused by a dragon. Theyāre the only ones who believe my story.
The only thing I can never figure out is why a dragon would want to kill us. Maybe they donāt need a reason. When youāre that powerful, you can do whatever you want.
Itād be awesome to be a dragon. I could fly whenever I wanted and eat whatever or whoever I wanted. Thereād be no adults to tell me how crazy I am, no bullies to pick on me and knock me down. Iād be the strongest, scariest dragon of all.Ā
Dre: Hey Ambrose.Ā
Ambrose: Hi Dre. Any new sightings today?
Dre: Another sighting of the Loch Ness Monster off the coast of Scotland. It was reported by a fisherman and his crew working late. The reporter claimed the crew was drinking and they probably saw a shark, gator, or large snake. You know, the usually coverup.Ā
Dre believes that the Loch Ness Monster is a water dragon that likes to snack on fishermen. He also believes that the Abominable Snowman is a mountain dragon with white fur. He says there are different types of dragons that exist all around us. People just make up these myths to cover up the truth: that dragons are real. His arguments make sense to me, and he has never questioned what I believe or my story about my parents.
Dreās family is all about myths and the unexplained. Most particularly, they are interested in dragons. They travel all around the world investigating sightings and weird events. I wish I could do that too. One day I will. Iāll walk right out of the orphanage and go hunt dragons with Dre, my best friend, second to Simon of course. Then Iāll show everyone that they really do exist.
As I think about running away and how awesome my life would be in the outside world, my vision goes blurry. This has been happening to me for a few weeks now. It only last for a second, but itās pretty freaky. Itās like looking out of a dirty window. I can see things, but I canāt make out the details. This time in my vision, Iām outside, running towards a Wallymart Superstore. I donāt know why I would have a vision of this. Iāve seen the store before in TV commercials, but Iāve never been to one.
I finish my online chat with Dre and head off to the dining hall for dinner. Spaghetti and meatballs again. I would rather eat anything else. I get my plate and make my way to my usual table in the back of the cafeteria, where Simon and I eat alone, unbothered by everyone else.
As I approach, I see Simon resting on the bench waiting for me. āHey buddy.ā I bite into my overcooked garlic bread and hear a familiar voice that makes my stomach turn.
āHey Loser, howās the lip?ā
Of course, itās Tommy and his followers. Why canāt they just leave me alone? Tommy grabs Simon and hands him to his friend. I jump up and throw a punch at Tommy.
āOuch!ā I yelled as he catches my fist right as itās about to hit him in his face.
āBreak it,ā says one of his friends.
āYeah, break his wrist,ā says the other.
Tommy squeezes as he twists my wrist. I squeal in pain as he and his friends laugh.
He suddenly lets go and takes a step back.
āWhatās going on here boys,ā asks Ms. Davis.
āNothing, maāam, we were just playing with our friend Ambrose,ā Tommy replies.
Iām about to call Tommy a big fat liar, but then Tommy glances at Marcus and gives him a slight nod. I look down to see Simon squirming in Marcusās hand as Marcusās grip tightens around Simonās little waist.
I force a smile while holding my wrist and fighting off the urge to cry. āYes, maāam, we were just playing.ā
Ms. Davis walks away as she gives me one last reminder, ādonāt forget to take your pills. We wouldnāt want any more of those nasty dreams.ā
āWise decision not to rat on us weirdo,ā Tommy says as Marcus throws Simon on the table. The three of them walk away laughing as Tommy stuffs his mouth with the cookie he grabbed off my tray.
I look at the kids near my table. Quickly, they all turn away and go back to their conversations about video games and whatever else they were doing before the drama began. I didnāt expect anything different. Everyone is afraid of Tommy and his minions, and itās not like Iām the popular kid in school.
I look at Simon as he just sits there on the table, staring back at me.
āYou could have at least bitten him. You do have teeth.ā
Simon turns and runs to my plate and jumps right into my spaghetti.
āWhat the heck are you doing Simon?ā
When I look down, I see that there are worms in my spaghetti. That Tommy is one evil kid.Ā
I go to bed hungry, but I donāt care. This isnāt the first time Tommy ruined my dinner. Tommy is always doing stupid stuff like this. Last week, he spat in my food and threatened to get my library time revoked if I told. When the lunch lady asked me why I didnāt eat my food, I told her it was because I didnāt feel good. She sent me to the nurse. A few weeks before that, he added urine to my lemonade during lunch and I almost took a sip, but Simon knocked it over. One time while I was sleeping, he poured water all over my crotch and then woke everyone up, saying that I had peed on myself. Usually, he is just pushing me down, tripping me in the hallways, planting bugs in my desk during class, or threatening to hurt Simon. Once, he painted a dragon on my wall and told Mr. Roberts, the headmaster, that I did it. And when I was younger, Tommy would take my toys and set them on fire. He said thatās what dragons do: they burn everything, and if I wanted to be a dragon, I should get used to it.
I hide all my stuff now so Tommy and his friends canāt steal or break it. I cut a hole in my mattress and stash all my treasures in there. I also have a secret room in one of the quiet hallways where I keep all my dragon research. Thereās nothing but storage closets and the laundry facility in that part of the building. In one of the closets, thereās a hidden door that leads to a pretty good-sized room. Itās a stuffy old room with an odd smell that contains boxes of old baseball jerseys and toys. I made it my office.
Mr. Quan said I could use it after heād showed it to me.Ā He helped me move a desk in and set it up so I had everything I needed. Heās the only adult that doesnāt totally suck.
After saying goodnight to Simon, who was tucked into his shoebox bed hidden under mine, I drift off to sleep with one last thought: Tomorrow is my birthday.Ā
#
Today is a new day. Iām a teenager now.
I donāt remember dreaming last night. I guess that is a good thing, especially since I didnāt take the new pills. I guess Mr. Quan is right. I donāt need them.
I bend over to wake up Simon, but heās already gone. I wonder where he goes and what he does when he disappears? Maybe he has a gecko girlfriend and little gecko kids somewhere. Or maybe he ventures out for a daily walk around the campus. One time, I remember seeing a mouse run into the kitchen. Maybe he is off defending the orphanage, protecting us from vermin.
As I get dressed for class, I think about how awesome today will be. I canāt recall ever having a party or a birthday cake, but I told myself this year would be different.
It isnāt until halfway through the day that I realize today is no different than any other day.
None of my teachers notice that itās my birthday. Thereās no special lunch menu today and no gifts in my room when I return after study hall. Disappointed, I decide to skip gym class and spend the afternoon in my room.
But first, I have to see Mr. Quan.
On my way, I find Simon standing on his hind legs on a window seal, staring out into the forest with his little hands pressed against the glass.
āHey buddy. There you are. What are you looking at?ā Pressing my face to the windowpane, the glass cool on my forehead, I look out.Ā The forest looks peaceful, with a gentle breeze making the tops of the pines sway.Ā I glance at Simon, who seems to not have noticed me. I guess thatās going around today.Ā With a sigh, I pluck him up, place him in my pocket, and continue down the hall.
When I arrive, Mr. Quan jumps up from his chair with a big cheesy grin on his face. āHappy Birthday!ā
He always remembers.
āHow has your day been so far?āĀ he asks.
āThe same as every other day.ā
āGreat.ā
Why would he say that? Sometimes Mr. Quan can be a little weird, but heās always looked out for me.
When I was little, kids would tease me because I have one blue eye and one green eye. Mr. Quan talked the nurse into getting me contacts so I could have two blue eyes. He remembers my birthday every year and has no problem with my obsession with dragons. Matter of fact, heās bought me a lot of books about dragons, some with lots of pictures and descriptions of their magical abilities and others about their history. I hide those in the secret room too.
āYou know you can talk to me about anything Ambroseā says Mr. Quan.Ā
āI know.ā
āSeriously, anything. I just want you to know Iām here for you if you need to talk, or if you need something.ā
āThanks Mr. Quan.ā
With that, he sets out a small bottle cap full of water for Simon and a chocolate cupcake with a candle in it. āMake a wish and blow out the candle.ā
I wish I could leave this place and go hunting for dragons. The same wish I make every year.
I blow out the candle. Picking up my cupcake, I thank Mr. Quan and head for the door.
āDonāt forget, Ambrose. You can talk to me about anything, no matter how weird or crazy you think it may sound.ā
As I walk back to my room, I replay Mr. Quanās last words in my head. No matter how weird or crazy it sounds. What did he mean by that?
I donāt have time to figure it out. I enter my room to find my nemesis, Tommy, and his friends waiting for me.
āGive me that.ā Tommy snatches the cupcake from my hand. Simon, who was walking next to me, quickly scurries under my bed.
āGive that back, you jerk!ā I say.
āWhat did you call me?ā
His friends, Marcus and Kyle, hold me back while Tommy stuffs my chocolate cupcake into his big, fat, greedy mouth.Ā
āIām thirteen now! You canāt treat me like this. Weāre not kids anymore.ā
āIt doesnāt matter how old or how big you get. Iāll always be older and bigger, and thereās nothing you can do about it.ā
He laughs, and his friends release me. I want to punch him in his fat face, but I remember what happened the night before. Even though my wrist doesnāt hurt anymore, I donāt want a repeat of that.
Tommy and his friends laugh as if they know what Iām thinking. āSee you later, Loser.ā
Standing by myself in the room, I look around. I want to throw something at Tommy. I want to hurt him. I want to knock him and his friends down like bowling pins as they walk down the hallway laughing at me. I canāt find anything to throw. The image of Tommy stuffing my cupcake into his mouth wonāt go away. I ball my fist, and before I know it, I hit the wall.
My fist goes right through it.
Dragon Twins is the first in a fantasy series about Ambrose: a young man who lost his parents in a car accident and has been plagued by fantastical dreams ever since.
Ā
Ambrose is once again sitting in Ms Davisā office discussing his dream. The dream where he sees huge yellow eyes staring at him after the car crashes. She is trying to convince Ambrose that the eyes that he saw did not belong to a dragon. But deep down, Ambrose knows better. Stuck in an orphanage until he is sixteen, Ambrose must negotiate the tough world of school and bullies, with his only friends being Simon, a gecko, and Dre, an online friend that believes that Ambrose did see a dragon.
On his thirteenth birthday, Ambroseās world is changed forever as he learns about his guardians, a twin sister, an evil dragon called Morfran, and the fact that he has cool new superpowers. When Ambrose discovers who he really is, the clock is set in motion for him to prevent the crossover of dragons and man between realms. But, as always, there are villains out to get him, and Ambrose has very few people he can trust . . .
Ā
Ambroseās character is written very well and his fears and joys are expressed realistically for his age. His relationship with Simon is endearing and when the reason becomes apparent, itās a heart-warming moment. I did feel sorry for Ambrose in all he had to go through while his sister had a much easier time of it, but his genuine morals ensured he did what he knew was right. You could almost say he possessed the heart of a dragon!
Ā
The story is relatively short and held my attention throughout. The ending of the book, however, felt a bit rushed as there was a big build up and then all of a sudden it was over. There is a lot of action to process at the end so it would have been more fulfilling to draw it out. Overall, the punctuation and grammar were good, except for a few mistakes.
Ā
I really enjoyed this book, but even though it is categorised as young adult, I would recommend it more for ages 8ā14 and those who love dragons, action, and a heart-warming tale of good versus evil. Ā Ā Ā