Showing results for "Jackie French" in Action & Adventure

Darek is envious when his older brother Clep returns from a quest wearing dragon claws for a necklace. His brother has killed a Great Blue, the largest and most feared of all dragons. The next day the village will hold a great celebration, and Clep will be the guest of honor. Unable to sleep that night, Darek sneaks outside. He hears something whimpering and realizes that the slain dragon has left behind a newborn dragonling that nobody noticed.

Orphaned twelve-year-old Tigg is the Bandicoot Bushranger, the youngest bushranger on the Ballarat goldfields in 1859. When a robbery goes wrong, Tigg must flee in disguise as one of the tens of thousands of Chinese men and boys braving heat, thirst, starvation and murderous attacks on the long road from Robe in South Australia to the goldfields in Victoria. But even further danger threatens. Who has offered a large sum of money for Tigg's capture? And is the mysterious Henry Lau a friend or enemy?

In 1894, 12-year-old Matilda flees the city slums to find her unknown father and his farm. But drought grips the land, and the shearers are on strike. Her father has turned swaggie, and he's wanted by the troopers. In front of his terrified daughter, he makes a stand against them, defiant to the last. "You'll never catch me alive," said he....

It's 1789, and as the new colony in Sydney Cove is established, Surgeon John White defies convention and adopts Nanberry, an Aboriginal boy, to raise as his son. Nanberry is clever and uses his unique gifts as an interpreter to bridge the two worlds he lives in. With his white brother, Andrew, he witnesses the struggles of the colonists to keep their precarious grip on a hostile wilderness. And yet he is haunted by the memories of the Cadigal warriors who will one day come to claim him as one of their own.

In 1917 sixteen-year-old Jean McLain is working as a post-office assistant in England. But when she wins a national Morse code competition, the British army makes a request Jean cannot refuse – to take a secret position as a signaller in France. If Jean can keep the signals flowing between headquarters and the soldiers at the Front, Britain might possibly win the war.

At the tender age of eight, chimney sweep Tom Appleby is convicted of stealing and sentenced to deportation to Botany Bay. As he sails out with the First Fleet, Tom sadly realises that he will never set foot on English ground again. Luckily, not long after Tom’s arrival in the colony, the fair and kind Sergeant Stanley decides to take on Tom as a servant. Together, Tom, Sergeant Stanley and his son, Rob, build a house, set up an orchard and a vegetable garden for themselves - and thrive, unlike many others in the new colony.

The law of Eldearth claims that only a boy can be a wizard and Keeper of the Light. Princess Arnelle is determined to prove that the proclamation is foolish and embarks on the difficult quest required of a hopeful Apprentice Keeper. Does Nell have the courage and cunning to battle the forces of Evil and Ignorance alone? Jackie French Koller’s engaging writing whisks listeners into a world where witches and wizards, dragons and unicorns all blend together in a fantastic combination.

Award-winning author Jackie French Koller has written over 30 children’s and young adult novels, including Dragons and Kings. In this tale, she tells the story of Princess Arenelle, who completes the quest to become the Imperial Wizard. However, she may not get to fill the position when her father, King Einar, discovers he has a son. Does Arenelle dare to defy her father? Davina Porter’s enchanting narration will captivate listeners and transport them to Arenelle’s magical world.

When the village Elder tries to buy Darek's blue dragon for his daughter, Darek refuses to sell. The angry Elder makes Darek's father hunt down another dragon, but, knowing that dragons are peaceful and love their children, Darek sets off with his best friend, Pola, to stop the hunt. Can Darek find a way to save the baby dragons without putting his father's life in danger?

Darek and his dragon have escaped from Krad, a neighboring kingdom, after being held captive. But on their return home, they find their village under the control of Zarnak, a wicked tyrant. Although Darek was able to free himself, many of his fellow countrymen are still in Krad, held as slaves. Hungry for power, Zarnak forces Darek and his friends to lead him in a war against Krad. Darek wants to rescue his villagers, but he wants to plan a way to do it that will avoid war.

Darek and his family and friends are returning from their dragonquest with something different: Zantor, a live baby dragon. The villagers are surprised that it is nothing like the fierce creatures the Zorians have grown up believing dragons to be. This exciting sequel to The Dragonling continues the exciting story of Darek and Zantor.