The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare - Scottish Book Trust

SECOND LEVEL
LEARNING RESOURCES
The Dragon
Whisperer by
Lucinda Hare
Resource created
by Alison McAllister and Mel
West from North Ayrshire
Council Library and
Information and Information
Service

Naming a dragon
In Chapter One we are introduced to some of the dragons who are called
Two Gulps and You’re Gone, One-Eye and Quenelda herself, who is called
Dancing with Dragons. Naming creatures and people like this is a Native
American tradition where you are named according to what you look like or
what your personality is like. How many more names of dragons can you
find and what would you call a dragon if you had one? If you have a pet at
home, what other name could you give it?
CfE
Reading>
Finding and
Using
Information>
LIT2-14.
Writing>
Creating Texts>
ENG2-27a
The author’s blog may help you:
http://thedragonwhispererdiaries.blogspot.com/
Describing people and places
The author makes great use of description in the book. For example, on
page 44 she describes the Earl’s Chief Scout Bark Oakley:
He was dressed in a motley collection of furs, leather and rough cloth that
made him hard to see even in the full light of noon. Countless pouches and
strange pieces of equipment were attached to his bandolier and flying belt.
The gnome’s face, dark-skinned and weather-beaten was hidden behind a
mask, glinting eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he studied the long glen laid
out below him.
Reading>
Understanding,
Analysing and
Evaluating>
ENG2-17a,
ENG2-19a
Pick another good description from the book and say why you have
chosen it.
Quenelda’s tasks
On page 80 we read about how the Earl wants Quenelda to try and behave
more like a lady and they both argue about what she is to do with her life.
What four tasks does the Earl ask Quenelda to do? Which one do you think
she is most happy with and which one do you think she is least happy with
and how do you know this?
Reading>
Understanding,
Analysing and
Evaluating>
ENG2-17a,
ENG2-19a
2

Create your own Special Service!
The book mentions the SDS which is the Stealth Dragon Services, the
commanding regiment of the Seven Kingdoms. The author says in her blog
that they are meant to represent our own Special Armed Forces, the SAS.
Can you find out more information about the SAS using the Internet?
CfE
Reading>
Finding and
Using
Information>
LIT2-14a)
The SDS badge is featured on the author’s blog
http://thedragonwhispererdiaries.blogspot.com/.
Can you invent a name for your own special service and design a badge
for it?
About Lucinda Hare
Lucinda Hare is the author of The Dragon Whisperer. Take a look at the
information on the Scottish Book Trust’s website:
www.scottishbooktrust.com/contacts/lucinda-hare
1. Which animals did Lucinda watch when she was a child?
2. List three kinds of history which she likes?
3. What book did she read when she was eleven?
4. Who was Peter Jackson?
5. What was the name of the newspaper group she worked with in Cape
Town? Where is Cape Town?
6. List the pets Lucinda has.
7. Why does Lucinda use a laptop?
8. What is the second Dragonsdome book called?
Reading>
Understanding,
Analysing and
Evaluating>
ENG2-17a
3

Score the book
Please circle your score and add to get your total
STORY
Original idea 5 4 3 2 1
Action 5 4 3 2 1
Gripping 5 4 3 2 1
Involves the reader 5 4 3 2 1
Appeal to target audience 5 4 3 2 1
Credible ending 5 4 3 2 1
CHARACTERS
Believability 5 4 3 2 1
Consistency 5 4 3 2 1
Emotions 5 4 3 2 1
Reactions 5 4 3 2 1
Interactions with each other 5 4 3 2 1
STYLE
Readability 5 4 3 2 1
Atmosphere 5 4 3 2 1
Pace 5 4 3 2 1
Descriptions 5 4 3 2 1
Dialogues 5 4 3 2 1
TOTAL SCORE: _____ /80
4

Finding out about castles
In the Prologue at the start of the book, the author describes the castle where
the main character Quenelda was born. Using books from your school or
local library can you find the definitions of the following parts of a castle:
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
Beacon
Tower
Bailey
Gargoyle
Battlements
Fortresses
Belfry
CfE
Reading>
Finding and
Using
Information>
LIT2-14a
Character
Complete the following grid for each character whilst reading the book.
Description
(What they look like
and personality)
Reading>
Understanding,
Analysing and
Evaluating>
ENG2-17a,
ENG2-19a
Relationship with
other characters
List the situations that
they find themselves
in
What happens to
them in the end?
Other comments
5

Review the book!
Now you’ve finished the story, it’s time to think about whether you enjoyed
it, and also to think about the reasons for your opinion on the book.
Answer the questions below:
l
l
l
l
l
l
Did you believe in the conversations that the characters were having
with each other?
Did the story build up slowly, or dive into the action?
Were you able to guess what was going to happen next in the story?
Was the ending what you expected? Did it tie up all of the loose ends?
What have you learnt from this book?
Would you recommend this book to anyone else your own age?
CfE
Reading>
Understanding,
Analysing and
Evaluating>
ENG2-19a.
Reading
>Enjoyment
and Choice>
LIT2-11a
6