An outcast princess must earn her birthright as a hero of the realm—in this “utterly engrossing” Newbery Medal–winning fantasy (The New York Times).

Aerin is an outcast in her own father’s court, daughter of the foreign woman who, it was rumored, was a witch, and enchanted the king to marry her.

She makes friends with her father’s lame, retired warhorse, Talat, and discovers an old, overlooked, and dangerously imprecise recipe for dragon-fire-proof ointment in a dusty corner of her father’s library. Two years, many canter circles to the left to strengthen Talat’s weak leg, and many burnt twigs (and a few fingers) secretly experimenting with the ointment recipe later, Aerin is present when someone comes from an outlying village to report a marauding dragon to the king. Aerin slips off alone to fetch her horse, her sword, and her fireproof ointment . . .

But modern dragons, while formidable opponents fully capable of killing a human being, are small and accounted vermin. There is no honor in killing dragons. The great dragons are a tale out of ancient history.

That is, until the day that the king is riding out at the head of an army. A weary man on an exhausted horse staggers into the courtyard where the king’s troop is assembled: “The Black Dragon has come . . . Maur, who has not been seen for generations, the last of the great dragons, great as a mountain. Maur has awakened.”

WINNER OF PRESTIGIOUS SILVER MEDAL IN 2018 INTERNATIONAL READERS FAVORITE NOVEL COMPETITION!

The one book to read during the time of coronavirus! Entertaining. Inspiring. Strengthening. Equally enjoyable for adults and children.

As they grow up, Ron, Dovey, and Emil face great danger in a thrilling tale of grit, pluck, love, and glory to get Ron to his distance running, Olympic marathon dream.

Amazon Review: “If you’ve seen the movie “Rocky”, you’ll remember the scene where Rocky runs through the city with all the neighborhood’s kids cheering and running with him. That’s how you feel when reading this novel, like those kids cheering for the champion, in this case Ronnie, an underdog who struggles and finds his place in the world in a very personal and heartwarming way.”

The world contrives against a boy named Ron Campbell. His legs are mangled in a wreck and paralyzed. The people he loves die. His remaining relatives hate him.

Only his indomitable spirit sustains him – he will attempt every obstacle, face every danger, and answer every challenge to pursue his impossible dream of Olympic marathon champion. But nothing can prepare him for what awaits.

An epic journey of endurance lays ahead where he will learn that a true friend, whether animal or human, is the real prize of the world, and the mystical power of the spirit can work miracles.

The award-winning novel from Richard Ferguson is a new addition to the great tales of courage against all odds by Philip Pullman, Brandon Sanderson, and J.K. Rowling.

If anyone who reads this novel knows Clint Eastwood, I would appreciate it very much if you would tell him about it and get him to read it. When I wrote the character of Grandad in the story, I pictured Clint Eastwood in my mind. I believe the story would be the best movie Clint Eastwood has ever made.