The dragon on the train by Ben Brooks

Elliot is ten years old when his beloved Grandma Ellen passes away. She was Elliot’s best (and only) friend and he doesn’t understand how everyone just expects him to keep going through the motions of daily life without her.  Elliot and Grandma Ellen had always shared a love of music, but now music just makes Elliot sad, so he avoids it.

One morning he finds a mystery ticket under his pillow and that night Kimorin, a small, well-dressed talking dragon, appears in his room. This leads to a twisty, fantasy, time-travel train adventure which sees Elliot visit important people and events from his past and future. Elliot learns how everything and everyone are connected and how important music, family and love are in keeping the ‘Spark’ inside him alive.

The story does dwell on the loss of the grandparent – Elliot repeatedly returns to his grief. But Kimorin, and the others Elliot meets along the way, lighten the mood, focusing on what’s important and enabling Elliot to see a positive future. The steps in working through the grief are gentle, with a touch of humour, and will undoubtedly resonate with children who are dealing with grief in their own lives.

Kimorin is the real star of this book. He is fabulous, funny, and wise – from calling Elliot ‘Olio’, to his warm and informal style of speaking, and his dry humour and sage advice. At one point Elliot despairs at the thought of everyone dying and not being able to do anything to save them. Kimorin says 'Everyone dies, Olio … this chapter don’t go on for ever, not for anyone. The trick is just findin’ ways to cram as many lives and feelin’s and experiences into it as possible'.

Ben Brooks is the well-known author of the Dare to Be Different stories. In this new book he appeals to both reluctant and avid readers, weaving together loss, humour and hope in a clever adventure story with heart.

Themes: Grief, Fantasy, Adventure, Time travel, Music.

Kylie Grant