Small Flames: Enzo the Red Dragon

Small Flames: Enzo the Red Dragon Written by A.M. Luzzader Illustration by Joshua Bostwick

People may come and go in your life. But, the ones who stay by your side when you’re at your lowest and most challenging times are your true friends. Even at a very young age, we are taught the value of friendship. Enzo proves that when his loyalty and commitment are being tested. Small Flames is a story of friendship and loyalty.  


Enzo and Ajax are red dragons. They are both of the same age, hatched in the same nesting cave. They have been best friends since they were hatchlings. Apart from being close buddies, the two friends also share the same dream. They both desire to become Valor Dragons because they want to serve and guard their realm from danger.  For Enzo and Ajax to qualify for the Valor Dragon status, their fighting skills need to be tested. They must compete with other dragon types in a tournament. Whoever is the most able fighter can be admitted to the Valor Dragons.   The annual tournament finally comes, and the two ten-year-old friends eagerly submit themselves in the qualifying rounds. They take a two-hour flight to Fire Ridge where the tournament is held. There, they meet several other dragons who want to compete, too. In the course of their stay at the Fire Ridge, Enzo comes to a certain realization. He says,

“We must also fight fairly... We fight to show our skill and valor.”
Enzo’s statement catches everyone by surprise. Spectators didn’t see it coming. His words created a huge impact on everyone present at the Fire Ridge Tournament. 

The Book and the Author

A.M. Luzzader is a very good storyteller, no doubt. In Small Flames, she brings her readers on a fantastic ride through the dragon realm. Her vivid descriptions of each scene virtually draw the reader right to where the action takes place. Luzzader keeps her writing style simple for Middle-Grade readers to easily grasp and hold their attention. The texts are also big, making reading interesting. Likewise, the author establishes the major characters’ persona well and consistently throughout the story. Most of all, I appreciate the author’s effort to inject important lessons for children to learn. Small Flames teaches young readers the value of friendship, kindness, honesty, and loyalty. Moreover, the huge illustrations are beautiful and attractive. They give young readers a better picture of what dragons look like. [The copy I received, however, is in black and white. I presume the illustrations in the actual book are in full colors]  Overall, I give Small Flames: Enzo the Red Dragon a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend the book to readers 8 - 12 years old. Parents or guardians may also be interested in reading this book to their younger kids. Small Flames is, indeed, a good read for the entire family.

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