Children are disappearing from the city of Seddon without a trace. The
city gates are locked and guarded, but still the children disappear. One
night, Seeger and his friend Boyd are taken and they at last understand
the mystery. The abductors are using dragons! Two days later they arrive
at the city of Midrash, where everything serves the military machine -
including children who are forced to become soldiers. In a world in
which they are daily confronted with violence and the loss of innocence,
Seeger and Boyd struggle to maintain their humanity and their
friendship. Their only hope of escape lies with a unique gift Seeger has
discovered - but one which he must keep secret from his captors. He can
speak to dragons. We recognise the invaluable role that public
campaigning - and books such as this - that bring the reality of child
recruitment to public attention - have in keeping this important issue
in the international media and in influencing change. From the
postscript on Child Soldiers by Rev Tim Costello, Chief Advocate, World
Vision Australia What an innovative way to give a voice to child
soldiers! Yet there is a lightness here that pierces the dark.' Rosanne
Hawke, author of Wolfchild, Across the Creek and The Leopard Princess
Beast-Speaker is a fantasy adventure that, although confronting, also
has hope, heroes and courage. Lynn Stringer, author of The Verindon
Trilogy Beast-Speaker is a compelling novel that I couldn't put down
after I started reading it. With a well-developed plot and characters
you'll come to love, it's one of the best books I've ever read, if not
the best. Kayla Daking, aged 15. Wendy Noble has an Advanced Diploma of
Education, a Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies and a Master of Arts
in Creative Writing, but can't remember her own phone number. She has
been a primary school teacher, a librarian in a Theological College, has
sold women's fashion and has sung folk music in country pubs. Wendy and
her husband live in Gawler, South Australia. You can visit Wendy on her
Facebook page: @AuthorWendyNoble or on her blog: www.wendynoble.com.
