5. Ice Fire

by Chris D'Lacey (421 pgs)
Scholastic 2003

Rating: 4

What do polar bears, hedgehogs, and dragons have in common? David Rain must find out because he's rolled up in the middle of it somehow. On the slightly more normal scale, David's girlfriend has gone away to Africa and a gothy new love interest named Zanna has appeared to confuse matters and a mysterious and sinister Aunt Gwyneth seems to be creating odd lapses in David's memory.

Ice Fire takes a slight sinister turn. While the reading level remains the same as the previous book, Fire Within, some of the concepts are much more complex. Despite being more convoluted, the plot remains easy to follow. The feel of the story is almost completely different, however. Fire Within was light-hearted and cute. Ice Fire is darker and more serious.

Recommended to mature middle schoolers and high school kids. This is a nice introduction to fantasy literature and appropriate for any school setting.