Garden of the Purple Dragon

infobox Book |
name = Garden of the Purple Dragon
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translator =


image_caption =
author = Carole Wilkinson
illustrator =
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country = Australia
language = English
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genre = Children's Fantasy novel
publisher = Black Dog Books
release_date = September 2005
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 352 pp (first edition, hardback)
isbn = ISBN 0330441116
preceded_by = Dragon Keeper
followed_by = Dragon Moon

Garden of the Purple Dragon is a fantasy novel by Carole Wilkinson, published on September, 2005 by Macmillan Publishers and aimed at pre-teens. It is the second in the Dragon Keeper series and the prequel to Dragon Moon.

Below is a synopsis of the book, provided by [http://www.amazon.co.uk Amazon.co] :

"Ping is in hiding on the mountain slopes of Tai Shan, carrying out her promise to look after the baby purple dragon, Kai. She spends long days catching worms and caterpillars and tending to little Kai. But her peaceful life comes to an end when the imperial guards catch her, and take her back to Ming Yang lodge. New friends - and enemies - lie in wait and Ping has never felt so alone, or so confused. Does she have the strength to fulfil her destiny as the Dragonkeeper - and find sanctuary for Kai? "

Plot

Ping is living on the top of Tai Shan mountain trying to raise Kai, the baby dragon. They are living happily until one day, their goat is found with its throat slit. Ping and Kai flee but they run into the necromancer. After Hua uses his newfound powers to hold off the necromancer while Ping and Kai escape. Ping, Kai and Hua are later captured by guards and taken to Liu Che, Emperor of China, and Ping's 'friend' who drops all charges against them. Ping stays in the palace and meets Princess Yangxin and the two become friends, and the Princess begins to teach Ping how to read and write, since she is unable to do so already. Ping eventually convinces the Emperor to search for any other Dragon Keepers, she hopes to find her family. She, Kai and Dong Fang Suo (Fatso as Kai had began to call him) go to a village in search of the next Dragon Keeper. But they do not find Ping's family, instead Jun is taken to be instructed as a DragonKeeper, Ping becomes jealous when Kai seems to prefer Jun over her. Dong Fang Suo attempts to kill Ping but she survives and returns to the palace for Kai. However the Necromancer is there, bleeding Kai. They duel and Ping, with out Kai, escapes to warn the Emperor who reveals he is in league with the Necromancer. She is stripped of her position and taken off to be sacrificed. During the sacrifice, Dong Fang Suo (who later says it was the Emperor who told him to kill Ping), Jun, Hua and Kai come to her aid and they defeat the necromancer though Dong Fang Suo is sadly killed, while Jun takes his body away, Ping and Kai (Ping had let Hua go free with other rats) escape with Princess Yangxin , with the final destination of the Kunlun Mountains in sight.

Major Characters

*Ping - Formerly a slave girl, although she is now the Dragon Keeper of Kai. She is unsure of her position as Dragon Keeper but tries the best she can.
*Hua - A pet rat of Ping. In 'Dragon Keeper' he was fatally wounded and Ping sent him with Danzi to the Isle of Blest. He was sent back to Ping by Danzi in 'Garden of the Purple Dragon'. He has developed the power to shoot flaming spit balls and his fur and eyes have become blue.
*Long Danzi - An old and wise green dragon, father of Kai and formerly in the care of Ping. He is currently at the Isle of Blest but continues to guide and advise Ping through dreams.
*Kai - A young purple dragon, son of Long Danzi. He is a young dragon, recently born and lacks maturity. He has the ability to perfect his shapechanging.
*"The Necromancer" - An evil necromancer who is in search of Kai and Danzi in hope to sell their body parts for gold. Forms allegiance with Liu Che to help with his search for immortality and dies when he is poisoned his body through the livers he implants in himself to increase his abilities.
*Liu Che - The emperor of the Han kingdom. He is desperately searching for eternal youth so he can rule his kingdom for the good of all forever but this gradually becomes an obsession to live forever.
*Princess Yangxin - The sister of Liu Che. Formerly betrothed to Duke of Yan until she left him for another, disgracing the Imperial family and has been sent back to China. She has a mortal fear of rats because after the Duke of Yan killed her lover, he hung the man up before her and forced her to watch everyday as rats devoured him. Her palace haunt is the spiral bamboo pavilion.
*Dong Fang Suo - The imperial magician. He initially attempts to kill Ping but later helps her in the defeat of the necromancer.
*Jun- A boy that Dong Fang Suo and Ping meets when searching for the Yu family. He is said to have the Dragon Keeping skills claimed by his parents but later, he turns out to be a false Dragon Keeper.

Awards

*2006 West Australian Young Book Readers Awards - Winner
*2006 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards - Shortlisted
*2006 Kids Own Australian Literary Awards (KOALA) - Shortlisted
*2006 COOL (Canberra's Own Outstanding List) Award - Shortlisted

ee also

*Carole Wilkinson
*Dragon Keeper