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Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara
James Gurney
Picture Book
Ages 12 and up
Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2007, 0-7407-6431-4
Arthur Denison is thrilled because he has finally got permission from the Emperor of Chandra to travel to that secretive city on the coast. For many years no one has been able to visit Chandra and this is a unique opportunity. Arthur can only take Bix, the Protoceratops as his companion, and though Lee Crabb begs to be taken along, Arthur refuses. Arthur does not trust Crabb and knows full well that Crabb cannot be relied upon to do what is best should a difficult situation arise.
Soon Arthur and Bix are able to leave Waterfall City and begin their journey towards Chandra. For a while all goes well. They meet some interesting people and dinosaurs and see some extraordinary sights. Then, in Sauropolis, disaster strikes. Their precious invitation to Chandra is stolen. Arthur is certain that Crabb has stolen the vital piece of paper but there seems to be little that can be done about the situation. Though there is a chance that they will now be turned away at the border, Arthur and Bix decide to press on.
Soon they meet up with an old musician who advises them not to attempt to enter Chandra by traveling down the Belt Road. Without their letter of permission they are sure to be disappointed. He suggests that they find a back way to get there instead. So the travelers head for the coast, leaving the ancient road behind them. After a pleasant rest with congenial companions Bix and Arthur set off to make the dangerous trip through the Blackwood Flats. Full of meat-eating carnivores of various kinds, this is not a place to linger.
Though they emerge from the Blackwood Flats unscathed Arthur and Bix still have a hard journey ahead of them as they travel into the Forbidden Mountains. It is only after a hard and cold climb that they finally reach the mountain retreat of Thermala. Then, when the weather eases, they head for the Eastern Mountains which will lead them to the more remote western edge of Chandra. Hopefully there won’t be border guards waiting for them at this crossing point. Perhaps then Arthur and Bix will be able to reach their hoped for destination
Without a doubt this third book about the extraordinary island of Dinotopia is a joy to both read and to look at. Once again James Gurney has created a work of art which will delight readers who love to take trips into fantasy worlds. This time a fantastic journey is made and as Arthur Denison travels across the island of Dinotopia he, and we along with him, sees all kinds of marvels. Beautiful full page paintings, cross-sections of buildings, and all kinds of other carefully annotated illustrations pack the pages as we accompany Arthur on his adventures through his entries in his travel journal.
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