The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin and Yvonne Gilbert

George R. R. Martin is one of those flexible writers who seems to be able to adapt to a wide variety of mediums. The Ice Dragon is a children’s book that was based on one of Martin’s stories more than two decades ago and is illustrated by Yvonne Gilbert. What makes this book interesting is that it is a coming-of-age story that works on many levels and yet doesn’t condescend nor preachy. All the characters are well rounded and deep and while Martin does have a reputation for tragedy, it simply works here and I wouldn’t be surprised if a child reader will shed a tear upon turning the last page. Of course children’s books wouldn’t be complete without the illustrations that grace its pages. Yvonne Gilbert adopts a style that gives the book an archaic feel that fits the “coldness” of the story. To the uninitiated, the drawings might look like simple sketches but anyone who’s seen Yvonne Gilbert’s previous work will know that she is capable of a lot more and that the art direction in this matter was by choice rather than a lack of ability. Honestly, The Ice Dragon is a relatively long book for children’s books standards but the words are simple yet precise enough to keep the reader’s attention—either children or adult—and is worth a second or even a third reading.

Rating: 4/5