Johan is off to visit his Grandpa Siggy—a charismatic, impetuous Icelander with a big secret: He took a dragon egg with him when he immigrated to America. As fate would have it, Dreki hatched just a few hours after Johan was born, magically linking the two. But Dreki was kept hidden.
Now, many years later, the time has come for Dreki to journey home, and for Johan to discover his ancestry through a life-changing trip to Iceland. But the clock is ticking as both Siggy and Dreki’s health is in jeopardy. It’s up to Johan to make sure both of them get home safely and for the secret of Dreki to remain. This intergenerational, cross-cultural coming of age novel explores aspects of Icelandic folklore while dealing sensitively with the themes of aging and returning home.
Dreki: My Icelandic Dragon is a middle-grade fantasy adventure that blends intergenerational bonds, family heritage, dragon (and other mythical creatures) folklore, magical realism, and Icelandic culture! Readers of every age will learn something new from this book while being heartwarmingly entertained! The story follows 12-year-old Johan as he heads off to stay with his Grandpa Siggy in Minnesota. But Siggy soon reveals a secret he’s been hiding—when he emigrated from Iceland, he brought a large egg he found in a cave, and the egg hatched into Dreki, a baby dragon, just hours after Johan was born. Siggy and Johan must return Dreki home to Iceland in a race against time, with both the dragon’s welfare and Siggy’s health at stake.
Johan is an animated, curious middle-grader who readers will enjoy watching “come of age” in the story. His strong bond with his grandfather is relatable and heartfelt, and the two have more in common than Johan does with his own parents, making the relationship special. Grandpa Siggy is a charismatic and sometimes impetuous character that readers will love—he tells stories of his time growing up in Iceland and varies the weight of generational memory and responsibility, which he’s reading to pass on to Johan. Siggy’s health deterioration feels real, and his stubbornness in pushing on is something many people who have older parents will relate to and empathize with. Dreki, the dragon, not only serves as a magical creature who Johan has a special connection to but also as a symbol of the family’s heritage and responsibility. For a middle grade novel the character arcs are emotional and genuine—Johan learns to trust, to act independently, and to value his generational responsibility and Icelandic roots. The quest to bring Dreki to Iceland begins as a playful family secret and ends up as a mission of love and legacy—the last chapters are especially emotional, so be prepared!
The enchanting Iceland setting is not just a backdrop but a living, breathing character that readers will be drawn to. For Grandpa Siggy, it’s a spiritual homecoming, as Iceland is his birthplace and the place of fond memories. For Johan, it’s a place of discovering more of his identity and bridging who he is and where he comes from. The book has amazing folklore—and not only of Icelandic dragon lore, but also of Icelandic elves, trolls, and the mythical “Guardians of Iceland” (who are now on Icelandic money). In addition, Siggy uses a lot of Icelandic phrases throughout the book—and to add to the immersion and fun factor for readers, there’s an Icelandic dictionary at the end of the book repeating all the same Icelandic words spoken in the story!
The story is fast-paced throughout and will keep readers of all ages engaged. Once Johan and Siggy begin planning their journey and the logistics of traveling with a dragon, the story picks up momentum and tension—and with a time-sensitive mission, the stakes remain high. Once in Iceland, the tension is balanced with cultural discovery, fascinating folklore, and Siggy’s health crisis. The ending is emotional and gives meaningful resolution that will linger long after the final page. The author’s note at the end is definitely worth a read, as she describes how the book came to be after her own experience in Iceland!
Overall, Dreki: My Icelandic Dragon is an emotionally satisfying, heartwarming adventure that’s the perfect mix of magical escapism and real-world intergenerational family dynamics. This is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys middle-grade fantasy, dragon and Icelandic folklore, and stories about family legacy, cultural memory, and growing up. If all this sounds intriguing, grab a copy and get prepared to be swept away into a world of Icelandic magic!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Dreki: My Icelandic Dragon is narrated by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, whose renowned for his work in middle grade titles.
Sanderlin portrays protagonist Johan with a youthful voice full of curiosity and an undertone of tentativeness, capturing Johan’s initial insecurity about visiting his grandfather and the unexpected secrets that come after. There’s both hesitation and awe conveyed in Johan’s voice when he discovers and gets to know Dreki, and this immersive narration draws listeners right into the experience with Johan. As the story unfolds and Johan gains confidence—connecting with his grandfather, discovering the dragon, and embracing his heritage—Sanderlin uses a more assured tone, making the character’s arc genuine and audible. During more emotional scenes at the end of the book, Sanderlin ups his performance another notch—delivering heartfelt, endearing dialogue that perfectly captures the final scenes! By the end, Johan is wonderfully portrayed as someone who has grown but still has the warmth and wonder of a child.
The real highlight of Sanderlin’s performance, though, is his portrayal of Grandpa Siggy. He gives Siggy a gravelly, worldly-sounding voice that perfectly captures an old man who’s still playful but weathered by time. The character’s accent and the Icelandic words he speaks sound authentic and bring the character vividly to life. If all of that’s not enough, at the end of the audiobook Sanderlin narrates an Icelandic dictionary (yes, you read that right!!), repeating and translating all the Icelandic words in the story! It’s an impressive feat given the long list of words and their difficult pronunciations, and it makes the audiobook really “one of a kind”!
All the side characters, including Johan’s parents, Siggy’s nosy neighbor, and the Icelandic folk, are all given distinct, compelling voices—but they never steal the focus of Johan’s story! Lastly, Sanderlin voices Dreki’s presence and scenes with sound effects, an affectionate tone, and appropriate pauses when the story focuses on the creature—bringing Dreki to life as a magical, living creator that listeners can easily picture in their minds!
Sanderlin paces the audiobook thoughtfully for a middle-grade audience, but readers of all ages will remain engaged, especially with the story’s fast pacing. Sanderlin picks up the pace during travel scenes and time-sensitive moments at the end, while narrating family scenes and dialogue with slower pacing to emphasize their heartfelt vibe.
If you’re considering this book, Mark Sanderlin’s outstanding character portrayals, pacing, and impressive narration of Icelandic language and culture make the audiobook the ultimate format for enjoying this wonderful story. This is an excellent choice for fans of character-driven middle-grade fantasy, intergenerational stories, and standout narrator performances that convey a protagonist’s growth through heritage, family, and self-discovery! If this all sounds good, grab a copy and be swept away by Sanderlin’s enchanting performance and Iceland’s magic!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Dreki: My Icelandic Dragon is narrated by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, whose renowned for his work in middle grade titles.
Sanderlin portrays protagonist Johan with a youthful voice full of curiosity and an undertone of tentativeness, capturing Johan’s initial insecurity about visiting his grandfather and the unexpected secrets that come after. There’s both hesitation and awe conveyed in Johan’s voice when he discovers and gets to know Dreki, and this immersive narration draws listeners right into the experience with Johan. As the story unfolds and Johan gains confidence—connecting with his grandfather, discovering the dragon, and embracing his heritage—Sanderlin uses a more assured tone, making the character’s arc genuine and audible. During more emotional scenes at the end of the book, Sanderlin ups his performance another notch—delivering heartfelt, endearing dialogue that perfectly captures the final scenes! By the end, Johan is wonderfully portrayed as someone who has grown but still has the warmth and wonder of a child.
The real highlight of Sanderlin’s performance, though, is his portrayal of Grandpa Siggy. He gives Siggy a gravelly, worldly-sounding voice that perfectly captures an old man who’s still playful but weathered by time. The character’s accent and the Icelandic words he speaks sound authentic and bring the character vividly to life. If all of that’s not enough, at the end of the audiobook Sanderlin narrates an Icelandic dictionary (yes, you read that right!!), repeating and translating all the Icelandic words in the story! It’s an impressive feat given the long list of words and their difficult pronunciations, and it makes the audiobook really “one of a kind”!
All the side characters, including Johan’s parents, Siggy’s nosy neighbor, and the Icelandic folk, are all given distinct, compelling voices—but they never steal the focus of Johan’s story! Lastly, Sanderlin voices Dreki’s presence and scenes with sound effects, an affectionate tone, and appropriate pauses when the story focuses on the creature—bringing Dreki to life as a magical, living creator that listeners can easily picture in their minds!
Sanderlin paces the audiobook thoughtfully for a middle-grade audience, but readers of all ages will remain engaged, especially with the story’s fast pacing. Sanderlin picks up the pace during travel scenes and time-sensitive moments at the end, while narrating family scenes and dialogue with slower pacing to emphasize their heartfelt vibe.
If you’re considering this book, Mark Sanderlin’s outstanding character portrayals, pacing, and impressive narration of Icelandic language and culture make the audiobook the ultimate format for enjoying this wonderful story. This is an excellent choice for fans of character-driven middle-grade fantasy, intergenerational stories, and standout narrator performances that convey a protagonist’s growth through heritage, family, and self-discovery! If this all sounds good, grab a copy and be swept away by Sanderlin’s enchanting performance and Iceland’s magic!
The audiobook of Dreki: My Icelandic Dragon is narrated by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, whose renowned for his work in middle grade titles.
Sanderlin portrays protagonist Johan with a youthful voice full of curiosity and an undertone of tentativeness, capturing Johan’s initial insecurity about visiting his grandfather and the unexpected secrets that come after. There’s both hesitation and awe conveyed in Johan’s voice when he discovers and gets to know Dreki, and this immersive narration draws listeners right into the experience with Johan. As the story unfolds and Johan gains confidence—connecting with his grandfather, discovering the dragon, and embracing his heritage—Sanderlin uses a more assured tone, making the character’s arc genuine and audible. During more emotional scenes at the end of the book, Sanderlin ups his performance another notch—delivering heartfelt, endearing dialogue that perfectly captures the final scenes! By the end, Johan is wonderfully portrayed as someone who has grown but still has the warmth and wonder of a child.
The real highlight of Sanderlin’s performance, though, is his portrayal of Grandpa Siggy. He gives Siggy a gravelly, worldly-sounding voice that perfectly captures an old man who’s still playful but weathered by time. The character’s accent and the Icelandic words he speaks sound authentic and bring the character vividly to life. If all of that’s not enough, at the end of the audiobook Sanderlin narrates an Icelandic dictionary (yes, you read that right!!), repeating and translating all the Icelandic words in the story! It’s an impressive feat given the long list of words and their difficult pronunciations, and it makes the audiobook really “one of a kind”!
All the side characters, including Johan’s parents, Siggy’s nosy neighbor, and the Icelandic folk, are all given distinct, compelling voices—but they never steal the focus of Johan’s story! Lastly, Sanderlin voices Dreki’s presence and scenes with sound effects, an affectionate tone, and appropriate pauses when the story focuses on the creature—bringing Dreki to life as a magical, living creator that listeners can easily picture in their minds!
Sanderlin paces the audiobook thoughtfully for a middle-grade audience, but readers of all ages will remain engaged, especially with the story’s fast pacing. Sanderlin picks up the pace during travel scenes and time-sensitive moments at the end, while narrating family scenes and dialogue with slower pacing to emphasize their heartfelt vibe.
If you’re considering this book, Mark Sanderlin’s outstanding character portrayals, pacing, and impressive narration of Icelandic language and culture make the audiobook the ultimate format for enjoying this wonderful story. This is an excellent choice for fans of character-driven middle-grade fantasy, intergenerational stories, and standout narrator performances that convey a protagonist’s growth through heritage, family, and self-discovery! If this all sounds good, grab a copy and be swept away by Sanderlin’s enchanting performance and Iceland’s magic!
