In Dragonspeak, Andrew Robinson creates a world where, instead of learning to ride a bike, you learn to walk and even sail on water. Young Drew crawls through a tunnel one day to get away from a couple of bullies to find himself in a world that seems strangely perfect, at first. All the rules that he had to follow at home do not apply in this other world and there are no fighting parents to deal with either. In the place of Drew’s parents are Miss Jane, who brings the young boy both trouble and happiness in this new world, and a servant made from clay.

Just as Drew is starting to get used to this new world, Miss Jane asks him to travel to another world to speak to dragons. On his way, Drew encounters talking mice, a quirky captain, talking elevator vines, people who live vertically on the side of a mountain, and many more intriguing characters. He soon realizes through his travels that everyone seems to be connected in some way and that the easy going world that Miss Jane has presented him when he first arrived is not all it seems to be.

Readers who have read Robinson’s My Island, My Memories will recognize many of the references he makes to his childhood. There are so many similarities that readers may see the main character as a version of the author himself when he was a child going on a fictitious journey.

The only issue with the parallel between the two books is that some sections seem almost word for word the same, but those who have not read both will find Dragonspeak an adventure to savor. Although, the chapter that describes the close knit community of cottages that Robinson grew up around in My Island, My Memories would allow readers to have a clearer understanding of the portions in Dragonspeak that draw on those memories.

Throughout Dragonspeak, Robinson also includes foreshadowing in many scenes, whether a play on names or a slip up in a character’s speech, to help readers from succumbing to the innocent view Drew has of the new world he finds himself in. Eventually, Drew learns to question the things that seem to be too good. Remembering his parents back home helps him through the troubles he faces.

He starts to miss them despite the overwhelming feeling Drew has held onto that his parents are not worried over his disappearance because they are too busy fighting. This ache, along with new discoveries from his otherworldly friends, is what brings him to make a decision that could change his life, both in this strange world and the one back home.

Overall, Robinson’s Dragonspeak is an enjoyable read with glorious discoveries of another world created by children going through hardship. Every child may feel at some point in their lives that they need to get away from their world and thus create another. But, like Drew, they soon must choose between what they have created and what they have left behind.

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Andrew John Robinson delves into his childhood memories in Martha’s Vineyard: My Island, My Memories. Nostalgia reigns throughout each story, but the entire collection also holds a warning to today’s generation as well as those of the future. By looking back at the joyful simpleness of the past, Robinson becomes more and more aware of the selfishness that encompasses the present day society. Whether it is the lack of imaginative play in favor of video games or the lack of a fulfilling childhood because of the fear of a legal dispute, Robinson leaves readers with a sense that they have forever lost a part of their childhood.

Younger generations may have trouble understanding a few of the memories that Robinson retells, especially the one about a carousel where you catch golden rings, but this does not take away from the intrigue of getting a glimpse into the personal life of an author. It has been said many times that writers include pieces of themselves in their writing whether they notice it or not.

Purposely putting personal stories out into the public takes great courage because it allows readers and reviewers alike to criticize them. Robinson may not give away great details of his personal problems, but reading between the lines allows readers to see that behind these nostalgic tales there were times of turmoil; a divorce that caused Robinson to question himself, as well as the pain of a father who took solace in alcohol.

Robinson does not dwell long on the discomforts of the past, though. He provides readers with glimpses into an era they may never see again. From a bakery that gave out free apple fritters at midnight to playing on the roofs of cottages to the familiarity of neighbors, Robinson makes readers jealous that they could not experience a similar childhood.

Coloring these memories, though, are realizations that they would not be the same if they were to occur in the present day. The free fritters turned into another way to make a profit, the roofs deemed too dangerous to climb upon, and that neighbor that was more like an uncle would be a suspected sex offender today.

As the memories progress, Robinson’s way of telling them becomes more and more appealing. More details are given in each chapter and the way he is able to recall the thoughts that go through a young boy’s mind is astounding. It allows readers to look at children and understand what in the world could be going through their ever developing minds. Sand becomes more than just a tool to build castles, now it can build race cars. Imagination is not the only process Robinson explores.

He also explores the thought process of fear, death, and realization through his childhood memories. The most poignant instance of a child’s thoughts comes when Robinson, at the age of seven, questions segregation. He continually asks his mother and father why there is a separation and even though they give him numerous explanations it all just doesn’t make sense. It is amazing how, at such a young age, a child has a feeling when something just isn’t right.

Overall, Martha’s Vineyard: My Island, My Memories is a refreshing collection of memories that the younger generations should read if they wish to understand their elders. Readers must take care to read the stories in the right tone, however, because Robinson uses a lot of “Yeah, I know”s and parentheticals to back up his points when he believes readers may find them unbelievable.

At times it may seem a bit defensive, but readers should remember that the memories presented in this book are extremely dear to the author. What person does not become at least a little defensive about something he or she cares dearly about?

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