an awesome book! there is a bit of swearing, but all in all its great. kids who love fantasy and adventure will cherish this book forever. although it takes a while to get into it, its definately worth reading. there is a bit of swearing and kissing, but its really good on the whole.
The Merchant of Death: The Pendragon Series, Book 1
(2006, Fiction - Fantasy, Written by D. J. MacHale)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Stock story and characters, but still gripping.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 10 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Merchant of Death: The Pendragon Series, Book 1 was written by Matt Berman
Parents need to know that there's a fair amount of fantasy violence here, and numerous killings by spear, arrow, and explosives.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the formulaic plot and stock characters. Can you think of other stories that follow this same formula? Also, the females in this story are all pretty much Amazons. Is this an empowering portrayal?
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More on The Merchant of Death: The Pendragon Series, Book 1
Book Summary
When Bobby Pendragon is taken by his Uncle Press to an abandoned subway station in the Bronx, he discovers that he, like his uncle, is a Traveler, with the ability to ride "flumes" through space and time. Press takes Bobby through a flume to a world called Denduron, where an evil Traveler called Saint Dane is inciting war between the ruling Bedoowan and the virtually enslaved Milago miners. But almost as soon as they arrive, Press is captured by the Bedoowan and scheduled for execution.
Bobby doesn't understand anything of what's going on, and all he wants to do is go home. But, challenged by Loor, a warrior-Traveler from another world, he hatches a plan to rescue Press from the Bedoowan stronghold. Getting Press back, though, is only the beginning of stopping Saint Dane's plans for sowing chaos across the planet and throughout the universe.
Is It Any Good?
Author D.J. MacHale is the creator of such shows as Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Ghostwriter, and his screen work has given him a shrewd sense of pacing -- though the book is overlong, it will keep young fans of the fantasy/adventure genre breathlessly turning the pages. The story careens along entertainingly, and parts of it are quite exciting.
The downside of the video connection is that the characters are from Central Casting, and the plot follows a stock formula. It's a good formula, as formulas go, but it does give the books a certain been-there-done-that feel, exacerbated by the bizarre refusal of everyone to explain anything to Bobby, an obvious and annoying plot device. Still, it's plenty of fun, and young fans of the genre aren't looking for surprises anyway.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Publication date: 03/19/2006
Number of pages: 374, Price: $5.99 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 10, Read Alone: 11
Number of pages: 374, Price: $5.99 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 10, Read Alone: 11
Our Members Say
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
a great book!
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Good but bad!
It has kissing, bad words, suicides, monsters, smoking ect. But it is a good book.
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My highlights are:
PERFECT
Awesome book. Read this one and couldn't stop. I am on the ninth on now
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I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it
good book the rest of the series is even more compelling
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My highlights are:
Perfect For every Kid over 11!
Great book. It makes you feel like you have gone to another planet. I love how it goes back and forth from Second Earth and Denduron each journal.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 50% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 50% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 50% | of parents say it's educational |
| 50% | of parents say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking |
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