Eragon by Christopher Paolini

We first meet Eragon as a poor farm boy on a hunting expedition to provide meat for his family. He finds an unusual blue stone on his way and is gratified to realize that it should be worth enough to buy supplies for the family. The butcher in his village will not accept it in payment, so he takes it home where he later discovers that it is not a stone at all but an egg. He determines to keep the dragon that hatches from the egg a secret from his family and forges a close relationship with the dragon, Saphira. The book details the tragedy and adventure that follow as Eragon reaches maturity and realizes that he is fated to be a Dragon Rider. If you enjoy fantasy, dragons, and magic, you will like this exciting story. It is interesting that it was written by Christopher Paolini after he graduated from high school at the age of fifteen after being home-schooled for his entire life. The story continues in Eldest.