There was a sudden shifting sound from the back of the cave, a heavy sandpapery scraping noise. Then there came a soft hiss in the darkness — the sound of a lighted blowtorch, thought Zachary — and a red-and-yellow flare of flame. The interior of the cave leaped into light. Before the children’s astonished eyes, a vast expanse of gold flashed and glittered. There before them lay a long reptilian body, curled comfortably on the cave floor, with a coiled golden tail, ending in a flat, arrowhead-shaped point. Two eyes — sharp slits of jade green — glared at them out of the darkness.
“It’s called Drake’s Hill, young man,” said a deep, raspy voice, “because ‘drake’ is an ancient and honorable name for ‘dragon‘. The hill is named after ME.”
Three siblings, a secluded island off the coast of Maine, a Victorian mansion, a secret cave, and a dragon with three heads — who each have a story to tell! What more could you ask for?? How about a sequel: The Return of the Dragon, 160 pages (2005). 
These books are neither scary nor high action fantasy, but they are well-written and interesting for young middle grade students.
Middle Grade reading level, 160 – 192 pages, published in 1998 & 2005.
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