This book pulls you in immediately with a fantasy premise
reminiscent of the well-known short story The Lottery. Every year, a baby is
abandoned in the forest. No one objects to the tradition. Until one mother does.
But, despite her fighting, her baby is sacrificed, and she’s locked away. But
the story is far from over.
It’s simply beautiful. The book holds a folkloric
atmosphere where readers are surrounded by found family; positive
relationships; a simply enormous dragon; a swamp monster; a Luna; Grandmama; a
mad woman; paper birds; unconditional love, love that never divides but only multiplies; and
abundant, healing hope.
This not only was my
favorite book of the year, but it will be the book I name whenever someone asks
me, “What is your all-time favorite book?”
THE NO 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER
'This beautifully written, darkly funny coming-of-age story will enchant and entertain' Daily Mail
Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the Forest, Xan, is in fact a good witch who shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest,…
The balance of humor and big life issues paired with
whimsical world-building makes one feel they have been transported to a world
crafted by the minds of Roald Dahl and Hayao
Miyazaki.
The story follows young Ichabod, who is whisked away to a
different world after discovering a dragon egg. Things are topsy-turvy with
bickering dragons impacting the weather, and Ichabod sets off to help. But on
his journey, he discovers a thing or two about what family means and what it
means to be true to yourself.
It’s perfect for all types of readers, and, as an
educator, I know this book is fantastic to engage even reluctant middle-grade
readers; just don’t read on an empty stomach; you’ll be craving some of Granny’s
homemade jam.
Season of Dragons-- #1 in the Magic Shoebox series What would you do if you found a dragon egg at your bus stop?
Ichabod Surname never imagined he’d be spending a Friday afternoon cross-country skiing with a grandma dragon—but that’s exactly what happens when he finds a giant egg on the way to school.
For as long as he can remember, he has been at war with his siblings because he thinks outside of the box. He stays invisible at home and school, but for the first time in his life, he may be the key to restoring the weather…
I know how it feels
to believe you don’t belong, to see the world differently than most, and to stand
out when you want more than anything to fit in.
Nova Hawthorne, the primary
protagonist, embodies this misguided belief about herself, too. But Nova has to
set aside her fears when she learns that magic is real and the people she loves
most and the whole world are in danger.
Through Nova’s
story, readers are shown that no one must prove themselves worthy of love, we’ve
all already been redeemed, and we are loved just as we are. Not only are there
wonderful, poignant lessons beautifully woven into this young adult portal
fantasy narrative, but there is disabled and neurodivergent representation as
well!
Fifteen-year-old Nova Hawthorne sees sounds, a condition called Synesthesia, a trait that’s branded her a freak. But there’s a reason she doesn’t fit anywhere in this world – she’s from another one. And prophecy says she’s destined to destroy them both.
Can Nova uncover the truth about the power hiding inside her without destroying everything and everyone she loves?
If you enjoyed C.S. Lewis' Narnia books, you’ll love this fantastic journey to a world where magic still exists, wonders abound, and differences can be the greatest power of all.
Kayla E. Green is a school librarian, author, and poet living in eastern North Carolina with her husband and their furbabies. When she isn’t writing, reading, or taking photos for her bookstagram, she loves singing loudly and off-key to KLove Radio, napping, and pretending she’s a unicorn. As a Christian, her faith greatly shapes her worldview which in turn influences her writing.
