Why Crissi loves this book
"When Women Were Dragons" by Kelly Barnhill is a genre-bending tale that mixes fantasy and social commentary, exploring themes of empowerment, rage, and transformation. Set in a 1950s America where women mysteriously transform into fierce, fire-breathing dragons, this novel is both a powerful feminist allegory and an enchanting story of personal liberation. Through the eyes of young Alex, who grapples with the mysterious "Mass Dragoning" that claimed her aunt, Barnhill delves into suppressed female anger, the cost of societal expectations, and the strength found in self-discovery. The prose is poetic yet sharp, rich with emotion and wonder, drawing readers into a world where the boundaries between humanity and mythology blur. This book takes the reader on a bold, imaginative journey that is not only entertaining, but moving and inspiring. A must-read for anyone who’s ever felt the call to unleash their inner power after life tells them they are powerless.
7 authors picked When Women Were Dragons as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
A KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF 2022 • A rollicking feminist tale set in 1950s America where thousands of women have spontaneously transformed into dragons, exploding notions of a woman’s place in the world and expanding minds about accepting others for who they really are. • The first adult novel by the Newbery award-winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Alex Green is a young girl in a world much like ours, except for its most seminal event: the Mass Dragoning of 1955, when hundreds of thousands of ordinary wives and mothers sprouted wings, scales, and talons; left a…
