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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This wasn’t what I was expecting! It started off rather slow, but about 60% in the story really picks up. The story itself focuses on a young girl by the name of Grace who ends up moving to Hong Kong after a family tragedy. While there she learns that the fantastical myths her father used to share with her may actually hold some truth. This story has some great aspects to it including the friendship between Grace and secondary characters. After experiencing so much, it was nice to see Grace have a solid core group of friends with such varying personalities. Together they help Grace put the pieces of the puzzle together when she meets a mysterious woman in the market who gives her an egg. I will say that no one is who you expect them to be in this story and that it also covers some pretty heavy themes. It’s a really interesting take on Chinese mythology and because it ends on a cliff hanger I can’t wait to get to the next installment. The artwork was fantastic, full of rich and bright colors. The only down side is that it does take a little while for the story to build up and get really interesting, but once it does you’re in for a treat. If you haven’t considered checking this out make sure you do so!
year of the dragon!!!!! this was fun and never really went where i thought it was going to (which i feel like is hard for middle grade to do to an adult reader!). honestly i might just read book 2!
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love the art and the storyline! This book talks about friendship, grief, and love of the natural world! I especially loved how several different myths were all tied together into one story. I appreciate the representation of the deity in this book, it is minimal but it's great! I can't wait to read the next one!
A fun graphic novel with a biracial Asian American protagonist, her multiracial group of friends, and adorable newly-found baby dragon. Who wouldn't want to get up to major world-saving adventures with helpful friends and a legendary creature with whom you have a wordless rapport? I loved the illustrations and Grace is an endearing and admirable character. I'm not over seeing Asian American heroines represented visually, and Grace being a swimmer/surfer is great too. Her friends are enjoyable, though sidekick-y, and the story overall is a similar blend of formulaic and fresh. There's a lot of violence, some cliché heteronormative flirting, and (I'm wording this vaguely, to avoid spoilers) emotional intensity around parents and parental figures.
3.5 stars.
Ancient treaties, legends, war, a search for immortality, young teen Grace still grieving her wonderful dad starts school and makes friends with three other terrific people, meets an adorable creature, aaaaaannnnd, there are dragons!!
I liked the artwork a lot—it was exuberant and expressive.
The story was enjoyable, and I liked the friendship amongst the four individuals.
I could see the betrayal by one of the other character’s coming from the book’s beginning, but a younger audience would probably be shocked by the unmasking and the mostly self-serving reasons given by this antagonist.
Ancient treaties, legends, war, a search for immortality, young teen Grace still grieving her wonderful dad starts school and makes friends with three other terrific people, meets an adorable creature, aaaaaannnnd, there are dragons!!
I liked the artwork a lot—it was exuberant and expressive.
The story was enjoyable, and I liked the friendship amongst the four individuals.
I could see the betrayal by one of the other character’s coming from the book’s beginning, but a younger audience would probably be shocked by the unmasking and the mostly self-serving reasons given by this antagonist.