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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I originally started reading it just because of a book society meeting I'm going to where this was on the book list. But I absolutely loved it!!!!
Piper lives a hard life. Only 13-years old and an orphan, her survival is tenuous, but, thanks to her considerable skill as a machinist, she's able to keep food in her stomach and a roof over her head. But Piper wants more from life and she thinks she may have found a way out when she discovers a young girl with a dragonfly tattoo in a caravan destroyed during a meteor storm. Those marked by the dragonfly are protected by the ruler of the neighboring Dragonfly Territories and Piper is sure that returning this girl to her home will result in enough money to start over. But returning the girl, Anna, to the territories will be no easy task, especially when Piper discovers that there's a man after the girl, a man who Anna doesn't remember but fears nonetheless. Their only chance of eluding the man and reaching the territories is to jump the 401, a steam powered locomotive that travels between the countries and costs more than Piper could ever afford. Illegally boarding the train is risky, but Piper and Anna are out of options and their lives are very likely in jeopardy.
Jaleigh Johnson's standalone debut, The Mark of the Dragonfly, is a fast-paced, magical MG fantasy novel. The novel also features some smart steampunk elements as well, which I really love to see in middle grade literature! One of my favorite things about this novel is the tagline: "One is smart. One is brave. One is hiding a secret that could cost them their lives." What's great about this tagline is its ambiguity - all of the characters are smart, brave, and hiding secrets - but which one has the secret that could cost them their lives?
There are more and more female characters that excel at traditionally male roles in children's literature, but I'm always happy to see more. In The Mark of the Dragonfly, Piper is a skilled mechanic, in part because of her innate ability but also because she's focused and a hard worker. She's smart and capable, surviving on her own in a harsh, unforgiving landscape after losing her parents. Piper dreams of seeing the world and finding success, but she stays true to herself and morals, doing what she believes is right and choosing the difficult path over an easy, but morally faulty, alternative.
Anna, the girl Piper rescues from the meteor shower, was a charming, mystery of a character. She constantly reminded me of River Tam, a character from Firefly, so I was immediately fond of her.
The final main character featured on the novel's cover is Gee. He was one of the most interesting characters because his mystery was a bit more subtle than Anna's and Piper's. He and Piper clash in wonderful ways that highlight each character's strengths and weaknesses.
The Mark of the Dragonfly will be one of my new go-to recommendations for MG fantasy. The main trio of characters is diverse and works well together and the world is well-developed. Plus, I like that this novel is a standalone, but that there is the possibility for more novels set in this world.
Jaleigh Johnson's standalone debut, The Mark of the Dragonfly, is a fast-paced, magical MG fantasy novel. The novel also features some smart steampunk elements as well, which I really love to see in middle grade literature! One of my favorite things about this novel is the tagline: "One is smart. One is brave. One is hiding a secret that could cost them their lives." What's great about this tagline is its ambiguity - all of the characters are smart, brave, and hiding secrets - but which one has the secret that could cost them their lives?
There are more and more female characters that excel at traditionally male roles in children's literature, but I'm always happy to see more. In The Mark of the Dragonfly, Piper is a skilled mechanic, in part because of her innate ability but also because she's focused and a hard worker. She's smart and capable, surviving on her own in a harsh, unforgiving landscape after losing her parents. Piper dreams of seeing the world and finding success, but she stays true to herself and morals, doing what she believes is right and choosing the difficult path over an easy, but morally faulty, alternative.
Anna, the girl Piper rescues from the meteor shower, was a charming, mystery of a character. She constantly reminded me of River Tam, a character from Firefly, so I was immediately fond of her.
The final main character featured on the novel's cover is Gee. He was one of the most interesting characters because his mystery was a bit more subtle than Anna's and Piper's. He and Piper clash in wonderful ways that highlight each character's strengths and weaknesses.
The Mark of the Dragonfly will be one of my new go-to recommendations for MG fantasy. The main trio of characters is diverse and works well together and the world is well-developed. Plus, I like that this novel is a standalone, but that there is the possibility for more novels set in this world.
It was a really cute story a little predictable but I want to continue with the series
I knew nothing about this book prior to picking it up and starting reading. Even though many of the tropes of this genre have become monotonous, Johnson avoids that with this book. She creates a compelling narrative that drops the reader into a fully formed world without unnecessary, pedantic world building at the beginning which so many lesser authors resort to. As the book unfolds, the reader learns naturally about various aspects of the world. Johnson does this in a way that requires the reader to suspend disbelief and takes that just far enough, the perfect use of it. I highly recommend this book and some time in the future, I will try to get around to reading the rest of the books in the series.
It's been several weeks since I finished Mark of the Dragonfly and parts of it have still stayed with me, especially the world. Although I would have liked it if some of the world aspects had been further expanded on, it doesn't detract from the novel at all.
The entire novel has a very Ghibli feel. I could easily see it being a Miyazaki film. The relationship between Piper and Anna's relationship was touching and the highlight of the novel, as it should be. The lengths the two girls go for each other was moving and inspiring, a lesson young adult books can take in regards to their own female friendships and relationships.
However I will say that often it didn't feel like a middle grade novel. Having finished Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy a short time before this one, the difference between the two novels was stark: I could buy the former as a novel for the lower middle grade bracket, but even for a higher age bracket I'm not sure Mark of the Dragonfly fits into it.
I often forgot that Piper was as young as she was, as she didn't act or speak like a young girl. Granted, part of this was from the world she grew up in, but the narration and writing style was also much older.
A rather petty complaint, though, in light of everything this novel does right: Superb world-building, wonderful and memorable characters, and tight pacing and plotting.
A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
The entire novel has a very Ghibli feel. I could easily see it being a Miyazaki film. The relationship between Piper and Anna's relationship was touching and the highlight of the novel, as it should be. The lengths the two girls go for each other was moving and inspiring, a lesson young adult books can take in regards to their own female friendships and relationships.
However I will say that often it didn't feel like a middle grade novel. Having finished Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy a short time before this one, the difference between the two novels was stark: I could buy the former as a novel for the lower middle grade bracket, but even for a higher age bracket I'm not sure Mark of the Dragonfly fits into it.
I often forgot that Piper was as young as she was, as she didn't act or speak like a young girl. Granted, part of this was from the world she grew up in, but the narration and writing style was also much older.
A rather petty complaint, though, in light of everything this novel does right: Superb world-building, wonderful and memorable characters, and tight pacing and plotting.
A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Fun steampunk middle grades book. Could have used a better editor, by the end I found myself cutting whole superfluous sentences as I read it aloud to the kids
I really enjoyed this book. Interesting story.I loved the characters. Great new fantasy book. I look forward to reading her next book.