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A review by welllovedspines
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
TL;DR: A middle-grade that can delight a reader of any age. Magical, lyrical, and capable of discussing difficult topics with strength and grace. Honestly one of the best books I've read in a really, really long time.
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The reason I read this book was simply due to it being an audiobook on Spotify. But I'm so glad that I did because I absolutely fell in love with it. I highly recommend the audiobook (narrator was incredible), and I will eventually be getting a physical copy to add to my shelves.
Kingston "King" James discovers that his brother transformed into a dragonfly in the bayou after his unexpected death, and his brother often visits him in his dreams to help him deal with the grief the family is experiencing. King grow so much from the start of the book, and even his mis-steps along the way provided opportunity for stepping into his real self.
Heavy topics like death, child abuse, racism, and homophobia are themes throughout this book, so please heed the trigger warnings. However, I think these topics are discussed with such honesty and showed strength in persevering. I think young readers dealing with similar things in their own lives would gain so much from how it was handled.
The atmosphere and voice in this book was incredible and made everything feel so real to me. I don't always read middle grade, but when I do I'm usually pleasantly surprised. Perhaps I should incorporate some into my reading schedules more often! My first experience reading Kacen Callendar's work was so utterly enjoyable. I will definitely be reading the other books they have written!
_____
The reason I read this book was simply due to it being an audiobook on Spotify. But I'm so glad that I did because I absolutely fell in love with it. I highly recommend the audiobook (narrator was incredible), and I will eventually be getting a physical copy to add to my shelves.
Kingston "King" James discovers that his brother transformed into a dragonfly in the bayou after his unexpected death, and his brother often visits him in his dreams to help him deal with the grief the family is experiencing. King grow so much from the start of the book, and even his mis-steps along the way provided opportunity for stepping into his real self.
Heavy topics like death, child abuse, racism, and homophobia are themes throughout this book, so please heed the trigger warnings. However, I think these topics are discussed with such honesty and showed strength in persevering. I think young readers dealing with similar things in their own lives would gain so much from how it was handled.
The atmosphere and voice in this book was incredible and made everything feel so real to me. I don't always read middle grade, but when I do I'm usually pleasantly surprised. Perhaps I should incorporate some into my reading schedules more often! My first experience reading Kacen Callendar's work was so utterly enjoyable. I will definitely be reading the other books they have written!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, and Racism