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Discover Dragons: I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons and To Shape a Dragon’s Breath

15 May

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons
by Peter S. Beagle
I had previously read Beagle’s classic The Last Unicorn so couldn’t resist to see what his latest novel involving Dragons was like. I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons reads a bit like a fairy tale in some ways with a handsome prince and beautiful princess, but the prince struggles with bravery and the princess secretly wants to learn to read as much as find her true love. In the mix is also a lad of humble birth who along with two friends works as a dragon exterminator, despite a fascination with the creatures and secretly keeping a few as household pets. When an evil sorcerer threatens the kingdom, it will take all their collective skills to save the land. I felt the book held my interest more earlier on with its quirky depiction of a dragon infested castle and dragon market than later when it became somewhat more predictable in the climatic battle, but If you enjoyed The Last Unicorn you will also likely be charmed by this sweet coming of age tale.

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath
by Moniquill Blackgoose
We read To Shape a Dragon’s Breath as part of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion Group in March. The group enjoyed the novel which although marketed as Young Adult (it was picked by a member who is a school librarian), still has plenty to appeal to adult fantasy fans. Blackgoose is of Native American descent and she works in issues of colonization and differing worldviews into her story about a teen girl, Anequs, attending a dragon academy. Beyond Native Americans there is also diversity in many of the other characters represented including one student who is neurodiverse. What I enjoyed was that this is done in an authentic feeling way and doesn’t read as simply tokenism and even characters we route for have their own flaws so one culture isn’t all perfect. There is a surprising twist on the typical romantasy love triangle and some Steampunk elements are included since her brother and his friends are part of a collective of inventors interested in “enginekraft.” The most unique concept though in the book was the way in which dragon fire is used to manipulate matter; it can both be used to split things apart as well as form new things depending on what the dragon’s companion, called Nampeshiweisit by Anequs’s people and Dragoneers by the Anglish, has them do.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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A Quality Queer Romance: She Gets the Girl

26 Jul

She Gets the Girl may be a YA romance, but it’s not just for starry-eyed teens. Co-authors Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick are married in real life and tell a story together that draws upon the experiences they once had. New college freshmen Alex is a little rough around the edges, and Molly is trying hard to get out of her quiet bubble. They’re opposites in most ways but join forces to get Molly the girl of her dreams, who she’s been crushing on since high school. Their friendship develops so purely as they learn the quirks and struggles of the other, and of course we can all guess how it ends. But like so many other books of this genre, we’re not really reading for a surprise so much as the emotions throughout–and it did not disappoint.

It was such a relief to me to read a YA queer romance in which the characters’ queer identities were not a plot point at all. There’s a need to represent the journeys and hardships of teens (or those around them) coming to terms with their identities, but I think it’s equally important to show the other side too: where someone of a marginalized group gets to simply be without their existence being an issue. Plus, it gave room for conflict we see less of in YA books. Alex dealt with economic issues and her mother’s alcoholism, and Molly navigated her social anxiety and how her mother’s internalized racism impacted her growth. I’ve read a fair amount of authors who were transracial adoptees themselves writing about the complexities of their experiences, but Molly was the first character I’ve read who is the child of a transracial adoptee. Written with so much emotion but readable for teens, I thought this perspective made the story richer and I’m really hopeful to read more of this type soon. 

My only critique is that I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between Alex and Molly the way I wanted to. However, every good romantic relationship has to have a super strong foundation of friendship–a message YA audiences aren’t always exposed to–and the authors really carried their weight in making it clear how important it is to genuinely like the person you’re with. I love how this book stayed fairly light even while trudging through some heavier topics, good for teens as well as adults who need a break but still want to get something out of their reading experience. You can read this book as an ebook or an audiobook from eBCCLS, or get a physical copy from the Hoboken Public Library or other BCCLS libraries.

Written by:
Stephanie Lodico
Access Services Assistant 

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