Common Sense Media Review
By Jasmine Baten
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting Pacific Island fantasy has dragons, some violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In DRAGONFRUIT, Hanalei is fascinated with studying seadragons and intent on sabotaging dragoners, sailors who hunt the people-eating dragons. Her mission to study and protect the dragons is interrupted when she is captured by dragoners who are hunting a dragon about to lay eggs: according to legends, eating a dragon egg will grant you a wish. She escapes the nasty sea captain forcing her to help him find the pregnant dragon and returns to her homeland, Tamarind, where she reunites with her childhood friend, the kind and handsome Prince Samahtitamahenele, or Sam. Sam's determined to find the dragon eggs before the sea captain to save his sick mother's life, even though the wish of the dragon egg always comes at a price. The two work together to find the eggs while Hanalei discovers what it means to fight for what she believes in and to learn to trust those around her.
Is It Any Good?
Makiia Lucier's adventurous and captivating novel will have readers cheering for Hanalei at every turn and savoring the Pacific Island cultural mythology weaved into the fantasy world. Dragonfruit is a thrilling read full of mystery, self-discovery, and heart. The relationships between family, friends, and community are thoughtfully written and feel as center-stage as the dragons themselves. This book will have a special draw for Pacific Island and Polynesian readers who will see themselves and their culture reflected in the story, and any reader fond of sea-faring or dragon lore with strong women characters will lose themselves in this dazzling fantasy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
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Families can talk about the importance of who is telling the story. In the book, seadragons eat people but they are also killed in graphic scenes. Hanalei says dragons are just like other animals trying to eat and survive. How can we think about the harm dragons cause given Hanalei's explanation?
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The author includes violent and scary real-world topics, like children being forced to work and island women being kidnapped, in this fantasy novel. How do these topics help us to understand violence in the real world, especially violence targeting Pacific Islander and Polynesian people?
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Hanalei learns that there are many people who love her after thinking she was alone for so long. How do they show Hanalei care and compassion? How does this help her trust them again?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Ocean Creatures ) , Fantasy ( Dragons , Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Courage , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Clarion Books
- Publication date : April 9, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : March 6, 2026
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