Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting tale of New York kid's journey to magical world.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
DRAGONS IN A BAG is the tale of 9-year-old Jaxon, who fights back tears as his mom leaves him -- just for the day, she says -- with a cranky old lady she calls "Ma," but who isn't her mom. It's a dire time: Jaxon's father has died and the landlord's trying to throw the grieving family out of their home. His mom has to go to court, and Jaxon is trying not to make her life harder, so he makes the best of it. There's a mysterious box on Ma's table, covered with stamps from Madagascar, which, it turns out, contains baby dragons who need to be transported to the magic world. And, as it also turns out, it's all in a day's work for Ma. She's a witch. Where Jaxon fits in -- that's up to him.
Is It Any Good?
This exciting adventure is full of engaging characters and lots of imagination. Dragons in a Bag launches the story of 9-year-old Brooklyn boy Jaxon, who discovers that the magical world has a job for him, if he wants to take it on and can deal with a strange old lady who's very definitely not his grandma. Created by author Zetta Elliott, who wanted to write a magical tale for Black kids who don't see people who look like them in fantasy stories, it continues in Book 2, The Dragon Thief. But here's where it all starts:
"'Your mama really didn't tell you nothin' 'bout me?' Ma asks finally.
"'No, ma'am,' I say truthfully.
"Ma grunts. 'You got nice manners, I'll give you that,' she says. Then she sighs and leans heavily on her cane -- so heavily I worry it might snap in two.
"'What you need to know, Jax, is ... I'm a witch.'"
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories about kids who are living normal lives in our world until suddenly the world of magic makes an appearance and changes their lives. How do you think Dragons in a Bag compares with other stories about this that you've read?
Do you know anyone who's had long-lost relatives turn up in their lives? What was the story? How did the reunion go?
Have you been to any African country, or do you know someone who has? What did you find most interesting? Which places appeal to you most? Would you like to spend more time there?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Geneva
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Dragons , Magic ) , Friendship , STEM
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House
- Publication date : October 23, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 160
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : March 6, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate