Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Beautifully told coming-of-age tale full of grief and hope.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
We first meet 12-year-old King in KING AND THE DRAGONFLIES as he walks to the bayou in his small Louisiana town after school to sit among the dragonflies. King believes his 16-year-old older brother, Khalid, who recenlty died, came back as a dragonfly, and he goes to seek him out at the bayou. Instead, King's former friend Sandy shows up. King ended their friendship at his then-alive brother's urging. Khalid had overheard Sandy say he was gay, and he didn't want people to think King was gay, too. Though Sandy and King's interaction at the bayou resolves nothing, when Sandy runs away from his abusive father that night, he escapes to King's backyard and the tent they used to hang out in. King finds him by chance and agrees to help him stay hidden. This involves risks and rewards that neither can fully anticipate, and threatens to destroy all the relationships King holds dear.
Is It Any Good?
This enchanting and unforgettable book pulls readers in from the first page. Kacen Callendar's writing in King and the Dragonflies is lush and lyrical, a joy to read solely for the beauty of the sentences. Especially when King remembers his brother, the text takes on a magical feel that magnifies King's grief for the reader. Young people will appreciate the inclusion of queer characters who take different paths to coming to terms with being gay and the insightful portrayal of the intersections of race and sexuality. Callender portrays King's family with a noteworthy sensitivity. They have problems -- namely, the crushing grief of Khalid's death, King's father's homophobia and sexism, and King's mother's acceptance of those things --but it's clear that this is a family that can heal and grow together.
There are several sob-worthy passages, though ultimately this is a deeply hopeful and inspiring tale that will leave readers smiling, even if it's through happy tears.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the racism and homophobia discussed in King and the Dragonflies. How are they similar? How are they different? Some of the characters are against racism and yet also express anti-gay sentiments. How does this change over the course of the story?
How does King deal with his grief over losing Khalid? How do his parents cope? What is the turning point in this family's journey with grief? Which characters are critical to the healing King's family experiences? Who are the people in your life who can help you with big sadness and loss?
Would you call King and theDragonflies a hopeful story? Why or why not? Is it important to have hope that things will get better?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Press
- Publication date : February 4, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 272
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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