New Dragon City
Tweens fly high in suspenseful dragon adventure in New York.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that New Dragon City is a sci-fi adventure set in a post-apocalypse New York overrun by dragons. Twelve-year-old Noah learns that not all dragons are evil, but has a hard time convincing his friends and family. Author Mari Mancusi creates likeable human and dragon characters and keeps the suspense high. Violence and scariness includes humans shooting dragons; dragons spewing fire. One kid's dad is badly burned. Another's mom is killed.
What's the Story?
As NEW DRAGON CITY opens, 12-year-old apocalypse survivor Noah is surprised to see that the dragons of New York are out of hibernation a month early. His family isn't ready to fight them, so it's lucky that he finds a young dragon named Asha to bond with. Asha wants peace between humans and dragons, too, but as the daughter of the slain queen, her loyalty is severely tested. Can the two species live in harmony?
Is It Any Good?
Dragons are favorite fantasy characters, but here they get a pleasing sci-fi twist. Author Mari Mancusi sets the stage for a grand battle between humans and fire-breathing reptiles but actually finds something more interesting to say about them. There's plenty of sky-high action, performed by characters readers can care about. Noah and Asha are brave and compassionate, and readers will delight in sharing their adventures.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how New Dragon City presents a vision of a dystopia. Why is the end of the world so fascinating to readers?
What are the best ways to combat predjudice? Why are people so quick to suspect "the other"?
How can you still love somene who says repellent thing? What kinds of boundaries should be set between people who hold different political beliefs?
Book Details
- Author: Mari Mancusi
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Superheroes, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Courage, Empathy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: October 20, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 354
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: December 15, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Richly textured fantasy addresses #MeToo issues.
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How to Train Your Dragon: The Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, Book 1
Engaging story is great for reluctant readers.
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The Golden Swift: The Silver Arrow, Book 2
Marvelous magical train saga picks up steam.
For kids who love fantasy
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