The Enchanted Bridge: Dragons in a Bag, Book 4
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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 The Enchanted Bridge is the fourth installment in Zetta Elliot's Dragons in a Bag series, in which a Black tween from New York, Jax, grapples with his destiny in the world of magic -- a destiny that involves most of his family as well as his friends Vikram, Kavita, and Kenny. Plot threads from the previous three books converge and perilous adventures unfold as the kids venture into the world of magic to reunite with old friends, save Jax's captive grandfather, and take part in a cosmic battle pitting a powerful, protective dragon against a world-destroying force. Scary spiders prove friendly; toothy piranhas not so much. Once again, a cliff-hanger ending sets up the next book, and along the way there's lots of intriguing detail about African culture, mythology, and wildlife, as well as a family's complicated relationship with the world of magic.
What's the Story?
Following the turbulent events of Book 3, Jax and his pals must leave Chicago and cross THE ENCHANTED BRIDGE, one of the few ways they can get to the world of magic after Sis, its dragon protector, closed all the portals connecting it to the human world. Or so she thought. Things are far from peaceful -- lot of magical beings aren't happy at not being able to travel between the worlds, and Sis' twin brother, a powerful dragon/magician who may or may not have gone over to the dark side, is wooing them to his cause. Against this backdrop, the kids and their magical-being partners are on a quest to find and rescue Jax's lost grandfather -- a quest that will soon involve dragons, phoenixes, fairies, and giant spiders as allies. And maybe get home again.
Is It Any Good?
Giant spiders, toothy piranhas, and farting baboons are just some of the surprises awaiting Jax and his pals in the world of magic, in Zetta Elliott's fourth volume in this exciting series. As the kids cross The Enchanted Bridge in their quest to rescue Jax's grandfather and reunite with friends from earlier installments, there's a lot of peril, and also a lot of heart brought to life in Cherise Harris' plentiful black-and-white illustrations. As a cosmic battle looms and the kids learn to use their emerging magical powers, there are relatably comic moments. Also poignant contemplation of life's changes, and the bonds of love and friendship that keep us connected.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like The Enchanted Bridge in which our world coexists with a magical one -- and characters have adventures going back and forth. Do you have any favorites? Do you think this is a fun theme?
If someone from a magical world were suddenly to land in your life and need your help, what would you do? What do you think they might need? How could you assist?
Portals to other worlds seem to crop up in the strangest places. Where would you put one, and where would it go?
Book Details
- Author: Zetta Elliott
- Illustrator: Cherise Harris
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Communication, Courage, Empathy, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: January 17, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 240
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: January 25, 2023
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