Here There Be Dragons
Dragons are perennially popular in young adult literature. When I was a teen, I dove into Anne McCaffrey (
Dragonflight
) and Patricia C. Wrede (
Dealing With Dragons
) for my dragon fix, though both sets of books were published before I hit adolescence. Right around the time I decided I was mostly too old to read YA books,
Eragon
became a sensation (I've still never read it).
Today's teens have even more creative material from which to choose. Books about dragons published within the last five years or so put new twists on the legendary creatures, often turning the dragons into shapeshifters or imbuing them with other talents not found in previous incarnations. (Some also seem like poor imitations of Pern's dragons.) Below are nine recently-published titles that should appeal to teen dragon fans (three of which are Cybils nominees). Descriptions are from Worldcat. Are there any others I've missed?
Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey (2012)
In AD 1192 on Wilde Island, Tess, the daughter of a cruel blacksmith, is accused of witchcraft and must flee, but when she meets a handsome and enigmatic warden of Dragonswood who offers her shelter, she does not realize that he too harbors a secret that may finally bring about peace among the races of dragon, human, and fairy.
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman (2008)
Sixteen-year-old Eon hopes to become an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune and learn to be its main interpreter, but to do so will require much, including keeping secret that she is a girl. Sequel: Eona (2011)
A Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn (2013)
Marni, a young flower seller who has been living in exile, must choose between claiming her birthright as princess of a realm whose king wants her dead, and a life with the father she has never known--a wild dragon. Kimberly's review
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (2012)
In a world where dragons and humans coexist in an uneasy truce and dragons can assume human form, Seraphina, whose mother died giving birth to her, grapples with her own identity amid magical secrets and royal scandals, while she struggles to accept and develop her extraordinary musical talents.
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E. K. Johnston
In an alternate world where industrialization has caused many species of carbon-eating dragons to thrive, Owen, a slayer being trained by his famous father and aunt, and Siobahn, his bard, face a dragon infestation near their small town in Canada.
Firelight by Sophie Jordan (2010)
When sixteen-year-old Jacinda, who can change into a dragon, is forced to move away from her community of shapeshifters and start a more normal life, she falls in love with a boy who proves to be her most dangerous enemy. Sequels: Vanish (2011), Hidden (2012)
Talon by Julie Kagawa (2014)
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser. Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught.
Talker 25 by Joshua McCune (2014)
The fifteen-year-long war between man and dragons seems nearly over until Melissa becomes an unwilling pawn of the government after she--and those driving the beasts to extinction--discover that she can communicate with dragons.
Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn (2010)
In a parallel world where humans and dragons live in a state of cold war, seventeen-year-old Kay and her dragon friend, Artegal, struggle to find a way to show that dragons and humans can co-exist.
Related StoriesA Few Cybils Reads - Part VIRiddle Me ThisFabulously Diverse YA Book Covers We Should See More Often
Today's teens have even more creative material from which to choose. Books about dragons published within the last five years or so put new twists on the legendary creatures, often turning the dragons into shapeshifters or imbuing them with other talents not found in previous incarnations. (Some also seem like poor imitations of Pern's dragons.) Below are nine recently-published titles that should appeal to teen dragon fans (three of which are Cybils nominees). Descriptions are from Worldcat. Are there any others I've missed?
Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey (2012)
In AD 1192 on Wilde Island, Tess, the daughter of a cruel blacksmith, is accused of witchcraft and must flee, but when she meets a handsome and enigmatic warden of Dragonswood who offers her shelter, she does not realize that he too harbors a secret that may finally bring about peace among the races of dragon, human, and fairy.
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman (2008)
Sixteen-year-old Eon hopes to become an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune and learn to be its main interpreter, but to do so will require much, including keeping secret that she is a girl. Sequel: Eona (2011)
A Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn (2013)
Marni, a young flower seller who has been living in exile, must choose between claiming her birthright as princess of a realm whose king wants her dead, and a life with the father she has never known--a wild dragon. Kimberly's review
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (2012)
In a world where dragons and humans coexist in an uneasy truce and dragons can assume human form, Seraphina, whose mother died giving birth to her, grapples with her own identity amid magical secrets and royal scandals, while she struggles to accept and develop her extraordinary musical talents.
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E. K. Johnston
In an alternate world where industrialization has caused many species of carbon-eating dragons to thrive, Owen, a slayer being trained by his famous father and aunt, and Siobahn, his bard, face a dragon infestation near their small town in Canada.
Firelight by Sophie Jordan (2010)
When sixteen-year-old Jacinda, who can change into a dragon, is forced to move away from her community of shapeshifters and start a more normal life, she falls in love with a boy who proves to be her most dangerous enemy. Sequels: Vanish (2011), Hidden (2012)
Talon by Julie Kagawa (2014)
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser. Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught.
Talker 25 by Joshua McCune (2014)
The fifteen-year-long war between man and dragons seems nearly over until Melissa becomes an unwilling pawn of the government after she--and those driving the beasts to extinction--discover that she can communicate with dragons.
Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn (2010)
In a parallel world where humans and dragons live in a state of cold war, seventeen-year-old Kay and her dragon friend, Artegal, struggle to find a way to show that dragons and humans can co-exist.
Related StoriesA Few Cybils Reads - Part VIRiddle Me ThisFabulously Diverse YA Book Covers We Should See More Often
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