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Yolen, Jane

Sea Dragons

128 pp. | Charlesbridge Moves | June, 2025 | Trade ISBN 9781623544737 $17.99
(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Celia Lowenthal. Fourteen-year-old Cat Douglas is the newest (and smallest) member of her Scottish fishing village's Royal and Ancient team of monster hunters, led by no-nonsense Mr. Harris, and with classmates Calum and Jamie. The story begins with Cat's first hunt against a cow-eating monster, which is quickly dispatched, but down at the harbor a much larger sea dragon has just killed two fishermen, and the R&A is called on to track it to its island lair. Yolen's tale is a short but intense outing exploring the practices of the monster-fighting crew, including Jamie's unique invention: an electric "zapper" that can temporarily stun a dragon. The story's drama revolves around whether the R&A will prevail over the sea dragon or vice versa and, for Cat, whether she will have the courage to meet the moment. Yolen's depiction of 1890s Scottish culture and setting is impressive, including dialect that will either delight or befuddle readers and adroit details such as the copper coins Cat takes with her to "buy the wind" at sea. Graphic novel-style panel illustrations at interludes throughout the book add panache and a bit of swagger to a straightforward adventure that will set hearts racing at just the right speed for middle-grade and middle-school readers.
Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

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