MIDDLE GRADE SPECULATIVE (FANTASY) FICTION : The Dragon in the Library by Louis Stowell
ABOUT THE BOOK
In a fast-paced and
funny adventure, Kit must use the magic of books to save the library—and
its resident dragon—from a power-hungry tycoon.
Kit Spencer can’t stand reading. She’d rather be outside playing and getting muddy than stuck inside with a book. But when her best friends, Josh and Alita, drag her to the local library, Kit makes an incredible discovery: she’s a wizard—and books are the key to her abilities. Unfortunately, a greedy businessman wants to tear down the beloved library, destroying all its magic. To make matters worse, there’s a sleeping dragon hidden there, and if she’s awakened, her wild power will wreak havoc. With the help of a friendly dragon-dog hybrid named Dogon, Kit and her companions will have to find a way to save the dragon in the library—and maybe the world! A humorous romp full of library enchantment, with a diverse cast of characters and dynamic illustrations.
Kit Spencer can’t stand reading. She’d rather be outside playing and getting muddy than stuck inside with a book. But when her best friends, Josh and Alita, drag her to the local library, Kit makes an incredible discovery: she’s a wizard—and books are the key to her abilities. Unfortunately, a greedy businessman wants to tear down the beloved library, destroying all its magic. To make matters worse, there’s a sleeping dragon hidden there, and if she’s awakened, her wild power will wreak havoc. With the help of a friendly dragon-dog hybrid named Dogon, Kit and her companions will have to find a way to save the dragon in the library—and maybe the world! A humorous romp full of library enchantment, with a diverse cast of characters and dynamic illustrations.
REVIEW
The Dragon in the Library provides an entertaining story about an active young girl discovering she's a wizard. Kit and her friends Josh and Alita head to the library one day after Kit fails to convince them to go to the cemetery instead. While Josh and Alita look for the newest book in their favorite series, Kit discovers some unusual books in an out of the way corner of the library. After finding herself inside one of these books, the librarian, Faith, informs her that she is a wizard. Kit is thrilled to know this and to begin training with Faith. But a powerful businessman sweeps in and buys the library, supposedly planning to replace it with a shopping mall. It turns out though that he really wants to awaken the dragon asleep under the library and steal it's power. Can Kit and Faith, along with Josh and Alita, and an adorable half dog/half dragon hybrid stop Mr. Salt or are Kit's dreams of becoming a wizard over before they can really get started?
There were things I really liked about this story and a couple of plot points that I struggled to believe. The humor was great. The characters had some great lines. I found myself startled into laughter more than once throughout the story. Kit, her friends, Alita and Josh make a great trio, each with their strengths and weaknesses and interests. It was interesting to see Kit in the library when it's the last place she wants to be (she's not a reader like her friends), at least until she discovers she's a wizard. The library as a setting is fantastic with all it's hidden corners and mysterious secrets. And Faith makes a great librarian. I appreciated that she isn't a stereotypical librarian with cardigans, grey hair, and glasses.
A few plot points rubbed me the wrong way just because they were so blatantly unbelievable for me as an adult. First, Josh and Alita aren't able to get the brand new book they wanted for the library because they didn't 'line up'. Libraries don't do line ups, not since holds were invented. Second, when Mr. Salt buys the library there is no public comment or meeting and the librarian had no clue the building was up for sale. In addition, when the kids put together a protest, it's shut down by Mr. Salt and his security personnel even before the building is officially his. That would not be legal nor would a protest end as peacefully and quickly as this one did. I don't think those things will bother young readers though with their lack of experience with how libraries and governments work.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, but the focus on the fast-moving plot leaves something to be desired in terms of believability. And the length of the book means a lack of detail. But for young readers who aren't yet ready for Tui Sutherland's Wings of Fire will likely enjoy the dragon and the humor and the characters.
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