Tales of girls challenging dragons are plentiful, but two things set this one apart: It’s intended for a middle-grade audience and the dragons are small, domesticated animals, and, much like farm hens, prized for their eggs. Mella is the family dragonkeeper, fulfilling the mantle her Gran placed on her shoulders when she died. Like everyone else, Mella doesn’t believe that ancient, menacing, magical dragons exist anymore until a Knight of the Order of Defenders, who was wounded by one, stops at their inn. When Mella comes face to face with the dragon, injured and dying, she promises it she’ll take the warm and glowing dragon egg home to the Dragontooth Mountains. Roger, the Knight’s page, is determined to go with her; they walk miles following a river, are kidnapped, rescued by a shepherd, discover an ancient cave with mystical symbols where dragons were bred, scale cliffs and manage to keep the egg hot and safe and themselves alive. Mella’s spunk, Roger’s real identity and descriptive scenes lend character to the usual fantasy elements, with the egg hatching its own individuality. (Fantasy. 9-13)
