In Brooklyn, nine-year-old Jax joins Ma, a curmudgeonly witch who lives in his building, on a quest to deliver three baby dragons to a magical world, and along the way discovers his true calling.-- Provided by Publisher.
Item details
ISBN:9781524770457
ISBN:1524770450
ISBN:9781524770488
ISBN:1524770485
ISBN:9781524770464
ISBN:1524770469
ISBN:9781524770471 (ebook)
Physical Description:print 154 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Edition:First edition.
Publisher:New York : Random House Children's Books, [2018]
Great fun -- a combination of dimensional/time traveling, interesting and mysterious characters (invisible man! Phoenix in a bag yard! a witch!) and a wonderful marriage of magic and everyday life. I particularly appreciated that Jax is presented as a full fledged character, with many facets -- he loves geography, and is full of interest in the world around him. He's worried about his mother and about getting evicted from their apartment. His father died some time ago, and he thinks he and his mom are alone in the world, but he has good family friends to call on, and he has a distinct and thoughtful relationship with his neighborhood in Brooklyn. He's an impoverished child of color, but he's not in any way presented as a stereotype -- that's just one of the many things that make up his identity, and the point of the book is the magical adventure. How refreshing. (read less)
Great fun -- a combination of dimensional/time traveling, interesting and mysterious characters (invisible man! Phoenix in a bag yard! a witch!) and a wonderful marriage of magic and everyday life. I particularly appreciated that Jax is presented as a full fledged character, with many facets -- he loves geography, and is full of interest in the world around him. He's worried about his (read more)
Review by jennybeast
(LibraryThing)
I enjoyed this urban fantasy with unique and well-developed characters. Nine-year-old Jax has been dropped off with an older woman he doesn't even know when his single mom has to go to court to file a claim against their landlord, who is trying to evict them. "Ma" and he do not hit it off in the first hour, so Jax runs off, but when Ma explains herself, and Jax learns she needs help with baby dragons, they begin to develop a friendship. It's not all easy, though. Ma doesn't baby Jax, she lies to him, and tells him very little about herself and her work. Jax figures things out on his own, and with the help of two strange, but kind men who appear homeless. Elliott creates a realistic urban world in Brooklyn, complete with descriptions of the real Prospect Park, and a parallel fantasy world, both believable. It is unusual to see Blacks featured in fantasy novels for young readers, so I find this well-written novel heartening. Elliott's characters, settings, science, and uniqueness are a breath of fresh air. I'm eager to read Jax's further adventures in "The Dragon Thief". (read less)
I enjoyed this urban fantasy with unique and well-developed characters. Nine-year-old Jax has been dropped off with an older woman he doesn't even know when his single mom has to go to court to file a claim against their landlord, who is trying to evict them. "Ma" and he do not hit it off in the first hour, so Jax runs off, but when Ma explains herself, and Jax learns she needs help with (read more)
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