‘Every Christmas Eve in the little village of Dorta where I grew up, high in the mountains of Switzerland, we have a carnival like no other. We call in ‘Drumming the Mountain Dragon’. ” (4) The carnival beginnings with the retelling of the story of Mimi and the Mountain Dragon around a bonfire in the center of town.

Hundreds of years ago, the towns folk of Dorta would try to frighten the Mountain Dragon every Christmas Eve in hopes she’d leave the town alone for another year. Then one year, 1314, little Mimi found a baby dragon in her family’s wood shed. Not wanting the baby dragon to be killed Mimi decided she would take the baby back up the mountain to its mother on Christmas Eve while the entire town would be in church. No one would try to stop Mimi at that time.

When Mother Mountain Dragon first saw Mimi with Baby Dragon she was angry. Then Baby Dragon flew to her and Mimi was no longer a threat. Mountain Dragon was thankful for the return of her baby. ” Why it should have happened that the mountain above the castle began at that particular moment to shed itself of its winter snows, none will ever know. But it did. And as Mimi could clearly see, it was not the Mountain Dragon roaring and raging that set the avalanche tumbling and rumbling down the mountainside.” (38) Mountain Dragon flew down to Dorta with baby and Mimi on her shoulders. Mountain Dragon saved all the towns people who were still in the church, now buried in snow, by melting the snow with her deep blast of fiery breath.

“And from that day to this, with the Mountain Dragon, and the little dragon, looking out for us and protecting us, we have never once had an avalanche anywhere near the village, nor a forest fire, and no one ever since has disappeared in the mountains.”   (45) They retelling of the story is done. The village people leave the bonfire and go home, knowing they are safe for another year.

Aislyn Hollings, Ryan’s central character in this gripping, unusual book, has a serious social disorder, a deep and lifelong terror of speaking in public, of doing anything that draws attention to herself outside her family and small circle of friends. Debilitating as it is, this crippling imbalance has kindled her interest in gene therapy, to which end she’s engaged in research at a genetic engineering company, Nova Genetics, in Tacoma. Her oral presentation about her investigation into DNA and gene therapy in a scholarship competition goes awry due to her disorder, heightening the desperation and causing her to say yes to trying an experimental therapy, CZ88, developed by a professional on the staff of Nova Genetics, works, to Aislyn’s amazement, but the secrecy surrounding the drug and the side effects of the treatment soon expose the deadly consequences not just for Aislyn but for the others to whom this viral experiment has been administered.

The writing is tense and interesting, exploring a subject rarely represented in literature for Young Adults, opening the reader to the burgeoning, controversial world of genetic experimentation. “How much do we allow humans to change themselves and at what price?” asks the writer. What therapies are ‘right’ (like easing the suffering of those with Cystic Fibrosis like Aislyn’s little brother) and the sudden development of traits like instant charisma.

The book, 317 pages long, touches on themes of scientific integrity, responsibility, trust, copycat drugs, viral terror, military uses of bizarre inventions and the quest of a young woman to find a cure. It’s a great read.

Highly recommended!

Reviewer: Holly Gwinn Graham

The first book written by author A.J. Grainger, Captive is sure to leave an impression on young readers as well as old. Readers will quickly be drawn into the plot, written in both the past and present.

Things are not always as they seem for Robyn, the sixteen year old daughter of the British Prime Minister. Especially when the Prime Minister’s best friend owns a large pharmaceutical company that has been targeted by the extremist group AFC. The AFC already has one of its members in jail for the assassination attempt of the Prime Minister himself. Now they want the release of their member! Nothing will get in their way.

Despite the increased security and words of reassurance from the security team, Robyn is taken hostage by the AFC. Her captors tell her she can go home as soon as their demands are met. That was ten days ago and no one has come for her. During her capture she learns the pharmaceutical company her father is associated with was responsible for the death of a 12 year old boy; the younger brother of one her captors. Was the head of Bell –Barkov responsible for the young boy’s death? Did they knowingly skip the vital trial studies and put a drug on the market knowing it was unsafe? Did the Prime Minister, her father, help to cover it up?

While held captive, the young Robyn begins to question her father’s honesty. Could she really take the word of her captors, after all they are Extremist. One of her captors is not like the rest, he is kind to her. He only wants answers and an investigation into his brother’s death. Will the two help each other and will feelings start to arise as often do between captor and captive?

The author does a great job of developing the characters in this story and the well-developed mystery makes this work of fiction a page turner for its readers. Recommended for anyone wanting a quick read.

In this early elementary fantasy graphic novel, Fluffy the cat, the Commander of P.U.R.S.T., must save his friends when his base gets invaded by aliens.
This is a cute and hilarious read. It is well-written and easy for young children to understand. Young adults and up would appreciate this endearing book. The art is adorable and expressive.
Cat lovers would especially enjoy this read! A wonderful book for all.
— Kellyn S.

In this graphic novel, the story follows an elephant named Otto who leaves his home in Africa in search of his best friend, a monkey named Georgie who was taken by a man with a wooden nose. His search leads him to New York City where he gets caught up with a gang of nefarious crocodiles…where trouble for Otto ensues.
Overall, the story is cute and well-written. The art-style is eye-catching, but not overbearing with too many details. Students who enjoy reading about animals and adventure will enjoy this read.
— Kellyn S.

This book is a collection of Bigfoot eyewitness accounts in graphic novel form.
Recommended for elementary and middle school children who are interested in reading testimonies about Bigfoot sightings in the United States. The illustrations are fair for the story lines and the informational text is easy to understand although the font of the spoken text could be easier to read. Overall, this was a fun informational read.
— Kellyn S.

Elizabeth tries so hard to learn the constellations of the night sky so that she can grow up to be a sailor like her father, but she just can’t seem to learn.  When her father doesn’t return from a voyage, Elizabeth uses the postcards of the constellations he sent each week to follow and rescue him from his ship wreck. They then sail off to see the Northern Lights together.  A cute story about perseverance and courage.

Elizabeth’s Constellation Quilt ties imagination with the concept of navigating by stars.  The constellations Elizabeth sees are items that are part of her life, a ship, a bear, and a fish rather than the more difficult to recognize and remember constellations of Gemini, Ursa Major, or Cassiopeia.

Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely give readers a firsthand look into what it is like to be black and white growing up in today’s America with police brutality on the rise and racism still at the forefront. Main characters Rashad and Quinn are 2 teenage “American Boys” growing up with different perspectives in the heart of America because of the color of the skin with which they were born. Despite the modern times, racism is alive, and police brutality is increasing, but only towards black youths. All American Boys makes you take a hard look at the racism that still exists today and makes you confront it head on. The authors captured 2 different perspectives with chapters alternating between each boy’s perspective yet the collaboration and editing brilliantly intertwined them beautifully opening my eyes as a reader to a racism that still exists today. Young and old readers alike will be pulled into this story and make them take a look at themselves and ask some serious questions on the problems around racism today in America. I definitely recommend this book.

Have you ever wondered how you got so many knots in your hair? If you’re a girl, you have. The Knit-Knotters are little tiny sprite that come out at night when you’re asleep and knit knots in your hair. They’re magical so no human can see them. They are quite naughty and are responsible for lots of other nuisances. When Stella went unhappily to get her new glasses, she met an unusual woman who enchanted her glasses and allowed her to see things that humans had not known before. This is a second-grade, getting-used-to-chapter books kind of book and offers an interesting reason as to why we get knots in our hair. It kind of goes along with the tooth fairy. Charming story for early readers.

Siamese cats have quite a unique history and many physical characteristics which distinguish it from other cats. The photographs are beautiful and children will fall in love with these cats. This book is good for beginning readers and cat lovers.