The Dragon Thief (Dragons in a Bag #2)

by Zetta Elliott (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Stealing a baby dragon was easy! Hiding it is a little more complicated, in this sequel to reviewer favorite Dragons in a Bag.

Jaxon had just one job--to return three baby dragons to the realm of magic. But when he got there, only two dragons were left in the bag. His best friend's sister, Kavita, is a dragon thief! Kavita only wanted what was best for the baby dragon. But now every time she feeds it, the dragon grows and grows! How can she possibly keep it secret? Even worse, stealing it has upset the balance between the worlds. The gates to the other realm have shut tight! Jaxon needs all the help he can get to find Kavita, outsmart a trickster named Blue, and return the baby dragon to its true home.

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Kirkus

This satisfying follow-up will leave readers hoping for more magical adventures with lovable Jax and company.

None

This quick-paced, suspenseful, and entertaining sequel leaves readers ready for Kavita, Jaxon, and Vikram's next adventure.

School Library Journal

Picking up where Dragons in a Bag left off, this sequel continues the story of Jaxon, a nine-year-old Brooklynite trying to return a dragon lost in his care to the realm of magic. As it turns out, the dragon was taken by Kavita, the little sister of Jaxon's best friend Vikram, and now all three children must find a way to protect the dragon and ensure its safe return. This is easier said than done, as Kavita, with the help of an elderly relative, has run away with the dragon, and there are no working transporters to the realm of magic. Complicating matters further, Ma, a witch and Jaxon's mentor, has fallen into a mysterious deep sleep, and a neighborhood bully joins Jax and Vik when he discovers a magical creature in their possession. Told in a dual narrative alternating between Kavita's and Jaxon's exploits, the story features a memorable cast of likable characters, a well-paced plot, and thoughtful explorations of family bonds, freedom, leadership, identity, and belonging. As in the first book, Elliott centers protagonists of color—Jaxon is black and Kavita and Vikram are Indian—who are historically underrepresented in the genre. VERDICT Sure to satisfy fans of the first book and attract new readers to this winning, inclusive fantasy series.—Lauren Strohecker, McKinley Elementary School, Elkins Park, PA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

ALA/Booklist

Readers will be invested in the boys' unlikely friendship, and the bullying theme will resonate with many.... An adventurous, fantastical read.

Review quotes



Zetta Elliott

Zetta Elliott is a Black feminist writer of poetry, plays, essays, novels, and stories for children. Her poetry has been published in We Rise, We Resist, We Raise our Voices, and her picture book, Bird, won the Honor Award in Lee & Low Books' New Voices Contest and the Paterson Prize for Books for Young Readers. Her picture book, A Place Inside of Me (FSG Young Readers) was heralded as a "resonant exultation of community and the importance of self-reflection." She lives in West Philadelphia.

Lyn Miller-Lachmann is an author, teacher, and librarian. As an adult, she was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and delves into her diagnosis often in her writing. She and her husband divide their time between New York City and Lisbon, Portugal.

Classification
-
ISBN-13
9781524770525
Lexile Measure
700
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication date
January 12, 2021
Series
Dragons in a Bag
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV011010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JUV002270 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dragons, Unicorns & Mythical
Library of Congress categories
African Americans
Magic
Dragons
Stealing
Witches
Apprentices
Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)

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