The Hidden Dragon

Description

A sea-faring girl and her friends take on pirates and grown-ups, and bond with dragons, as they work to make the world a better place, in this spellbinding fantasy by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Otter (short for Ottilie) is a girl who is most comfortable on her family's ship, the Tempest, where she and her fathers collect the dragon hides that protect the queen's guards. But all is not well in the kingdom, and it's not clear if the queen is to blame. The streets are full of homeless kids, and now one of them, a street-smart boy called London, has stowed away on the Tempest. He befriends Otter, and soon they realize that the fate of the kingdom needs to be in the hands of the kids. For in every tight spot-during pirate attacks and navigating the magical land of the Netherwhere, where they get ship-wrecked-it is the quick-witted kids who save the day. As they work to fight injustice and protect the defenseless, they earn the respect of the realm's most magical creatures-dragons and gargoyles-who all bond together as a force for good. Melissa Marr spins another fabulous fantasy, centred on family and friends, and introduces readers to the most splendid magical creatures.

Melissa Marr (melissamarrbooks.com) is also the author of The Hidden Knife. She writes fiction for adults, teens, and children, and her books have been translated into 28 languages and been bestsellers in the US (NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal) and internationally. She wrote the bestselling picture book Bunny Roo, I Love You, and its companion, Bunny Roo and Duckling Too. She is well-known for the Wicked Lovely series for teens and the Graveminder series for adults. She lives in Arizona with her spouse, children, and many dogs.

"A seafaring tween with the ability to sense dragons embarks on a journey to save her friends and family. . . . Marr gently works in themes of hope, compassion, and social responsibility, set against the backdrop of a fanciful, magic-filled world reminiscent of the Victorian era. . . . An uplifting, character-focused tale about family and grand adventure." -Publishers Weekly "Exciting middle-grade fantasy set on the high seas. . . . Young readers will delight in the unexpected friendship between Otter and stowaway London, in watching the kids take a stand for what they believe in, and in plenty of thrilling moments as their adventures lead to encounters with dragons, gargoyles, and other creatures. . . . Explores found family as well as finding your voice, and through shipwrecks and pirate battles, it's easy to root for Otter, London, and their allies. . . . For a generation that celebrates supporting one another and finds strength in speaking out against prejudice and wrong, this is the perfect fantasy escape." -Booklist