City of Thieves

.r 4-7–Drakopolis, a sprawling city in the sky, is home to humans and the dragons they keep. From the diminutive Educational Resource Dragons used for training to the huge Red-Bearded Long-Wing bus-toting dragon, dragons are part of everyday life. As are the kins, the gangs of rival dragon riders in the city who run entire neighborhoods. Abel has spent most of his life avoiding the kins, until he discovers a stolen dragon that his sister has left behind. And that’s only the beginning as Abel is forced to confront the truth that his best friend Rao (they/them), his favorite teacher, and his sister are all kinners. To complicate matters, they are not all in the same kin; all of them are squarely on the opposite side of Abel’s brother, an enforcer of the law with the Dragon’s Eye (the police); and no one seems to be on the side of the dragons with Abel. The climatic kin battle at the end will have readers in suspense as Abel fights for the future of his dragon. This title is well paced and thoughtfully written. Most of the characters are white, or presumed white, and Abel’s father is portrayed as living with a chronic illness.