Kindred Dragons

Gr 3-7–A charming, light fantasy graphic novel for dragon lovers. This cozy tale sports a spunky heroine, a quaint town in Prince Edward Island, and talk of kindreds and bosom friends, much like its inspiration Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. Alice, who was sent to live with her grandmother while her theater parents are away, desperately wants to become a Kindred, a rare person who is emotionally, psychological, and physically linked to a dragon by fairy magic. Her egg hasn’t appeared yet, and her friend has joined the exclusive Kindred girls at school. When she connects with a misunderstood but ailing dragon by the woods, Alice struggles to figure out what’s affecting him and where his Kindred has gone before it’s too late. All the joy and beauty of Montgomery’s books are captured in Mensinga’s homage to the Canadian classic. Alice’s caring and imaginative spirit moves the tale forward. The importance of friendship is at the heart of the narrative as the source of conflict but also its resolution. The pacing and character development is excellent, and the jewel-tone illustrations are warm and inviting. Fans of the original will recognize the familiar beats but with a magical twist. Readers new to the story will easily be immersed in this work because of the subtle and nuanced worldbuilding. Hints of prejudice against the Kindred community and secrets revealed in the last act hint at a possible sequel. Alice appears to be white, her best friend and other secondary characters have brown skin and textured hair.