Talon

Gr 9 Up—In this fantasy set in present-day California, Ember and her twin, Dante, are sent to live with guardians in a beach town for the summer. It's supposed to be their last period of free time before they start training for their life's work. Ember and Dante are dragons, and Talon is the government agency that assigns their work, educates them, and makes sure they blend in well with their surroundings and fellow humans. Talon has an ancient enemy in St. George, a militia whose sole purpose is to seek and destroy all dragons. When Garrett, one of St. George's most promising soldiers, is sent to find a sleeper dragon in the same small beach town, he and Ember cross paths. With a rogue dragon as a catalyst, the two must sort through the truths they thought they knew about each other's sides—their lives depend on it. Ember is a strong-willed heroine who isn't afraid to take risks and questions the motives of those who run Talon. Her twin brother is much the opposite. The story is told in two parts, the first offering alternating perspectives from Garrett and Ember. The second includes the rogue dragon, which feels unnecessary and distracting. This modern-day fantasy with a splash of romance is an entertaining read. Kagawa weaves an evenly paced narrative with a strong theme of loyalty. Readers who have outgrown Christopher Paolini's Eragon (Knopf, 2003) and those who appreciate a good old-fashioned love triangle will enjoy this first installment of the saga.—Stephanie DeVincentis, Downers Grove North High School, IL