The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart

Gr 3–6—Aventurine, the youngest in a family of accomplished dragons, is bored by her lessons and craves excitement. She has yet to discover her passion, the area of study to which she will dedicate her life, and her family members hound her for her lack of focus and make her stay safe inside their cave. When her brother Jasper teases that she's not smart enough to survive even a day in the mountains, Aventurine decides to prove everyone wrong. She won't just survive—she'll capture the most dangerous prey, a human. Aventurine tracks down a human but is intoxicated by the smell of his hot chocolate. When she demands a taste, disaster strikes: the hot chocolate is enchanted and turns Aventurine into a human girl. Aventurine is horrified, hungry, and cold but refuses to let this setback stand in her way. She sets out for the human city of Drachenburg, determined to prove her competence and obtain an apprenticeship in pursuit of her newfound passion: chocolate. The challenges Aventurine faces, from confusing human fashion to privileged nobility, help her reach a new comprehension of humans, her family, and what lies in her own heart. When pushed beyond her limits, she finds and understands her own abilities and rescues herself, helped by friends to whom she has opened up. Aventurine's fiery spirit is immediately endearing, and a diverse cast of fully realized supporting characters fill out a fantasy world that readers will love to inhabit. Pair with chocolate for maximum enjoyment.