Reviews

The Dragon Thief by Zetta Elliott

joshgauthier's review

3.0

A little more complex of a story and with some big themes that aren't quite as integrated as they could be, The Dragon Thief is nevertheless a fun, magical sequel with plenty of adventure and interesting characters that also tackles ideas of home and belonging through the eyes of its diverse cast.

arrr's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

My kid will love this

a_blue_box_full_of_books's review

5.0

Jaxon had just one job in book 1 : bring the baby dragons in the magical realm. The three of them. Unfed. It was without counting on Kavita, his best friend's little sister. She fed the dragons AND stole one of them ! Jaxon has now a new mission : find the missing dragon and save the balance between the worlds.

Dragons in a Bag is becoming one of my favorite Middle Grade series. Everything in it is perfect, from the characters to the story. I love how very different BIPOC characters come together with a mission, save magic, and become friends in the process. I love the positive interactions between the adults and the children : younger characters are given an opportunity to learn from their mistakes and fix them. And most of all, I love the magical atmosphere of the book. I know it is meant for middle graders, but it is a really sweet urban fantasy novel that older readers will enjoy as well. And it is a great inclusive story !

thatsthewaylovegoes's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

porshea's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

theybedax's review

4.0

Zetta is killing it! I love this world; the magical mixed with honest historical atrocities is a brilliant way to teach kids about the past & current racial atrocities perpetuated against people of color.

brogan7's review

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

This book wasn't as well-rounded as her first.  It is a great story in terms of: being set in Brooklyn, having diverse main characters (in ages, in ethnic origin, and in life paths), tenderness towards the characters (a new friendship between boys).  
However, there are some weak points, particularly towards the end (a lot of wrap-up), and a heavy hand of narration (one senses the author wanting certain things to happen, rather than them springing organically from the story). 

Spoiler

The aunty's crossing over into the magic realm was completely unexpected and without grounding in anything earlier in the story...it was Ma who was ill, not Aunty...but yet Aunty dies/goes over to the magic realm, and the reader feels nothing for it because we weren't emotionally engaged with Aunty, particularly not at that point in the story, and certainly not aware that she was physically fragile/at risk.  Also the character of "Blue" is very nebulous and though he is a classic 'bad guy' he kind of comes off as a stereotype of a bad guy...we have no sense of his real motivations, nor of his real emotional experience of losing all his magical creatures...one doesn't know whether to mourn the despoiling of his bounty, or whether to cheer on the magical creatures' newfound freedom.

Jaxon's emotional evolution about his father's accident is interesting and carefully dealt with not to traumatize young readers.  It feels hopeful and steady at the same time.
My son asked, at the end: "What I want to know is, where's Ambrose?"

sunflowerjess's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A fun second installment in the Dragons in a Bag series. 

leslie_d's review

5.0

builds on the excellence of the first book. Elliott is such a great storyteller, fearless in content and wise; and she captures childhood so incredibly well.

I love her characters. I love her stories.

lizbethashlee's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

3.0