On one side of the border life is normal as we know it today. It's the usual mix of school, the internet, cell phones, boyfriends, and peer relationships. On the other side the land is wild and ruled by dragons who are greatly feared by humans. Kay enjoys rock climbing. On one ill-advised climb she almost drowns in a mountain river and finds herself saved by a young dragon, Artegal, who speaks to her. Quickly the two build a friendship despite Kay’s initial paralyzing fear of being killed. They learn from each other and realize that the human/dragon relationship was not always built on fear. Kay begins to fly with Artegal and their growing trust in each other supports them throughout the remainder of the story. Reminiscent of today’s war and border tensions, things heat up and the humans set about the beginnings of a war that will leave death and destruction on both sides of the border. Kay and Artegal realize that they are the only two who just might have the key to stopping the war and ultimately Kay makes the virgin sacrifice, that does not involve death, which will hopefully bring about the end of the conflicts. The novel ends with Artegal and Kay flying towards a legendary island where humans and dragons live together in peace.
What is unique about this novel is the sharp divide between a realistic novel and a fantasy novel. While most fantasy novels with realistic elements blend the two, the fantasy elements do not blend into the realistic setting of this novel. Rather, the divide is just as apparent as the river that divides the two cultures of human and dragon. This novel will have a wide appeal for all high school students, regardless of sex and may well be enjoyed by strong readers of the middle grades. The emotional content is quite suitable for today’s older readers, readers who often feel almost inconsequential to the events of today. This novel places power in this age group while also interspersing it with questions of responsibility and the struggles that a young teen will go through while attempting to make powerful decisions. As a character, Kay rings fairly true to the age but lacks some depth when she makes the decision to sacrifice her immediate future for the good of others. This is a novel that should be considered for fantasy selection and may make for an interesting novel for book studies. It makes me wish I was in a high school library! Recommended for grades 8-12. 320 page
Contributed by Christine Rayl, Librarian
