Read a Dragon-Related Book for Year of the Dragon!
Lunar New Year falls on Saturday, Feb. 10 this year. And 2024 marks Year of the Dragon; celebrate by picking up a dragon-related book.
Year of the Dragon or, more specifically, the Wood Dragon, represents vitality, creativity, success, intelligence and honor, according to South China Morning Post.
To prep for Year of the Dragon, we’ve compiled a list of books featuring the mysterious beasts.
Dragon-Related Reads for Adults
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
When Women Were Dragons is the first adult novel by Newbery Award-winning author Kelly Barnhill. The novel is set in an alternate 1950s America where thousands of women have spontaneously transformed into dragons, aka the Mass Dragoning of 1955. Alex Green, a young girl whose aunt was one of the transformed, must reckon with the destruction they’ve left behind.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Author Samantha Shannon has described this fantasy novel as a “feminist retelling” of Saint George and the Dragon, a legend that dates back to the 11th century. This character-driven novel weaves together the perspectives of three powerful women living in a divided world. (And yes, that world includes dragons!)
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
Can you mention dragons without thinking of George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy series? The first volume, A Game of Thrones, was published in 1996. Since, Martin has penned four other volumes: A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons. Fans are awaiting two more books in the series. The books also inspired a hit, award-winning HBO TV show—even if the last season was… controversial, to say the least.
Dragonfall by L.R. Lam
If you’re into romance and dragons, L.R. Lam’s trilogy is perfect for romance and fantasy fans alike. Lam crafts a world in which dragons have long been banished by humans, whose descendants now worship them as gods. But when they return to the mortal realm, the dragons remember what unfolded centuries ago.
Dragon-Related Reads for Children & Middle Grades
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao
This middle grades read follows Zachary Ying, a young boy raised by a single mom who hasn’t gotten the chance to learn much about his Chinese heritage. His fate, however, leads him to host the spirit of China’s first emperor so that he can seal the portal to China’s underworld and save the mortal realm, including his mother.
Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott
Nine-year-old Brooklynite Jaxon is sent to spend the day with Ma, an old woman (who’s actually a witch) that lives in his apartment building. When she needs help delivering three baby dragons to the magical world, Jaxon picks up the call. Taking a page from Gremlins, there are only two rules: don’t let the dragons out the bag or feed them anything sweet. This middle grades 2019 read was named among the Chicago Public Library, NPR and Kirkus Reviews best books of the year.
How to Catch a Dragon by Adam Wallace & Andy Elkerton
Looking for a Lunar New Year book to read with your children? How to Catch a Dragon is a great choice! Set in China, this book follows the How to Catch kids as they attempt to capture a dragon as he goes through a Lunar New Year celebration.
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