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Across the Pond by Storyheart (Barry Eva) review copy
The Cat's Book of Romance by Kate Ledger personal collection
The Dragons of Spratt Ohio by Linda Zinnen library book
Frog on His Own by Mercer Mayer library book
Gravitation Volume 1 by Maki Murakami personal collection
Harriet and the Roller Coaster by Nancy Carlton library book
Heat Wave by Richard Castle bookcrossing
If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond library book
Into the Volcano by Don Wood personal collection
Polar Bears Past Bedtime (Magic Tree House #12) by Mary Pope Osborne
So B. It by Sarah Weeks library book
Stop in the Name of Pants by Louise Rennison personal collection
There's a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer personal collection
Waterwise by Jeff Orff library book
Wee Gillis by Munro Leaf library book
Whoo-oo Is It? by Megan McDonald library book
Frog Goes to Dinner by Mercer Mayer library book
Ghost Town at Sundown (Magic Tree House #10) by Mary Pope Osborne library book
Harriet Beecher Stowe by Suzanne M. Coil library book
If You Can't Say Something Nice, Say it in Yiddish by Lita Epstein personal collection
Incubus, Succubus by Neil James Hudson review copy
Journey Around the World by Sarah Albee personal collection
King Ottokar's Scepre by Georges Remi Hergé library book
Mrs. Muffly's Monster by Sarah Dyer library book
Operation Starseed by JM Snyder personal collection
The X in Sex: How the X Chromosome Controls Our Lives by David Bainbridge
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss personal collection
You Had Me at Halo by Amanda Ashby personal collection
Can Kittens Take a Catnap? by Clair Palfreman-Bunker personal collection
Halfway to Each Other by Susan Pohlman review copy
I'm Not Hanging Noodles on Your Ears by Jag Bhalla library book
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond library book
Junie B., First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha-ha!by Barbara Park personal collection
Junie B., First Grader: Boo and I Mean It! by Barbara Park personal collection
Lions at Lunchtime (Magic Tree House #11) by Mary Pope Osborne library book
Madras on Rainy Days by Samina Ali library book
Max's Christmas Stocking by Rosemary Wells library book
Me, Myself and I by Jane Louise Curry library book
Paddington Bear and the Busy Bee Carnival by Michael Bond personal collection
Where Are Maisy's Friends? by Lucy Cousins library book
The Divorce Party by Laura Dave review copy
Sarah Whitcher's Story by Elizabeth Yates personal collection
What Happy Working Mothers Know by Cathy L. Greenberg review copy
The Witches of Worm by Zipha Keatley Snyder library book
Murder in the Magick Club by Byron A. Lorrier review copy
Wolf Song Visions by Scott and Linda Reade review copy
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The Dragons of Spratt Ohio: 12/06/09

Imagine if the Wilds of Ohio had a clutch of dragonets growing up among the white rhinos and reticulated giraffes. Imagine further that they were in the care of a ten year old boy known only by his last name, Salt. That's the idea behind The Dragons of Spratt, Ohio.

Shortly after the dragons hatch a long lost aunt appears to do research on a new wrinkle cream. She is part of R & D of a famous makeup producer in Paris France. She is idolized by Candi, a straight A student who is afraid she has to play dumb to stay popular.

The aunt, Dr. Salt, though turns out to be very different than Candi's imagined version. She only wears black, she only eats health food and she doesn't seem to have any sense of humor.

Meanwhile, Salt has the dragons to worry about. They are at risk from poachers and are a danger to the other wildlife at the park. When a dragon goes missing he has to risk his own life to keep them safe even if it means betraying someone very close to him.

Although Salt's parents are absent in the book he isn't an orphan. They are away on business and it gives Salt, Candi and the other teens in the book a chance to spread their wings just as the dragons are doing the same. Their reactions though are grounded in the values of their families and the parents do play important roles too.

Throughout the book Salt makes a number of interesting observations about dragon behavior and biology. These added details help bring the fantasy elements alive.

A similar book worth reading is Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley.

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Comment #1: Sunday, December, 6, 2009 at 19:32:37

Jeane

I was just thinking as I read your review: sounds kind of like Dragonhaven by McKinley. This one looks like for younger readers, though.



Comment #2: Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 18:19:13

Pussreboots

Both books are aimed at children ages 9 to 12. The cover art makes it look like The Dragons of Spratt Ohio is for younger readers but the novel itself has some comprable violence and danger to Dragonhaven.



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