A girl’s awkward road trip with her dad and her mom’s new boyfriend turns into to an epic quest to rescue a dragon from poachers in this action-packed middle grade adventure perfect for fans of Fablehaven and Wilderlore.
Aspiring rockstar Zadie Drake’s world flipped upside-down the moment her mom started dating Lloyd Clutterbuck—a boring risk analyst with an aversion to all things fun. Since Lloyd moved in, he’s made it his mission to drain every drop of joy from Zadie’s life—putting strict limits on her guitar sessions, nitpicking her every move, and filling the house with his utter dullness. Naturally, when Zadie’s daredevil park ranger dad invites Zadie and her older sister to spend the summer at his cabin, Zadie can hardly contain her excitement. But Zadie’s joy is short-lived when her mom announces that Lloyd will be tagging along.
Soon after arriving at the cabin, Zadie begins to suspect that there’s more to her dad’s job than meets the eye. Her suspicions are confirmed when family secrets make an explosive entrance in the form of a fire-wielding poacher who kidnaps her dad’s best friend—an enormous, ice-breathing dragon. The revelations launch Zadie and her family into a cross-country rescue mission of epic proportions. As tensions spike, tempers flare, and the family’s differences become glaringly obvious, Zadie realizes her family’s most daunting challenge might not be rescuing the dragon but working together.
Topics Dragons. Mythical animals. Fathers. Stepfathers. Adventure and adventurers. Family life. Road trips. Rock music.
Trim Size 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
JLG Span Fall
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2025-06-02
JLG Release Date Aug 2025
Minimum grade 5
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
High Intereest Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
High Interest Middle Plus
High Intereest Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
For Grades 5-8
This collection features high-interest fiction titles designed to capture attention quickly and keep middle school readers engaged. Selections emphasize strong hooks, dynamic pacing, and engaging voices across a range of genres, prioritizing momentum and immediate appeal over genre or format.