Dragons in a Bag

by Zetta Elliott

Other authorsGeneva B (Illustrator)

Paperback, 2019

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Series

Dragons in a Bag (1)

Genres

Fantasy

All Topics

Fiction

Publication

Yearling (2019), Edition: Reprint, 176 pages

Description

In Brooklyn, nine-year-old Jax joins Ma, a curmudgeonly witch who lives in his building, on a quest to deliver three baby dragons to a magical world, and along the way discovers his true calling.

User reviews

LibraryThing member StephLamb

While at The Fold this spring I came across Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott and I was intrigued. While I do love a good fantasy story I tend not to be drawn to stories about mythical creatures. What a pleasure it was to read Dragons in a Bag.

Dragons in a Bag was like an amouse bouche for

fantasy. It was a little taste, a toe dipped in the waters of new worlds, witches, and magical beings. From the beginning we meet Jaxon, his mama, and Ma. Mama has to leave Jaxon with someone for the day while she goes to court to try make sure they are not put out on the street by their sleazebagg landlord so she bring Jax to Ma, a mysterious person from her past. As Ma and Jax get to know each other it is clear to Jax that Ma is no ordinary person. Jax quickly becomes her apprentice and they set out to bring three dragons back to the magical world.

Dragons in a Bag is a fabulous middle grade urban fantasy written from an Own Voices perspective and makes a great introduction to fantasy fiction for younger readers. It’s a perfect intro for those who are not quite ready for Harry Potter level fantasy but are really interested in magic and other realms. Jax is a young African American boy growing up in Brooklyn. He and his mom are living in horrid conditions thanks to a scumbag landlord and the increasing prices driving young families out of the borough. Jax is a happy kid with great friends, Vik and Kavita and gets to meet a whole host of interesting characters to help him in his journey, including his estranged grandfather Trub. There are so many ways this series can grow and expand. There is huge potential for Dragons in a Bag to be a new incredibly popular series among young readers that will take them on a journey through their young lives. In the same way J.K. Rowling did for young readers of her Harry Potter series, so will Zetta Elliott provides a voice to those voices we don’t get to hear as loud and provide a mirror for many young readers who want to see themselves as the next witches’ apprentice. Illustrated by Geneva B who brings the magical world into focus with her whimsical and fantastical art, this book would make a great addition to you summer reading list and one to introduce to your young readers I cannot wait for the second book The Dragon Thief due to arrive on bookshelves in October 2019

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LibraryThing member bookwren

I enjoyed this urban fantasy with unique and well-developed characters. Nine-year-old Jax has been dropped off with an older woman he doesn't even know when his single mom has to go to court to file a claim against their landlord, who is trying to evict them. "Ma" and he do not hit it off in the

first hour, so Jax runs off, but when Ma explains herself, and Jax learns she needs help with baby dragons, they begin to develop a friendship. It's not all easy, though. Ma doesn't baby Jax, she lies to him, and tells him very little about herself and her work. Jax figures things out on his own, and with the help of two strange, but kind men who appear homeless. Elliott creates a realistic urban world in Brooklyn, complete with descriptions of the real Prospect Park, and a parallel fantasy world, both believable. It is unusual to see Blacks featured in fantasy novels for young readers, so I find this well-written novel heartening. Elliott's characters, settings, science, and uniqueness are a breath of fresh air. I'm eager to read Jax's further adventures in "The Dragon Thief".

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LibraryThing member jennybeast

Great fun -- a combination of dimensional/time traveling, interesting and mysterious characters (invisible man! Phoenix in a bag yard! a witch!) and a wonderful marriage of magic and everyday life. I particularly appreciated that Jax is presented as a full fledged character, with many facets -- he

loves geography, and is full of interest in the world around him. He's worried about his mother and about getting evicted from their apartment. His father died some time ago, and he thinks he and his mom are alone in the world, but he has good family friends to call on, and he has a distinct and thoughtful relationship with his neighborhood in Brooklyn. He's an impoverished child of color, but he's not in any way presented as a stereotype -- that's just one of the many things that make up his identity, and the point of the book is the magical adventure. How refreshing.

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LibraryThing member BibliLakayAyizan

As Jaxon’s mom has to go to court, the young boy has to stay with a grandmother he never heard of. But the old woman isn’t who he expects. She is in fact a witch. And she is hiding three baby dragons in a tin box in her bag. Of course there are rules : Do not let them out of the bag, and

whatever happens, do not feed them, especially anything sweet.

I loved Dragons in a Bag so much ! It is an adorable middle grade novel, full of magical creatures and genuine, courageous diverse characters. Jaxon is a colorful character, a young boy who discovers that magic is real and wishes to become Ma’s apprentice, an old witch who protects out of our realms creatures.

Zetta Elliott created a very imaginative and exciting urban fantasy novel, the first book of the Dragons in a Bag series. I really can’t wait to read the rest !

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