Review: Dragon Surf by D. G. Driver and Jeni Bautista Richard
Surfing. Dragons. Teenage angst. Family.
Eric Long's dad is a champion surfer. His mom is an artist, obsessed with Chinese dragons. On his 15th birthday, both of his parents' interests collide and change everything he knows about the world.
While on a surfing vacation with his father up near Santa Cruz, California, Eric has visions of a woman from Imperial China with the ability to control a dragon and the emperor who wanted to exploit her talent to fight a war. One foggy morning, Eric and a new surfing friend sneak down to see the off-limits Dragon's Bluff beach near their motel, and he is rescued from drowning by a real-life dragon. This is the dragon of his visions!
Now Eric realizes that those visions are the dragon's memories. But why is he able to see them? Why is the dragon warning him to leave and never come back? Could Eric be a descendant of the Dragon Tamer? How dangerous will it be if he stays and tries to find the answers?
Publisher: Fire & Ice Young Adult Books
Publish Date: March 9, 2023
Pages: 222
Audience: Young Adult
Meet D. G. Driver
D. G. Driver is an award-winning author of Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction and member of SCBWI. Her other books include Purple Dragonfly Children's Book Award winner Cry of the Sea, Whisper of the Woods, Echo of the Cliffs and Passing Notes. She also has short fiction in a number of anthologies and some nonfiction published under the name Donna Getzinger. She lives near Nashville and is a teacher in an inclusive classroom of typically developing and special needs children in an Early Intervention program. When she's not writing or teaching, she might be found singing and acting in a local community theater musical with members of her talented family. Learn more about her at: www.dgdriver.com.
Meet Jeni Bautista Richard
Jeni Bautista Richard was born in Makati, Philippines and immigrated to Canada with her parents when she was an infant. She attended York University in Toronto, Ontario and studied English, psychology, and anthropology. A closer look at genealogy showed ethnic ties to not only The Philippines but to China and The Pacific Islands as well, making the world all that much smaller. Growing up the proud daughter of immigrants, and in a multicultural city, Jeni was lucky enough to be immersed in and got to appreciate countless cultures other than her own. In the early 2000s, Jeni moved to Tennessee. She began working in early childhood education, and currently works in the Metro Nashville public school system. Jeni currently lives in Nashville with her husband and son. Feeling strongly about equal representation in the arts and in the media, Jeni is so thrilled to be a part of a release that celebrates that. This is her first release as a co-writer.
My Review
I was honored to be sent a book by the author D. G. Driver in exchange for an honest review through the Read Your World organization.
I enjoyed the setting of this book with the cave and the ocean. I also thought the character of Eric was done really well to show his range of emotions and feelings towards his mother and his Chinese culture. There were also pieces of history sprinkled in that were really interesting. Readers who are looking for a book that combines mystery and fantasy and also captures the complex relationship between teens and parents will enjoy this book.
I hope you grab a copy and read it for yourself.
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