A review by kailey_luminouslibro
A Book Dragon by Donn Kushner

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Nonesuch is a dragon without a treasure. When his grandmother dies, she leaves behind a substantial treasure of gold and jewels, but it doesn't really feel quite right to Nonesuch. He goes through a transformation and discovers that he can shrink down to the size of an insect if he doesn't eat much, or he can grow larger again if he eats more. He is curious about humans, so he shrinks down and flies into an abbey where a monk is painstakingly writing and illuminating a prayer book. The monk is inspired by the sight of a tiny dragon and begins to draw him into the margins of the book. When a thief threatens to steal the precious book, Nonesuch knows that he has found a treasure he will guard with all his heart. But he is trapped along with the book in a strong box and can't get out for centuries. When he emerges into the modern world, Nonesuch must find new ways to navigate the world of men and protect his treasure.

I enjoyed this introspective book! Nonesuch is very thoughtful and he spends a lot of time observing how other animals and people live. He wonders what purpose dragons have in the world, and he wonders what his own purpose could be. Because he lives for centuries, the small problems and wars of humans seem very remote, but he is also inquisitive, wondering why they make such a fuss. Finally, he finds a place where he feels that he belongs and finds a noble purpose to make his life worthwhile.

Because the book is so introspective and philosophical, the plot moves a little slowly, but each scene has an overall message that contributes to Nonesuch's character development as he thinks through all the aspects of dragon life. I liked the slower pace, because it felt peaceful and meaningful. Towards the end of the story, the pace picks up and we get more action.

The writing is delightful! We get a great mixture of both funny and serious scenes. The whole thing is beautifully imaginative and whimsical. The writing does a wonderful job of leading us along with Nonesuch's thoughts and his developing ideas about his own life.

There are a few descriptions of violence as knights and dragons do battle, but nothing too gruesome. To see the details of the violence, you can check out this book on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/a-book-dragon-874315