Sunshine State Young Reader's Award
2012 · Grades 3-5 · Nominee
About This Book
It is a rare talent, and only she can care for the Inn's herd. She feeds them, gathers their eggs, and tends to their injuries. But Mella dreams about the dragons of legend, even though hardly anyone believes they still exist. Dragons are small farm animals, not huge fire-breathing monsters. Everyone knows that.
Until one day changes everything.
A Knight of the Order of Defenders arrives at the Inn. Signs of the mythical dragons have led him there, he says. Then a simple errand takes Mella through the forest, where she stumbles across a dragon's egg—and faces the true, terrifying dragon guarding it. On the spot, Mella vows to get the egg safely to the fabled Hatching Grounds. She must leave her home for the first time, and she finds an unlikely companion in the Defender's squire, Roger.
For Mella and Roger, this one day is the beginning of an adventure. Where will it take them?
Until one day changes everything.
A Knight of the Order of Defenders arrives at the Inn. Signs of the mythical dragons have led him there, he says. Then a simple errand takes Mella through the forest, where she stumbles across a dragon's egg—and faces the true, terrifying dragon guarding it. On the spot, Mella vows to get the egg safely to the fabled Hatching Grounds. She must leave her home for the first time, and she finds an unlikely companion in the Defender's squire, Roger.
For Mella and Roger, this one day is the beginning of an adventure. Where will it take them?
Awards
Georgia Children's Book Award
2011 · Children's Book (Grades 4 - 8) · Nominee
Sequoyah Book Award
2010 · Children's · Nominee
Black-Eyed Susan Award
2009 · Grades 4-6 · Nominee
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
2009 · Children's · Nominee
Rhode Island Children's Book Award
2009 · Grades 3-6 · Nominee
South Carolina Childrens, Junior and Young Adult Book Award
2009 · Children's · Nominee
Volunteer State Book Award
2009 · Grades 4-6 · Nominee
Great Stone Face Book Award
2008 · Grades 4-6 · Nominee
Lupine Award
2007 · Children/Young Adult · Winner
