Dragons Green by Scarlett Thomas - review

‘Dragon’s Green’ is one of those books that feels instantly like an absolute treat to settle down with. Firstly, it features a library, which turns out to be magical, and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better it has the most brilliant contest with a dragon to save a princess.

When Effie Truelove’s grandfather is attacked and a sinister book-buyer is desperately keen to get his hands on his library, Effie feels powerless, until she is plunged into a parallel world of magic.

She is helped by unlikely schoolfriends who start to discover their own special magical ability and together they form a team formidable enough to defeat the nasty book eaters who are intent on stealing all the magical power from Effie's grandfather’s books.

There is so much to enjoy in Scarlett Thomas’s boldly imaginative first book for children. As with all of the best children’s books, it can be enjoyed on many levels. 

The writing is smart and playful, full of literary allusions, including a group of existential thinkers guarding the underworld who challenge those who want to cross to swap quotes. Characters rely on quick thinking and verbal jousting as much as fights and magic (note great battle to defeat the dragon).

It is also full of sharp observations on books and the publishing world in general. Not only are the main baddies, the Diberi, evil book destroyers, there is fun to be had with an evil publisher trying to banish stories and encourage everyone to read self-help and useless diet books instead. And newly-emerged witch, Raven Wilde, being the daughter of a very famous writer of magical fiction who has no idea magic really exists. Splendid fun.

The magical world-building is also satisfying (How does someone actually cast a spell? Is magic unlimited? and just what can be discovered in the pages of a magical book?). I can see children loving learning the power of magical objects ‘boons’ and wondering about their own magical skills.

Effie dashes between worlds, some of which can only be found in the pages of books, and the plot weaves in enough complexity so you must keep your wits about you. The fact that it is demanding yet tremendous fun means it will appeal far more widely than to its 9-12 year old core readership. So settle down for a treat.

In fact there is so much to enjoy it is my favourite children’s book of the year so far – and it will take some beating.

Nicki Thornton