Dragon skin by Karen Foxlee

From the start we are in awe of this young girl, Pip, alone and mystified by what is happening around her. She finds an almost lifeless baby dragon near the waterhole where she hides out and takes it home to revive it. She recalls Mika’s words as she struggles to find the right restorative, taking syringes and cereal from her mother’s pantry to make a mash to put in its throat. Mum is brusque as usual lately, and tells her to get to her room before her boyfriend returns, angry and bullying, not wanting  the young girl to be in his space. This suits Pip, she can concentrate on helping her charge, a male dragon she calls Little Fella.

She wags school the next door to care for the dragon, mindful of the wrath she will face when she gets home. But always her thoughts turn to Mika and what he would do. Her peers at school think she is still mourning Mika’s sudden disappearance and she recalls his first days at school when his unusual conversations and thoughts reached out to her. This was quite a surprise as she is a lone child, not used to having friends. But with Mika gone, and mum's boyfriend at the house, she needs help. 

Eventually she reaches out to two of her classmates, peers she has rarely spoken to before; she is hesitant but needs them. 

This is a glorious book about finding your place in the world, of saving your family along the way, of remembering. Pip is able to elicit support from her new friends, and so find peace. I love the description of the Australian bush, making it a most unusual dragon story within this setting. The writing makes the whole credible and inviting, as readers follow Pip’s journey to confidence and awareness. 

Themes: Friendship, Domestic violence, Dragons, School, Relationships.

Fran Knight