If you just want a summary:
In Chapter 4 of A Dragon for George, George surmises the dragon’s unexpected eating habits. He wonders if it’s all a dream but a frightening observation proves it’s all too real.
Content Warning: this episode briefly talks about a death.
A Dragon for George is a contemporary middle grade novel about a twelve-year-old boy and his pet, which may or may not be from another dimension..
Narrative comedy, for lovers of laugh-out-loud literature (or “lololl’s” for short). A mix of novels (chapter by chapter), short stories, and theatrical shows to help you laugh along with the human condition.
Sonnet for Spring Sonnet Contest Winner Tara Travis. Listen closely. The first letter of each line spells Tara's chosen phrase: ”Y O U 'R E S O A W E S O M E”.
If you want more, read on. I have a little more.
You’ll note I used “middle grade” rather than “family friendly” this week. I see pluses and minuses to both terms. I want A Dragon for George to be a novel that most of the family (other than the very youngest) can enjoy. I used to work in a movie rental store. We had a family section. Pixar and Disney movies were in it. A Princess Bride was in it. (Note: this is not saying anything about quality of the work, just the intended audience.) “Family friendly” is meant to capture that kind of feel.
But.
“Family friendly” might imply that everything that happens in the book is lighthearted. It’s not. This book has a lot of darker elements. Good books do. Even ones for the very youngest. The main character in The Gruffalo could get eaten in many horrifying ways. Still, I am unsure if “family friendly” is the right term for A Dragon for George.
“Middle grade” is a term used used in modern bookstores. It’s in between “children’s” and “young adult”. It’s a subsection of young adult, which is a subsection of children’s… maybe. It depends on whom you ask. The thing I don’t like about it is it implies only a very specific age group is meant to enjoy it.
What I do like about “middle grade” is that gives an idea of the language and content. It’s nothing more “mature” than you’d find in Harry Potter, The Princess Bride (movie… it’s much less risque than William Goldman’s novel), or a Pixar film. But it’s not all “friendly”. Some of it is dark.
So, this week, I am going with “middle grade”. Next week it might be “family” again. The point is, I hope you enjoy, however old you are.