The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim

by E. K. Johnston

Overview

In an alternate world where humans and dragons battle over fossil fuels, a teenage slayer and his bard must rally their community against impending doom.

"Johnston's masterful book is a refreshing blend of alternative history, high fantasy, and contemporary teen life. Johnston has done careful research for her intricate world building, and the result is strikingly original and believable."—Booklist, Starred Review

Listen! For I sing of Owen Thorskard: valiant of heart, hopeless at algebra, last in a long line of legendary dragon slayers. Though he had few years and was not built for football, he stood between the town of Trondheim and creatures that threatened its survival.
There have always been dragons. As far back as history is told, men and women have fought them, loyally defending their villages. Dragon slaying was a proud tradition.
But dragons and humans have one thing in common: an insatiable appetite for fossil fuels. From the moment Henry Ford hired his first dragon slayer, no small town was safe. Dragon slayers flocked to cities, leaving more remote areas unprotected.
Such was Trondheim's fate until Owen Thorskard arrived. At sixteen, with dragons advancing and his grades plummeting, Owen faced impossible odds—armed only with a sword, his legacy, and the classmate who agreed to be his bard.
Listen! I am Siobhan McQuaid. I alone know the story of Owen, the story that changes everything. Listen!

 

Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist
Kirkus Prize for Young People's Literature Finalist
Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist
YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults

"The tale of one slayer and his bard becomes a celebration of friendship, family, community and calling…. It may "[take] a village to train a dragon slayer," but it takes an exceptional dragon slayer to deserve a village―and a storyteller―like this one."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
 
"Johnston has created a whip-smart, witty, and utterly inventive alternate history. If this stellar debut is any indication, hers looks to be a bright, long-burning career."—Quill & Quire, Starred Review

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467739993
Publisher:	Carolrhoda Lab
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	316
Lexile:	1020L (what's this?)
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

The less cool things about Kate are that she's from a small town in southwestern Ontario, she spends a lot of time crying over books in random coffee shops, and she can't play as many musical instruments as she wishes she could. The Story of Owen is Kate's first novel. Visit her online at ekjohnston.ca.

Editorial Reviews

"Johnston has created a whip-smart, witty, and utterly inventive alternate history. If this stellar debut is any indication, hers looks to be a bright, long-burning career." —starred, Quill & Quire

From the Publisher

★ 2013-12-24
In an alternate world where humans and dragons battle over fossil fuels, the tale of one slayer and his bard becomes a celebration of friendship, family, community and calling. Once, every village had its own dragon slayer, but those days are long gone; now, slayers are drafted by governments or sponsored by corporations. Sixteen-year-old Owen Thorskard, scion of a renowned line, wants to help reverse that—starting with the rural Canadian town of Trondheim. While Owen is brave, dedicated and likable, this story really belongs to Siobhan McQuaid, dauntless bard-in-training. In her witty account, Siobhan learns alongside Owen from his heroic aunt and her blacksmith wife, schemes with classmates to create local Dragon Guards and enlists the entire county in a daring scheme to attack the dragons' own turf. Humor, pathos and wry social commentary unite in a cleverly drawn, marvelously diverse world. Refreshingly, the focus is on the pair as friends and partners, not on potential romance; Siobhan places as much emphasis on supporting her allies as extolling Owen's deeds. Smart enough to both avoid unnecessary danger and be scared when appropriate, they prove all the more valiant when tragic sacrifices have to be made. It may "[take] a village to train a dragon slayer," but it takes an exceptional dragon slayer to deserve a village—and a storyteller—like this one. (Fantasy. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews