Prairie Fire

by E. K. Johnston

Overview

Dragons terrorize modern day North America in this brilliant follow-up to the critically acclaimed Story of Owen.

Seventeen-year-old dragon slayer Owen and his bard, Siobhan, are set to join the Oil Watch, the international organization charged with protecting the world from the vicious, carbon emission-eating creatures.

Owen is destined by birth to carry on his family's heroic legacy, but what makes him different is that he doesn't enlist alone. His two closest friends stand with him shoulder to shoulder. Steeled by success and hope, the three are confident in their plan. Still, try as they might, Owen and his friends may not make it. Not all the way. Not all together.

Readers who love alternate history will devour this quirky, clever tale of friendship, sacrifice, and adventure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823445660
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	03/23/2020
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	677,223
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

E. K. Johnston is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of several YA novels, including Star Wars: Ahsoka and A Thousand Nights. She is also a trained forensic archaeologist, has lived on four continents, and decorates cupcakes in her spare time. These days, she calls Stratford, Ontario, home.

Editorial Reviews

★ "part adventure, part alternative history, part friendship story, part ecological fable and all heroic saga. . . . Grand, heartbreaking, ennobling and unforgettable."―Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
 
"Fantasy fans will love returning to an alternate world in which the armed forces slay dragons. History fans will get a kick out of the way Johnston intermixes actual U.S. and Canadian history with a dragon-friendly story line. Eco-aware fans are unlikely to miss the underlying sentiment that oil brings nothing but trouble in both titles. . . . A fantasy YA novel that steers clear of love triangles, teen angst, and a tidy ending is hard to come by; Prairie Fire and its prequel are must-haves."―School Library Journal
 
"Johnston's solid writing will keep [readers] engaged with her smooth blend of fantasy and realism, all anchored by Siobhan's determined personality and her solid friendship with Owen and his team." ―Booklist
 
"Johnston isn't afraid to write for a world where happy endings are rare, but there is such grace and dignity that heartbroken readers will likely forgive what was almost an inevitable tragic ending for some characters. Knowledge of the first volume will go a long way in adding nuance and background to the characters; more importantly, readers are likely to want to go back just to absorb as much of Owen and Siobhan's story as they can."―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
 
"Siobhan is a flawed but strong and likable heroine who finds her way in the world. Her story is one of finding strength in spite of multiple challenges. . . . One strength of this story is the great use of sensory detail―even when one is being put into an alternative reality, the sensory details of dragons' wings flying over help make these scenes more believable. This story is a must for those who loved the first book and want to continue with the story."―VOYA
 
"The penultimate scene of a Chinook attack that assures Owen's elevation to lasting fame may come as a jolt, but it is Siobhan's transformation into a star in her own right that will stay with readers."―The Horn Book Magazine


Praise for E.K. Johnston's The Story of Owen:

★ "Johnston’s masterful book is a refreshing blend of alternative history, high fantasy, and contemporary teen life."—Booklist, Starred Review

★ "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."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ "Siobhan's narration sings thanks to her dry wit, intelligence, and ability to see the inherent musicality of life, while also commenting on the unreliability of history (and storytelling) and the power of a community to rally to save itself." ―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
 
"nothing short of epic." ―The Horn Book Magazine

From the Publisher

03/01/2015
Gr 8 Up—There is a little something for everyone in this sequel to the acclaimed The Story of Owen (Carolrhoda Lab, 2014). Fantasy fans will love returning to an alternate world in which the armed forces slay dragons. History fans will get a kick out of the way Johnston intermixes actual U.S. and Canadian history with a dragon-friendly story line. Eco-aware fans are unlikely to miss the underlying sentiment that oil brings nothing but trouble in both titles. This time around Owen, Sadie, and Siobhan have enlisted in the Oil Watch (think the U.S. Army, but with more fire drills). While Sadie and Owen excel with ease, troubadour Siobhan struggles to prove her worth. When the three are stationed in separate locations, Siobhan must learn to find her role without the reassurance of her two best friends. VERDICT A fantasy YA novel that steers clear of love triangles, teen angst, and a tidy ending is hard to come by; Prairie Fire and its prequel are must-haves.—Jennifer Furuyama, Pendleton Public Library, OR

School Library Journal

★ 2014-12-22
This follow-up to the acclaimed The Story of Owen (2014) is part adventure, part alternative history, part friendship story, part ecological fable and all heroic saga.Once dragon slayer Owen Thorskard graduates high school, he signs up for his mandatory service in the Oil Watch, and of course Siobhan McQuaid, his bard and best friend, enlists as well. Their previous exploits (chronicled in Siobhan's songs, now a YouTube sensation) have made the pair unpopular with those in power, so they receive the dreariest, most remote deployment: Fort Calgary. Grueling practice gradually coheres their raw support team into a tough fighting unit—and trusted friends. But are they prepared for the test of the biggest, deadliest dragon of all? This sequel is not as perfectly crafted as Johnston's debut: The plethora of new characters is hard to keep straight, the minutiae of military training drag on the pace, and promising subplots peter out without resolution. Still, the narrative is held together by Siobhan's unique voice, which casts every character as an instrument, every event as a melody; all she witnesses is knit together in a symphony expressing universal themes of friendship, duty, loyalty and sacrifice. For all Siobhan's insistence that she merely channels Owen's story, it becomes evident that tales are as much about their tellers and that heroism comes in all forms. Grand, heartbreaking, ennobling and unforgettable. (Fantasy. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews