Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races

by K. D. Halbrook, Ilse Gort (Illustrator)

Overview

"Hand this to the Rick Riordan crowd, or to kids who like Tui Sutherland’s Wings of Fire series."—School Library Journal

Set in a vivid, Arab-inspired world filled with friendly and fearsome water dragons, K.D. Halbrook’s Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races is a middle-grade fantasy adventure, with illustrations by Ilse Gort, that's perfect for fans of Tui T. Sutherland, Sayantani DasGupta, and Roshani Chokshi.

Thirteen-year-old Silver Batal calls the desert home, but her heart belongs to the waters. Although she’s expected to become a jeweler like her father, Silver harbors a secret and forbidden wish to race water dragons. Destiny comes calling when her friendship with a mysterious old woman leads her to Hiyyan, a baby dragon that can swim and fly.

Risking everything, Silver, Hiyyan, and her resourceful cousin Brajon set off across the desert to join the legendary races in the royal city. But the road to Calidia is filled with danger, and the trio must band together as they encounter ferocious cave beasts, clever desert foxes, and cutthroat competition.

As Silver and Hiyyan soar through the skies and speed through the seas, both must learn what they're willing to sacrifice for a shot at glory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250250544
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	08/18/2020
Series:	Silver Batal , #1
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	609,927
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.50(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	680L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 14 Years

About the Author

K. D. Halbrook grew up in California, surrounded by the gorgeous food, family bonds, and Arab-family quirks that inspired the world of Silver Batal. She’s also the author of the middle-grade novel Smoke and Mirrors, as well as several young adult titles under the name Kristin Halbrook. She currently resides in Seattle with her family.

Editorial Reviews

"An imaginative delight."—Sayantani DasGupta, New York Times-bestselling author of The Serpent's Secret

"Silver and her dragon Hiyyan will race into your heart. This is a world you'll never want to leave."—Kamilla Benko, author of the Unicorn Quest series.

"Nonstop adventure and a brilliantly realized world—I never wanted to leave Silver's side! An epic, unforgettable story—I'm already dying for the next installment!"—Amie Kaufman, New York Times-bestselling author of Elementals: Ice Wolves

"Halbrook’s latest is a fun, fast-paced adventure with an engaging supporting cast in which young fantasy lovers will delight."—Booklist

"Hand this to the Rick Riordan crowd, or to kids who like Tui Sutherland’s Wings of Fire series."—School Library Journal

"[A] rip-roaring adventure. Halbrook's worldbuilding includes a rich taxonomy of water dragons who are fully realized, with emotions, loyalty, and aspirations."—Kirkus

From the Publisher

04/01/2019

Gr 5–8—Desert-dweller Silver Batal knows in her heart that she's destined to race water dragons, but the desert lacks both water and dragons. Turns out her dragon bond, Hiyyan, will come to her—and Silver, along with her cousin Brajon, must embark on a dangerous quest to save Hiyyan's mother. A perilous journey brings them into contact with bloodsucking worms, vicious cave monsters, and (most deadly of all) the world's greatest dragon racer, Sagittaria Wonder. Can two kids outwit a scheming queen, cutthroat competitors, and a prince in hiding? This book will appeal to fans of the "Rick Riordan Presents" series as it features the same well-known combination of action, adventure, and magic. There's quite a bit left to the imagination, but fans of the genre will be willing to forgive the somewhat flat world-building and thin descriptions of the dragons (Hiyyan could just as easily be an over-large dog, with his goofy grin and slobbering tongue) once they get to the dragon races. And while the untrained Silver's win over experienced racers may strain credulity for the adults in the room, the intended audience won't care. VERDICT Hand this to the Rick Riordan crowd, or to kids who like Tui Sutherland's "Wings of Fire" series.—Elizabeth Friend, Wester Middle School, TX

School Library Journal

2019-04-10
Thirteen-year-old Silver Batal lives in the desert town of Jaspaton and wants only to go to the capital city of Calidia to race water dragons.

She is meant to follow in her family's legacy and become a jeweler, but she secretly plans to leave Jaspaton when she learns Sagittaria Wonder, "the best and most brilliant Desert Nations water dragon racer in the whole world," will be visiting. Only her cousin Brajon, also 13, knows her secret. She befriends elderly and mysterious Nebekker, who promises to help her make a racing suit to impress her hero. However, her plans are thwarted when Sagittaria reveals herself to be far less than heroic, stealing Kirja, Nebekker's bonded dragon, kept in secret outside of town. Silver also meets and bonds with Kirja's baby, whom she names Hiyyan. The bond between a human and dragon is so strong that "you would do anything the other needs. Even die for each other. And when the day of death comes for one, the other cannot live." Silver, Hiyyan, and Brajon's quest to rescue Kirja takes them to Calidia and readers on a rip-roaring adventure. Halbrook's worldbuilding includes a rich taxonomy of water dragons who are fully realized, with emotions, loyalty, and aspirations. The history of water dragons and the geopolitics of the Desert Nations are smoothly woven into her adventure plot. Halbrook, who is of Lebanese heritage, injects cultural details readers familiar with the Arab world will recognize.

For readers who enjoy a fantasy-filled world of adventure. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews