Dragons and Witches

Gr 6–10—This collection reimagines legendary villains, placing them in new settings. While teens will easily recognize some of the characters, others present more of a challenge. In "The Pendragon Crystal," readers will quickly pick up that Morgan is based on the half sister of Arthur Pendragon. And it's clear from the title that "A Very Baba Yaga Halloween" centers on the witch from Slavic folklore. However, teens will need to apply their research skills to find out, for instance, that in "Technological Magic," extraterrestrial human being Amalthea is based on Zeus's foster mother from Greek mythology. As a whole, this volume will appeal to fans of retellings. The writing is accessible, and topics such as love, relationships, hauntings, and school are addressed in these tales, making them relatable to teens. Each story is different from the next, and the information provided about each author might pique teens' interest.