Unreal Reads: To Shape a Dragon's Breath

A young Indigenous woman enters a colonizer-run dragon academy — and quickly finds herself at odds with the "approved" way of doing things — in the first book of this brilliant fantasy series. Join our fiction book club to discuss Moniquill Blackgoose's To Shape A Dragon's Breath . Print copies available at the Brighton Branch front desk, while supplies last. The Unreal Reads book club reads fiction of all kinds. We typically meet on the first Thursday of the month, 6:30 pm at the Brighton Branch, barring holidays or special events. No registration required, you're welcome to drop in. We also welcome readers who decided not to or weren't able to finish the book — as long as you're okay with spoilers. From the book description: The remote island of Masquapaug has not seen a dragon in many generations—until fifteen-year-old Anequs finds a dragon’s egg and bonds with its hatchling. Her people are delighted, for all remember the tales of the days when dragons lived among them and danced away the storms of autumn, enabling the people to thrive. To them, Anequs is revered as Nampeshiweisit—a person in a unique relationship with a dragon. Unfortunately for Anequs, the Anglish conquerors of her land have different opinions. They have a very specific idea of how a dragon should be raised, and who should be doing the raising—and Anequs does not meet any of their requirements. Only with great reluctance do they allow Anequs to enroll in a proper Anglish dragon school on the mainland. If she cannot succeed there, her dragon will be killed. For a girl with no formal schooling, a non-Anglish upbringing, and a very different understanding of the history of her land, challenges abound—both socially and academically. But Anequs is smart, determined, and resolved to learn what she needs to help her dragon, even if it means teaching herself. The one thing she refuses to do, however, is become the meek Anglish miss that everyone expects. Anequs and her dragon may be coming of age, but they’re also coming to power, and that brings an important realization: the world needs changing—and they might just be the ones to do it. Accessibility Notice : We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, contact the department listed in the "Contact Info" pane on the right. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.