Reading Level: ages 9-12

Perhaps it's exciting enough to have parents who manage an exotic wildlife refuge, but John Salt's manage a refuge that is home to the only known clutch of living dragons outside of China. The story begins with twelve-year-old Salt (that's what his friends call him) and his father observing the final flight of the female dragon that came to Spratt. It is her final flight because she has just laid her eggs and will soon die. Salt has few friends. He spends most of his days watching, documenting, and scketching the nine baby dragons.

But this story isn't just about Salt. His best friend's sister, Candi Clark, is the second most popular girl in school, with a deep secret. It is a secret she must keep if she want's to remain popular: she's smart - she's VERY smart.

When Salt's Aunt Mary Athena, who is a famous cosmetics researcher from Paris, comes for an unexpected visit, bad things begin to happen. Mary Athena is the Cruella DeVille of this piece. Instead of dalmation fur, she seeks the fountain of youth qualities of dragon's blood.

Linda Zinnen's writing is funny, smooth, and pack the subtle message of "be true to yourself." The action and the surpise of Mary Athena's fate should keep both boys and girls in the target age range entertained.

— KB SHAW, Publisher, Spectrum - Member SCBWI