A Book Dragon

This new novel by the author of award-winning The Violin Maker and Uncle Jacob's Ghost Story follows the life of a dragon, Nonesuch, from his birth during the Dark Ages up until the present day. Nonesuch survives the changes of history (the War of the Roses, the great fire of London, etc.) by becoming as small as a large insect. He forsakes his family treasure of goldthough his dragon nature demands that he guard somethingand finds treasure of his own: a Book of Hours lovingly illuminated by a monk during Nonesuch's youth near the end of the Middle Ages. He learns to read from a rat during the Black Plague. Centuries later, Nonesuch and his book are in the New World. How he becomes enmeshed in human affairs is at the center of Kushner's quiet, intelligent book. His matter-of-fact treatment of history and philosophical discussions makes this a thought-provoking work. Ages 8-12. (May)