The Great Texas Dragon Race

The family of West Texas born-and-raised Cassidy Drake, who’s 13 and reads as white, runs the largest dragon sanctuary in the American Southwest. But with bills piling up and FireCorp, an unscrupulous energy company, looking to buy them out, things seem dire for the sanctuary. To save it, Cassidy plans to follow in her late mother’s footsteps by winning the cash prize at the Great Texas Dragon Race, a weeklong affair that pits participating riders and their dragons against a host of complex challenges and natural hazards. Though her skittish rescue dragon Ranga is smaller than the other riders’ companions, Cassidy knows that Ranga’s speed and agility are top-notch. When facing off against ruthless corporate-sponsored riders, however, Cassidy must form a tentative alliance with fellow independent competitors—such as Latinx-cued Laura Torres and gay cowboy Colt Meyer, also white—if she hopes to stay in the race. In this adrenaline-fueled debut, Ritter fashions a contemporary world infused with an energetic Wild West atmosphere teeming with rich lore and all manner of dragon species. Through Cassidy’s joyful and indomitable first-person voice, Ritter organically examines themes of privilege, financial inequality, and ecological conservation. Ages 8–12. Agent: Adriann Ranta Zurhellen, Folio Literary Management. (Aug.)