The Dragon’s Apprentice (The Dragon’s Apprentice #1)

A 12-year-old wakes a slumbering dragon in this rollicking series launch from Riley (the Once upon Another Time series). When Ciara finds the enchanted, millennium-old journal of Dragon Mage apprentice Bianca, whose unsanctioned actions triggered a shadow-monster invasion, she keeps it hidden; because of Bianca, magic is forbidden for all except the Draconic Empire’s ruler and his son. Bianca’s journal entries tell a different story, however, making Ciara question what’s true. Then Ciara’s mother falls ill and they sell their family farm, but before they can trade the proceeds for medicine, the warden learns Ciara’s secret. Though he imprisons Ciara’s mother, Ciara escapes with the journal, inside which appears a spell she uses to summon Bianca’s magister—a crotchety dragon named Scorch, who’s been hibernating since before Bianca’s alleged betrayal. Scorch agrees to teach Ciara enough magic to save her mom, provided she helps him learn what really happened to Bianca, the Dragon Mage, and his siblings. An uproariously funny third-person narrative ping-pongs between Ciara and Scorch, chronicling high-spirited hijinks while unspooling an inventive mythology. Riley’s female characters in particular boast moxie and heart. Ciara cues as white; some characters have brown skin. Ages 8–12. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Apr.)