A sequel to Dragons in a Bag finds Jaxon’s efforts to return the third baby dragon to its home upended by its out-of-control growth, a trickster’s schemes and imbalances between the human and magical worlds. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations. - (Baker & Taylor)
Stealing a baby dragon was easy! Hiding it is a little more complicated, in this second book in the critically acclaimed Dragons in a Bag series.
Jaxon had just one job--to return three baby dragons to the realm of magic. But when he got there, only two dragons were left in the bag. His best friend's sister, Kavita, is a dragon thief!
Kavita only wanted what was best for the baby dragon. But now every time she feeds it, the dragon grows and grows! How can she possibly keep it secret? Even worse, stealing it has upset the balance between the worlds. The gates to the other realm have shut tight! Jaxon needs all the help he can get to find Kavita, outsmart a trickster named Blue, and return the baby dragon to its true home.
Dragons in a Bag continues! Don't miss the next book in the series, The Witch's Apprentice. - (Random House, Inc.)
Zetta Elliott was born in Canada and moved to the United States in 1994. She is the author of over twenty-five books for young readers, including the award-winning picture books Bird and Melena's Jubilee. She is also a contributor to the anthology We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, published by Crown Books for Young Readers. Elliott is an advocate for greater diversity and equity in publishing. A longtime resident of Brooklyn, she currently lives in Illinois. Learn more at zettaelliott.com and follow her on Twitter (@zettaelliott) and on Facebook (Author Zetta Elliott). - (Random House, Inc.)
Booklist Reviews
Jaxon's adventure continues in this sequel to Dragons in a Bag (2018), which left off with Jaxon needing to deliver the three dragons safely into the magical world. Here, he discovers he's from a long line of magicians and begins taking magic lessons with Ma. Trouble arises when his best friend Vik's sister, Kavita, steals one of the dragons, causing a magical drain between worlds. Meanwhile, Vik and Jaxon realize they'll need more help if they expect to track down Kavita and the missing dragon. To this end, they befriend Kenny, the school bully, and discover he isn't actually so bad. Both Kavita and the boys must contend with trickery by the villainous Blue, who has designs on everything magical, and Jaxon has to dig deep within himself if he is to defeat Blue. Readers will be invested in the boys' unlikely friendship, and the bullying theme will resonate with many. Chapter illustrations further enliven the exciting story and support kids developing their independent reading skills. An adventurous, fantastical read for elementary school readers. Grades 2-4. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.
Horn Book Guide Reviews
This Dragons in a Bag sequel alternates between Jaxon, Bag's protagonist, and Kavita, sister of Jaxon's best friend, Vikram. After she steals a dragon from Jaxon, Kavita has a problem: her dragon won't stop growing. She soon learns that there's a gate that will get the dragon back to the realm of magic--but the gate is open for only a short time. Meanwhile, Jaxon and Vikram look for Kavita so they can get the dragon back. Fast-paced, suspenseful, and entertaining. Copyright 2021 Horn Book Guide Reviews.
Horn Book Magazine Reviews
According to Aunty, "every problem has a solution." But what if your problem is a dragon that won't stop growing? This sequel to Dragons in a Bag (rev. 9/18) alternates between Jaxon, the previous book's protagonist, and Kavita, sister of Jaxon's best friend Vikram. After she steals a dragon from Jaxon ("I just wanted one for myself-and Jaxon had three!"), Kavita has that very problem. She soon learns that there is a gate that will get the dragon back home to the realm of magic-but the gate is open for only a short period of time. In another part of the city, Jaxon and Vikram are looking for Kavita so they can get the dragon back. Will they do it in time? If not, what will happen to the balance of this world and the realm of magic? This quick-paced, suspenseful, and entertaining sequel leaves readers ready for Kavita, Jaxon, and Vikram's next adventure. Final art not seen. Nicholl Denice Montgomery November/December 2019 p.85 Copyright 2019 Horn Book Magazine Reviews.
Kirkus Reviews
Jaxon and his friends deal with the fallout from the theft of one of the baby dragons in his charge. As this sequel to Dragons in a Bag (2018) opens, Kavita, the titular dragon thief, introduces elderly Aunty to stolen baby dragon Mo. Thankfully, Aunty knows someone in Queens who can help return Mo to the realm of magic. Meanwhile, and in alternating first-person chapters, Jax is trying to find Kavi and Mo, as Mo's siblings have grown ill as a result of the separation, as has Ma, Jax's magical mentor and grandmother figure. Jax again teams up with his best friend and Kavi's older brother, Vik. A third is added to their crew with "huge" Kenny, "the biggest kid in [their] class." (Unfortunately, much is made of Kenny's size, which feels gratuitous and unkind.) Eventually the trio finds Kavi, Aunty, and Mo, who've been abducted by a magical con artist. All's well that ends well when Sis, the powerful guardian of the magic realm, shows up, but readers may wonder why the narrative decides to grapple with her choice not to intervene in injustice in our world. Her argument that hum an-caused problems are for humans to solve feels undeveloped, especially in the face of a massive injustice like the trans-Atlantic slave trade (mentioned during the climax and at no other point). Jax is black; Vik, Kavi, and Aunty are Indian American (though Aunty has African ancestry as well); and Kenny is white. The rest of the cast is diverse as well. Despite missteps, this satisfying follow-up will leave readers hoping for more magical adventures with lovable Jax and company. (Urban fantasy. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus 2019 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.
