Author: Kathryn Butler
Recommended Age: 12-14
Genre: Portal Fantasy, Allegory
Summary: When Lily McKinley came home from school, she never expected to find a dragon in her kitchen eating her mom’s chili. A dragon, that is, who speaks with a British accent, prefers the title of “scout”, and calls himself Cedric. And Lily is even more shocked to discover that a whole different realm is just beyond her fingertips, and Cedric has been looking for her.
Notes from The Radical Reader:
- Noble Characters: Lily McKinley just wants to make life easier for her mom, her grandma, and herself since her dad vanished. When she meets Cedric and is transported to the Somnium Realm, Lily discovers that a much more serious task lies before her.
- Captivating Plots: Talking dragons. A distant, strange dimension. Dreams that come to life. Readers will be transported to the Somnium Realm where Lily McKinley fights to uncover the lies and discover the truth about her dad and herself, before the Realm is taken over by the wicked Eymah, and all hope of restoration vanishes.
- Elaborate Worlds: From Castle Iridyll and The Petrified Forest, to the Cave of Lights and the Valley of Mist Elves, the Western Reaches of the Somnium Realm are filled with evil forces, loyal creatures, and faint rumors of Prince Pax who may one day return to his people.
Noteworthy Elements:
- Profanity: Cedric the dragon uses the phrase “dash it all” a handful of times. The words “darn”, “dagnabbit”, “heck”, and “bloomin” are each used once. The word “hellish” is used to describe a shroud. The phrases “I’ll be the devil”, “son of a gun”, and “hill o’beans” are each used once.
- Spiritual: In the story, shrouds (wicked creatures) are the physical products of a person’s nightmares and fears (such as monsters under the bed). While none of them are grotesque in their descriptions, this might frighten some readers. A person compares a magical object in the kingdom to a talisman, but they are proven to be wrong. There are references to dream catchers. There are references to a warlock, sorceress, and witch (all of which are viewed negatively). A creature is referred to as a “demon”. In The Last Keeper a wicked king is possessed by the evil ruler of the shrouds. However, his possession is overcome by Prince Pax, the allegorical Christ-figure of the story.
- Other: Lily’s father in The Quest for the Guardians repeatedly warns his daughter to avoid the soothstone, insisting that she’s too young to use it. Her dad realizes that his overprotectiveness reveals his lack of wholehearted trust in Prince Pax’s authority. While this controversy first appears as a stereotypical dumb dad situation, the author instead beautifully shows a father struggling to protect his daughter in the battle she faces after accepting the call of the Prince.
