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Jason and the Draconauts
Fifteen-year-old Jason Hewes is a fairly ordinary kid, with fairly ordinary problems. He's more interested in dinosaurs and fantasy role-playing games than sports, making him a target for local bullies, and his dating successes are best described as sporadic. He's just another kid struggling to get through life in a small rural town in Montana. Nothing exciting or exceptional ever happens to him. The impact of something heavy crashing into the ground of the Hewes' family farmhouse shakes the house and Jason's life. Whatever hits the ground scurries into the barn, followed by a frightened but curious Jason. Jason has just discovered a creature out of legend; a beast which all logic tells him should not-could not-exist. Some kids might run. Others might scream or faint. Instead, Jason befriends the ancient creature, and in doing so learns an entire mythic species is emerging from a centuries-long slumber. Jason isn't the only one to notice large, leathery-winged beasts taking to the skies of modern Montana. A powerful and long-forgotten evil is watching his newly-revived enemies closely. He'll do anything to destroy his bitter foes and their new-found allies-allies that now include Jason Hewes. Paul Smith's debut novel, Jason and the Draconauts is a witty, funny adventure story where an ordinary teen finds himself in an extraordinary situation, and in doing so, finds himself capable of performing the impossible.
- GenresFantasy
363 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2013
3 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 31, 2014
Jason and the Draconauts is officially here!!! I completely loved this debut young adult novel by Paul Smith. Filled with top-notch fantasy and adventure, Jason and the Draconauts is sure to please.
This novel is about a young man named Jason who is just your average kid with you average life... that is, until he meets a dragon. Jason has had his fair share of run-ins with the town bullies and has had some issues going on at home. All of that seems like nothing once he discovers a real life talking dragon! It is something to make you question your sanity- I mean, we all know that dragons aren't real... but, just maybe, they are. Jason sticks around to uncover the truth behind these beasts who have shown themselves to him. This isn't a fairy tale though- those dragons have brought evil with them, and in to Jason's life.
Thrilling, funny, and brimming with adventure, Jason and the Draconauts is a grand debut from Paul Smith. Dragons may lead you to believe this is a book only for boys- but this novel is fun and accessible for girls too. With morals and and a great story to build on, this novel is one to share with all young readers. Budding readers and advanced readers alike will enjoy this entertaining story. I highly recommend this book!
This novel is about a young man named Jason who is just your average kid with you average life... that is, until he meets a dragon. Jason has had his fair share of run-ins with the town bullies and has had some issues going on at home. All of that seems like nothing once he discovers a real life talking dragon! It is something to make you question your sanity- I mean, we all know that dragons aren't real... but, just maybe, they are. Jason sticks around to uncover the truth behind these beasts who have shown themselves to him. This isn't a fairy tale though- those dragons have brought evil with them, and in to Jason's life.
Thrilling, funny, and brimming with adventure, Jason and the Draconauts is a grand debut from Paul Smith. Dragons may lead you to believe this is a book only for boys- but this novel is fun and accessible for girls too. With morals and and a great story to build on, this novel is one to share with all young readers. Budding readers and advanced readers alike will enjoy this entertaining story. I highly recommend this book!
May 16, 2014
I received "Jason and the Draconauts" for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This was an entertaining story full of adventures and unexpected twists. The author's writing style is unique; he described thorough each scene and he also offered multiple Point of Views that complemented the story in a perfect way.
The characters were really solid and realistic, I liked each one of the personalities, and the fact that they were all so different and they became friends was amazing!
I really liked this book, though there were moments I felt it was going really slowly and frustrated me a little, this is worth reading and I loved that it made me laugh out loud!
That cliffhanger left me wanting for more, so I'll be looking for the next book.
This was an entertaining story full of adventures and unexpected twists. The author's writing style is unique; he described thorough each scene and he also offered multiple Point of Views that complemented the story in a perfect way.
The characters were really solid and realistic, I liked each one of the personalities, and the fact that they were all so different and they became friends was amazing!
I really liked this book, though there were moments I felt it was going really slowly and frustrated me a little, this is worth reading and I loved that it made me laugh out loud!
That cliffhanger left me wanting for more, so I'll be looking for the next book.
April 5, 2015
Paul Smith's Jason and the Draconauts was a fantastic read that had me hooked from the start. With a great assortment of lively interesting and compelling characters, there was plenty of excitement, drama and humour wrapped into the nicely woven plot. The ending sets up nicely for the next instalment in what promises to be a super series. This is a must read for the young and the not so young dragon lovers among us.
January 25, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I found myself trying to make time to just read a little bit further to find out what was going to happen next. I found both the adventure and the emotional development of the characters to be thoroughly compelling. Can't wait to share it with my nephew!
March 26, 2020
July 2014
This was a fun and easy read. My 9-year-old and I both read it on a short period of time and are eagerly awaiting #2. It is clean YA with an interesting take on dragons.
March 2020
Paul is doing a Zoom book club for this book so we're reading it out loud as a family.
This was a fun and easy read. My 9-year-old and I both read it on a short period of time and are eagerly awaiting #2. It is clean YA with an interesting take on dragons.
March 2020
Paul is doing a Zoom book club for this book so we're reading it out loud as a family.
April 25, 2022
The author Paul. D Smith created an amazing fictional fantasy series that caught my eye and made for an excellent read. The setting of this story is in the year 2010 in Malta, Montana where dragons awake from a long-lasting slumber. The main protagonist Jason is a very witty computer geek that finds himself in the fantastical adventure of a lifetime when a wounded mythological beast ends up in his barn. Jason being frightened and an overall mix of emotions made his way to his barn with the aid of his trusty vegetable peeler.
But once Jason stepped into that barn his whole world changed to see the likes of a dragon being alive in the year 2010!! After the ensuing altercation, Jason realized that dragons were not the mindless beasts that like to kill and ravage without a thought in their mind but that they were capable of human speech and many other amazing tricks. But most importantly they didn't want to harm anyone. Later in the story, Jason banded together with four other teens to try to find a way to help the dragons survive in this new world of 2010. While searching for answers on how dragons are in the new world the kids find out magic and sorcery is still alive and thriving throughout the millennia's. After the teens find out magic is real the kids enlist the help of a mage to do a spell on the kids and the dragons. The teens had thought they had everything right to help the dragons, but something unexpected and erratic happened that may have altered the fate of the kids and dragons for good.
But once Jason stepped into that barn his whole world changed to see the likes of a dragon being alive in the year 2010!! After the ensuing altercation, Jason realized that dragons were not the mindless beasts that like to kill and ravage without a thought in their mind but that they were capable of human speech and many other amazing tricks. But most importantly they didn't want to harm anyone. Later in the story, Jason banded together with four other teens to try to find a way to help the dragons survive in this new world of 2010. While searching for answers on how dragons are in the new world the kids find out magic and sorcery is still alive and thriving throughout the millennia's. After the teens find out magic is real the kids enlist the help of a mage to do a spell on the kids and the dragons. The teens had thought they had everything right to help the dragons, but something unexpected and erratic happened that may have altered the fate of the kids and dragons for good.
June 9, 2025
Exciting, Imaginative, and Perfect for Fantasy Fans!
Jason and the Draconauts is a thrilling adventure where an ordinary teen discovers dragons are real—and he's their unlikely ally. Packed with heart, humor, and high-stakes danger, this fast-paced read is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and Eragon. A fun, unforgettable debut—don’t miss it!
Jason and the Draconauts is a thrilling adventure where an ordinary teen discovers dragons are real—and he's their unlikely ally. Packed with heart, humor, and high-stakes danger, this fast-paced read is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and Eragon. A fun, unforgettable debut—don’t miss it!
August 25, 2020
Very good Dragon fantasy. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 29, 2024
I’m biased since Paul was my housemate at one time.
October 24, 2017
This was an incredible book. It's one of my favorite books that I've read. The action was very exciting and kept me entertained, the dialogue was detailed and added a lot to the book, and humor made it never dull.
January 20, 2016
Wow what a dragon-tastic novel! Packed full of excitement and danger with the story, captivating the reader as Jason supported by his good friend George are cought up in a world of dragons. There are amazing turns of events, fantastic characters, scary elements, action and so much more in this very descriptive fantasy lovers delight.
I felt as though I were standing alongside Jason in the storm that delivered the strange, grammar corecting dragon, Petros complete with his photographic memory, to this teens family farm. There is so much more to this fantasy novel as Smith tackles bereavment, bullying, friendships and many other aspects of life.
I have to mention a quirk that I loved being that interactions between George and pretty Tiffany, in her dragon form leaving George being left rather sunburned with scorched eyebrows and a severe lack of eye lashes.
I am sure this novel by Paul D. Smith will be much loved by young adults as they join on this ever surprising journey with Jason.
I felt as though I were standing alongside Jason in the storm that delivered the strange, grammar corecting dragon, Petros complete with his photographic memory, to this teens family farm. There is so much more to this fantasy novel as Smith tackles bereavment, bullying, friendships and many other aspects of life.
I have to mention a quirk that I loved being that interactions between George and pretty Tiffany, in her dragon form leaving George being left rather sunburned with scorched eyebrows and a severe lack of eye lashes.
I am sure this novel by Paul D. Smith will be much loved by young adults as they join on this ever surprising journey with Jason.
June 28, 2016
I read this to my fifth grade class this year and we all loved it. The author, Paul D. Smith, brought us on a journey of the imagination. We were transported to small town Malta, Montana and hung out with Jason, his crew, and of course - dragons.
We had so much fun with every chapter of this story and didn’t want to put it down. The character’s, both human and dragon, are so thoroughly developed that each of my students had their personal favorites. If you’re looking for a book that is packed with suspense, action, and a bit of humor then Jason and the Draconauts is for you.
I’m highly recommending this book to my students and will surely continue with the second book. The visual experiences that Mr. Smith creates are stunning and each chapter will leave you wanting more.
We had so much fun with every chapter of this story and didn’t want to put it down. The character’s, both human and dragon, are so thoroughly developed that each of my students had their personal favorites. If you’re looking for a book that is packed with suspense, action, and a bit of humor then Jason and the Draconauts is for you.
I’m highly recommending this book to my students and will surely continue with the second book. The visual experiences that Mr. Smith creates are stunning and each chapter will leave you wanting more.
December 24, 2015
I was so bored... I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I felt like this was a how to train your dragons knock-off (yes, I know it's a bit different), but still dragons and teenagers... I skimmed the rest of it. Sorry, but this was not a well written book. I wanted to like it so much, because he's from my hometown and I like to be supportive of local writers. If he writes something else, I'll read it and hopefully the next will be better!
February 22, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't wait to see what adventure would unfold in Jason's life. Great twists and turns! Can't wait to read the next adventure!
April 27, 2014
I loved the characters and the imaginative premise of the story. My only complaint is that it ends in cliff-hanger. I wish there had been an ending.
October 9, 2014
Enjoyable book with a spin on human/dragon partnership that I've not seen before.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews