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Dragon Skin
From the author of Lenny's Book of Everything, a deeply affecting, uplifting story in which a girl finds refuge from her difficult home life while caring for an ailing baby dragon.
Pip never wants to be at home nowadays. There’s no laughter anymore, and her mum isn’t happy. She spends most of her time alone, daydreaming and digging for treasure by the dirty creek.
But one night, Pip finds something incredible - a dragon. Tiny, possibly dying, but definitely a dragon. She quickly realises that dragons don’t come with instructions - what do you feed a dragon? Where could it have come from? And how can Pip cope with the enormous changes this creature will bring into her life?
Full of enchanting magic and poignant truths, Dragon Skin is a moving story of friendship, family and finding a way to fly.
Pip never wants to be at home nowadays. There’s no laughter anymore, and her mum isn’t happy. She spends most of her time alone, daydreaming and digging for treasure by the dirty creek.
But one night, Pip finds something incredible - a dragon. Tiny, possibly dying, but definitely a dragon. She quickly realises that dragons don’t come with instructions - what do you feed a dragon? Where could it have come from? And how can Pip cope with the enormous changes this creature will bring into her life?
Full of enchanting magic and poignant truths, Dragon Skin is a moving story of friendship, family and finding a way to fly.
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2021
27 people are currently reading
615 people want to read
About the author
Karen Foxlee
23 books251 followersKaren Foxlee is an Australian author who lives and writes in Queensland. Her young adult novels The Anatomy of Wings (UQP/Knopf/Atlantic) and The Midnight Dress (Knopf/UQP/Hot Key Books) have been published internationally to much acclaim. The Anatomy of Wings won the Commonwealth Writers Prize Best First Book 2008 (South Asia/Pacific), the Dobbie Award 2008, and a Parent’s Choice Gold Award in the U.S. The Midnight Dress was selected as an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults title in 2014. Foxlee’s first middle grade novel Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy (Knopf / Hot Key Books) was published in January 2014 and to date has received several starred reviews.
Karen Foxlee was born in Mount Isa, Queensland in 1971. She has worked most of her adult life as a registered nurse, has a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in creative writing, and lives in Gympie, Australia.
Karen Foxlee was born in Mount Isa, Queensland in 1971. She has worked most of her adult life as a registered nurse, has a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in creative writing, and lives in Gympie, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
September 26, 2021
Sitting quietly at the edge of the waterhole, remembering Mika and not wanting to go home, Pip saw a small creature on the ground. The tiny little dragon was barely alive, but Pip was determined to save him. Keeping him tucked into the hood of her jumper, inside her backpack, Pip smuggled Little Fella inside and into her bedroom, shutting him in the wardrobe. Her mum was home, as was Matt. But Matt was mean, drank too much and scared both her mum and Pip. They needed to get away…
As Pip fed Little Fella mushed weetbix, arrowroots and apple, he finally opened his eyes. He was getting bigger, like a small puppy, becoming heavier in her backpack. She was lonely and really wanted some help – talking to Mika didn’t make much difference. Could she save him? Was it magic?
Dragon Skin by Aussie author Karen Foxlee is set in and around Mt Isa in Queensland, and is a delightful middle grade fantasy story which I loved. A little bit of sadness, some friendship, lots of courage and a determined ten-year-old girl is the perfect recipe for Dragon Skin. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read in exchange for an hone review.
As Pip fed Little Fella mushed weetbix, arrowroots and apple, he finally opened his eyes. He was getting bigger, like a small puppy, becoming heavier in her backpack. She was lonely and really wanted some help – talking to Mika didn’t make much difference. Could she save him? Was it magic?
Dragon Skin by Aussie author Karen Foxlee is set in and around Mt Isa in Queensland, and is a delightful middle grade fantasy story which I loved. A little bit of sadness, some friendship, lots of courage and a determined ten-year-old girl is the perfect recipe for Dragon Skin. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read in exchange for an hone review.
October 23, 2021
Oh, my heart! I think a little bit of Pip's dragon will always live with me. A bold story, filled with magic for times when you desperately need the impossible in your life. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll have the chance to rescue a dragon. You should do it with all your heart and then some. I highly recommend Dragon Skin for anyone but especially those who need to find something deep within themselves. A strength to rescue themselves.
July 21, 2021
So lovely, so heart-breaking and then heart-mending.
August 29, 2022
Pip is exactly the kind of girl I want to read about. She's got pluck. She's got plenty going on in her life, a mum who is torn between the security of having a partner and being stuck in a relationship that isn't good for her or for her daughter, a stepfather who is mean, who resents the attention that Pip gets which he feels takes the light away from him. She's picked on at school by the nasty mean girls, one in particular and she's not supposed to spend time in the place that she loves because it is dangerous. Down by the stream is really the place that makes her the most happy. Poking around, watching the eddies and sitting quietly. One day she finds a tiny creature, something magical, something that she needs to keep secret from her mum. It is a baby dragon, tiny and fragile and Pip is desperate to save it and nurture it, but what if someone finds it?
Pip's story is just glorious, the kind of story that you'd just love to read to a class of kids. The kind where they'd all be hanging on to the edge of their seats or cushions waiting for the next exciting thing to happen. This is Pip's story, but it is also the story of her classmates, of the dragon who they rescue, and it is the story of Pip's mum getting brave with Pip's help.
A lot of this story is also about grief. Pip's best friend Mika has died, and as we eventually find out how it happened, we understand more and more about the community and their relationships with each other, we see the prejudice and loneliness in the town and we see the layers of consequence that people's actions have.
This book is a real gem. I laughed, Pip's turn of phrase was just gorgeous, bringing a wry smile and I was so sad for her as Mika's story unfolded. There is excitement and a little bit of a thrill. This book has it all. Karen Foxlee is a real treasure of a writer. Every word was perfectly placed and genuine warmth in her work. I'm tempted to start it all over again.
Pip's story is just glorious, the kind of story that you'd just love to read to a class of kids. The kind where they'd all be hanging on to the edge of their seats or cushions waiting for the next exciting thing to happen. This is Pip's story, but it is also the story of her classmates, of the dragon who they rescue, and it is the story of Pip's mum getting brave with Pip's help.
A lot of this story is also about grief. Pip's best friend Mika has died, and as we eventually find out how it happened, we understand more and more about the community and their relationships with each other, we see the prejudice and loneliness in the town and we see the layers of consequence that people's actions have.
This book is a real gem. I laughed, Pip's turn of phrase was just gorgeous, bringing a wry smile and I was so sad for her as Mika's story unfolded. There is excitement and a little bit of a thrill. This book has it all. Karen Foxlee is a real treasure of a writer. Every word was perfectly placed and genuine warmth in her work. I'm tempted to start it all over again.
January 11, 2024
Magical and beautiful and funny and full of stars. I really enjoyed this book; it was so wholesome seeing how three schoolfriends bonded over something as out of the ordinary and unbelievable as a baby dragon.
Pip is a misfit schoolgirl living in an abusive household and struggling to come to terms with the loss of her friend Mika. She looks to nature for comfort and spends hours sitting by the waterhole, an area by the creek that never dries up. One day, Pip discovers a baby dragon that is close to death, but with a lot of love and arrowroot biscuits, she manages to nurse him back to health. Naming him Little Fella, she oversees his recovery before introducing him to Laura and Archie. Pip, Laura, and Archie couldn't be more different, but together they heal Little Fella and themselves.
The descriptions of the town, the creek, and the hills were incredibly beautiful. It was portrayed as a harsh and cut off place, but the beauty softened the edges and I could imagine it vividly. Mika sounded like a wonderful friend, and I didn't realize that he had died until the end of the story. After this, I guessed that healing Little Fella was what allowed Pip to sort through her memories of Mika, his voice encouraging her as she learns to let him go. A very special story.
Pip is a misfit schoolgirl living in an abusive household and struggling to come to terms with the loss of her friend Mika. She looks to nature for comfort and spends hours sitting by the waterhole, an area by the creek that never dries up. One day, Pip discovers a baby dragon that is close to death, but with a lot of love and arrowroot biscuits, she manages to nurse him back to health. Naming him Little Fella, she oversees his recovery before introducing him to Laura and Archie. Pip, Laura, and Archie couldn't be more different, but together they heal Little Fella and themselves.
The descriptions of the town, the creek, and the hills were incredibly beautiful. It was portrayed as a harsh and cut off place, but the beauty softened the edges and I could imagine it vividly. Mika sounded like a wonderful friend, and I didn't realize that he had died until the end of the story. After this, I guessed that healing Little Fella was what allowed Pip to sort through her memories of Mika, his voice encouraging her as she learns to let him go. A very special story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2021
This is a story about a girl who discovers a baby dragon, but it’s really about grief, bravery, friendship, and domestic abuse. It is beautifully written and evokes the landscape of Mt Isa and North Queensland so well. I love the tone, and how it deals with challenging topics in a sensitive way. Love love love this.
October 28, 2021
Gosh, where to start. I'm a bookseller - why on earth would I recommend this book to parents and grandparents for their ten-year-old? Two stars isn't a fair rating for the excellent writing and incredible story-telling, BUT.... and a huge "but", this isn't a book I feel comfortable recommending to young readers. There is an underlying menace of an abusive boyfriend, all the joy has been sucked from a little girl's life, especially knowing something dreadful has happened to her best friend. Of course, I recognise this is also a story of hope as young Pip becomes friends with two school colleagues who weren't her friend before she found the baby dragon and she deals with loss and fear with such strength. I wouldn't have given this book to my ten-year-old daughter, I don't think I would have coped with it either. Maybe at 12 to 14??? But by then I was reading much more mature stories and there was no domestic abuse involved. Do kids need to read about this stuff? Do they need a book that has phone numbers for Help Line and Life Line at the back? Sorry, Karen Foxlee - great writing, compelling story, but not confident on the correct market for this one.
July 9, 2022
This is a quietly beautiful book about Pip finding a near-dead baby dragon in a dried-up creek bed and nursing it back to health.
There's so much to love in here. It's one of those soft atmospheric books where not much actually happens but everything creeps up on you until it kicks you in the guts.
I spent a long time trying to figure out if the dragon was real or simply a figment of her imagination that she used as a coping mechanism, and I loved the uncertainty of it all. Because truly, does it even matter? Ultimately the dragon became a tool for Pip to heal, and delivered a message of hope.
Great imagination and imagery are peppered throughout, though most of it takes place in dry outback scrub and creek beds. Once Pip said she was tasting people's emotions I was completely hooked.
There's so much to love in here. It's one of those soft atmospheric books where not much actually happens but everything creeps up on you until it kicks you in the guts.
I spent a long time trying to figure out if the dragon was real or simply a figment of her imagination that she used as a coping mechanism, and I loved the uncertainty of it all. Because truly, does it even matter? Ultimately the dragon became a tool for Pip to heal, and delivered a message of hope.
Great imagination and imagery are peppered throughout, though most of it takes place in dry outback scrub and creek beds. Once Pip said she was tasting people's emotions I was completely hooked.
October 9, 2021
Pip is a young girl living in a hot, dusty, mining town. She misses her best friend, and her mother’s boyfriend is stealing their happiness at home, so she spends her time at the waterhole. One evening she finds a small, sick dragon, and knows she has to save him. It is a magical tale, though it feels completely realistic. Is about friendship, family, safety, loss, loneliness, and hope. It deals gently with domestic abuse, is heartwarming, and with a beautiful sense of place.
November 28, 2021
Ten year old Pip remembers the before time, the time before Matt moved into her home, the time before his “rumbling rock words” made her feel unsafe.
This book introduced me to a brand new swear adjacent word, ‘Fudge-nuggets’. It was also a surprisingly sensitive exploration of the way a child experiences domestic abuse. Matt is a textbook coercive controller and it made me so sad seeing Pip having to make herself smaller inside her previously safe home. I loved her for her courage and her ability to remain open with her friends despite what she’s experiencing at home.
While the reader is under no illusion about how scary Pip’s home life is, I felt the level of detail provided was age appropriate. Young readers who have experienced domestic abuse will likely see themselves in the way Pip describes her home life and will hopefully see that they’re not alone and that help is available.
There was potential for an ugly cry, which I cleverly averted by stopping my reading binge abruptly with about ten pages to go. I finished the book the next day, reading a page at a time to save on tissues.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
Remember to disappear. Remember to stay quiet. Remember to not exist.She also remembers Mika (“Mick. Ahhh.”). He arrived at the end of Grade Three, two weeks after Matt moved in. Mika lived with Mrs Jarvinen, his great-grandmother. Pip shared her places with him.
Mika believed in almost everything! And aliens were his favourite.Now Mika is gone and Pip’s mother is a shell of her former self, controlled by Matt and his “weather patterns”, so when Pip finds a dragon that’s barely clinging to life, she knows she needs to look after him all by herself.
If she told her mum, then her mum would tell Matt and Matt owned everything. Her mother had to tell him everything because he was the king of knowing everything.Pip wants to protect Little Fella and make sure he survives. But as Little Fella begins to heal, changes are also taking place within Pip.
That’s what happened with dragons. You started to believe stuff.I loved that this book was set in Australia. There was even some classic Aussie terminology: Pip ‘wags’ school, Archie’s Mum works at the ‘tuckshop’. It delighted me no end when Pip fed Little Fella Weet-Bix, although he did love spaghetti as well.
This book introduced me to a brand new swear adjacent word, ‘Fudge-nuggets’. It was also a surprisingly sensitive exploration of the way a child experiences domestic abuse. Matt is a textbook coercive controller and it made me so sad seeing Pip having to make herself smaller inside her previously safe home. I loved her for her courage and her ability to remain open with her friends despite what she’s experiencing at home.
While the reader is under no illusion about how scary Pip’s home life is, I felt the level of detail provided was age appropriate. Young readers who have experienced domestic abuse will likely see themselves in the way Pip describes her home life and will hopefully see that they’re not alone and that help is available.
He was dangerous. Dangerous like water. He could seem calm and glassy on top but underneath he was all dark silt and weed.
We have to find out how to make him happy. We have to solve the mystery of how to keep him happy. We have to make everything perfect. When everything is perfect, he’s happy.
Pip hated that worse than any of it. Worse than the shouting, the rumbling rock words, the blaring television hiding the meanness. She hated the next day cover-ups.Although Pip’s mother doesn’t play a huge role in this book, I appreciated being able to witness her own changes, from being entirely controlled by Matt to the stages of readiness she needed to go through in order to leave her abusive relationship. The fact that this part of the story was told through the topics Pip’s mother searches on her phone showed this progression in a way that highlighted to me how difficult even contemplating leaving can be.
There was potential for an ugly cry, which I cleverly averted by stopping my reading binge abruptly with about ten pages to go. I finished the book the next day, reading a page at a time to save on tissues.
Love. That’s what you needed mostly, to save things. And Weet-Bix. And spaghetti.Content warnings include domestic abuse and grief. Readers with emetophobia may have trouble with this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
April 11, 2022
At first I was blinded by the pretty writing, the evocative setting and all the bits that were done very well - such as the development of the friendships between the three children, which was very sweet.
Then I sat back for a little while and I realised...
This book is about NOTHING. And it symbolises and stands for NOTHING.
Let's break it down.
The main topic of this book is domestic violence. No need to pussyfoot around this. The titular "dragon skin" is about our young protagonist shedding her "old life" and escaping from her horrible home life. Which is wonderful, but why? Why the domestic violence storyline? It doesn't actually show the protagonist trying to cope, approach any adults for help, even trying to proactively help her mum. All it does is show a situation of domestic violence. Is it trying to show representation? Because I hell as sure know that any kids reading this book and seeing themselves in it aren't going to find any answers except to see the protagonist sail off into the sunset (which is by no stretch of the imagination - realistic. I mean ironically finding a dragon IRL is more realistic), but not them.
Also the metaphor. The protagonist sheds a skin and begins a new one. She doesn't actually help her mum in any form to hatch a plan to escape and therefore shedding her skin this way. As we know that forming and breaking out of a skin is sure to be uncomfortable and hard and earned. Nope. She just passively sheds a skin while running off into the sunset and gets a new life.
So the lesson here is... shed a skin and run off into the sunset? So the lesson boys and girls if you are stuck in a domestic violence situation, just shed a skin and ESCAPE.
WHO ON EARTH IS THIS BOOK FOR?
I suspect, hush, adults.
This is to give adults hope. Not children. Should be written as an adult book helping adults at escaping these situations because all the practical and emotional action is taken by the adult. Not once does the child have any input in it.
Even the fact that the protagonist makes new friends and then leaves them behind without seemingly caring ...
This book to me is actually toxic.
It's like some well-meaning, but dangerously placed author desperately wants to give a happy-ever-after to domestic abuse victims by just fantasising it as a novel.
Okay, this was my long opinion.
My short opinion is:
Author flicks through How to Train a Dragon and goes hey! I can totally write a dragon.
Then I sat back for a little while and I realised...
This book is about NOTHING. And it symbolises and stands for NOTHING.
Let's break it down.
The main topic of this book is domestic violence. No need to pussyfoot around this. The titular "dragon skin" is about our young protagonist shedding her "old life" and escaping from her horrible home life. Which is wonderful, but why? Why the domestic violence storyline? It doesn't actually show the protagonist trying to cope, approach any adults for help, even trying to proactively help her mum. All it does is show a situation of domestic violence. Is it trying to show representation? Because I hell as sure know that any kids reading this book and seeing themselves in it aren't going to find any answers except to see the protagonist sail off into the sunset (which is by no stretch of the imagination - realistic. I mean ironically finding a dragon IRL is more realistic), but not them.
Also the metaphor. The protagonist sheds a skin and begins a new one. She doesn't actually help her mum in any form to hatch a plan to escape and therefore shedding her skin this way. As we know that forming and breaking out of a skin is sure to be uncomfortable and hard and earned. Nope. She just passively sheds a skin while running off into the sunset and gets a new life.
So the lesson here is... shed a skin and run off into the sunset? So the lesson boys and girls if you are stuck in a domestic violence situation, just shed a skin and ESCAPE.
WHO ON EARTH IS THIS BOOK FOR?
I suspect, hush, adults.
This is to give adults hope. Not children. Should be written as an adult book helping adults at escaping these situations because all the practical and emotional action is taken by the adult. Not once does the child have any input in it.
Even the fact that the protagonist makes new friends and then leaves them behind without seemingly caring ...
This book to me is actually toxic.
It's like some well-meaning, but dangerously placed author desperately wants to give a happy-ever-after to domestic abuse victims by just fantasising it as a novel.
Okay, this was my long opinion.
My short opinion is:
Author flicks through How to Train a Dragon and goes hey! I can totally write a dragon.
September 27, 2021
From the very first page, Dragon Skin is intriguing. It draws you in with the easy to read way Foxlee writes and her creation of Pip. Pip is charismatic and smart, she is honest and exciting. She propels the tale forward at her incredibly fast pace and doesn't let the reader go until her tale is told.
I love that underneath the fantastic idea of dragons, there are complex issues within this book. Foxlee has written about domestic violence in a way that allows younger readers to process safely. That shows how it effects adults and children and describes feelings clearly and simply in a way that younget readers will be able to understand.
I devoured this book, it was impossible to put down. The setting, Pips tenacity, the magical elements of dragons and being free. Pip's tale is one of growth, love and loss and how those elements can present themselves in ways we couldn't dream would be possible.
This book is aimed at middle grade readers and I think it will be something that starts a conversation and inspires them to find their happiness. That being said, there is domestic violence within the pages, of course it is rendered in a way that isn't confronting, but be aware, those elements are still present.
Well written and un-put-downable. Dragon Skin is a joy to read. Fast paced and easy to read, this book will take you on a magical journey that is good for the soul.
Thank you to Allen and Unwin for sending me a #gifted review copy of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love that underneath the fantastic idea of dragons, there are complex issues within this book. Foxlee has written about domestic violence in a way that allows younger readers to process safely. That shows how it effects adults and children and describes feelings clearly and simply in a way that younget readers will be able to understand.
I devoured this book, it was impossible to put down. The setting, Pips tenacity, the magical elements of dragons and being free. Pip's tale is one of growth, love and loss and how those elements can present themselves in ways we couldn't dream would be possible.
This book is aimed at middle grade readers and I think it will be something that starts a conversation and inspires them to find their happiness. That being said, there is domestic violence within the pages, of course it is rendered in a way that isn't confronting, but be aware, those elements are still present.
Well written and un-put-downable. Dragon Skin is a joy to read. Fast paced and easy to read, this book will take you on a magical journey that is good for the soul.
Thank you to Allen and Unwin for sending me a #gifted review copy of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 8, 2021
4.5 stars
FINISHED THIS AT 12:18 AM YESTERDAY BY THE LIGHT OF MY PINK FLASHLIGHT!!
I was gifted this book by my English teacher, and I immediately judged it as a basic middle grade fantasy. I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. It was actually kind of depressing. I did not expect that! The story was so touching, especially told in the voice of sweet 10 year old Pip. The writing was gorgeous. It just added to the beautiful heartbreaking sadness of the whole thing. It's like a more depressing, magical realism, beautiful writing twist on Little Darlings by Jacqueline Wilson. I'm not usually a fan of magical realism, I find it a bit wishy washy and vague and weird. But in this book, it just clicked. It's also written by an Australian author and based off a real Australian town. I will definitely recommend this to people forever. It's so good!!
Also, Little Fella is so cute and just reminded me of the dragon from How to Train a Dragon.
FINISHED THIS AT 12:18 AM YESTERDAY BY THE LIGHT OF MY PINK FLASHLIGHT!!
I was gifted this book by my English teacher, and I immediately judged it as a basic middle grade fantasy. I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. It was actually kind of depressing. I did not expect that! The story was so touching, especially told in the voice of sweet 10 year old Pip. The writing was gorgeous. It just added to the beautiful heartbreaking sadness of the whole thing. It's like a more depressing, magical realism, beautiful writing twist on Little Darlings by Jacqueline Wilson. I'm not usually a fan of magical realism, I find it a bit wishy washy and vague and weird. But in this book, it just clicked. It's also written by an Australian author and based off a real Australian town. I will definitely recommend this to people forever. It's so good!!
Also, Little Fella is so cute and just reminded me of the dragon from How to Train a Dragon.
January 26, 2022
A beautifully written book, set in outback Queensland, 10 year old Pip is struggling with the grief of losing her best friend and the terror of living with domestic violence. A thoughtful narrative for all ages.
January 31, 2022
The amount of times I cried in this book is astronomical
Gorgeous story about 10 year old Pip who finds a dying dragon in a waterhole in rural Queensland (Mt Isa) and decides to try and help it while navigating the grief of losing a friend, while living with her mother and dealing with domestic abuse. Fantastically written and pulled at all the heartstrings, this was lovely and sad (happy ending tho!!). Good stuff for the cathartic PAIN + I enjoyed all the Aussie words (tuckshop! wagging school! Weetbix!!)
Gorgeous story about 10 year old Pip who finds a dying dragon in a waterhole in rural Queensland (Mt Isa) and decides to try and help it while navigating the grief of losing a friend, while living with her mother and dealing with domestic abuse. Fantastically written and pulled at all the heartstrings, this was lovely and sad (happy ending tho!!). Good stuff for the cathartic PAIN + I enjoyed all the Aussie words (tuckshop! wagging school! Weetbix!!)
June 27, 2022
My heart! Superb handling of a difficult - but sadly all too relevant - issue of our times.
October 21, 2021
Don’t you love it when your expectations of a book are not only met but exceeded (by a long way)?
Dragon Skin by Karen Foxlee is probably not worthy of one of my dodgy mini-reviews but here goes…
This novel is most definitely a book to read and read again and that’s coming from a reader who is pretty much a one time only gal.
It’s being sold as middle grade fiction but just like Lenny’s Book of Everything this book is for everyone.
Do not be fooled by the title and sweet cover into thinking this is a charming fairytale - this book is incredibly complex and layered but yes it is heartbreaking and beautiful in a truly allegorical way.
If you know a child who needs to read a story of courage and friendship and sacrifice and sadness and hope buy them this book and make sure you read it too.
Dragon Skin by Karen Foxlee is probably not worthy of one of my dodgy mini-reviews but here goes…
This novel is most definitely a book to read and read again and that’s coming from a reader who is pretty much a one time only gal.
It’s being sold as middle grade fiction but just like Lenny’s Book of Everything this book is for everyone.
Do not be fooled by the title and sweet cover into thinking this is a charming fairytale - this book is incredibly complex and layered but yes it is heartbreaking and beautiful in a truly allegorical way.
If you know a child who needs to read a story of courage and friendship and sacrifice and sadness and hope buy them this book and make sure you read it too.
November 2, 2022
Pip, QLD outback found a dragon in the mud.
Grief over Mika's passing (her friend)
Laura and... also from same school.
Oz terms: Weetabix, Bunyip, Mount Isa, blocky blokes culture in pubs...
Lollipop sticks and sticky tape to mend wings ;-)
Chilling accent on domestic violence! (between mum and Matt). At times wondering if book written for adult readers.
Nice description of mum's screen interest, jumping from this to that
Excellent description of precious "little fella": you can feel/see it, delicate, alive and black.
A bit slow and long. Multiple "Spinifex".
Y6+
Grief over Mika's passing (her friend)
Laura and... also from same school.
Oz terms: Weetabix, Bunyip, Mount Isa, blocky blokes culture in pubs...
Lollipop sticks and sticky tape to mend wings ;-)
Chilling accent on domestic violence! (between mum and Matt). At times wondering if book written for adult readers.
Nice description of mum's screen interest, jumping from this to that
Excellent description of precious "little fella": you can feel/see it, delicate, alive and black.
A bit slow and long. Multiple "Spinifex".
Y6+
January 5, 2022
Year 6+ readers. Themes: domestic violence, grief, friendship, mothers, dragons, animals
Very slow and repetitive story line. The themes and writing are sophisticated for upper primary and I would recommend for year 7 onwards. It is a sad story on many different fronts and might be a lot of students younger to process.
Very slow and repetitive story line. The themes and writing are sophisticated for upper primary and I would recommend for year 7 onwards. It is a sad story on many different fronts and might be a lot of students younger to process.
November 3, 2021
Beautifully written
I just wish DV situations were so easy to leave
I just wish DV situations were so easy to leave
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2022
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. Very slow to develop. Needed more magic and more fun. Pretty heavy for such a young audience.
January 17, 2022
Every story that multi award-winning author Karen Foxlee creates brims with magic, heart and beauty, and features young people with big dreams, challenging obstacles and a knack for discovering parts of themselves they never knew existed. Her latest middle-grade fiction book Dragon Skin (Allen and Unwin 2021) is no exception.
Ten-year-old Pip lives with her mum, Melissa, whom she adores, and her mum’s boyfriend, Matt, who is not so great. In fact, Pip’s mum becomes somehow less when Matt is around – less fun, less happy, less confident, less brave, less easy in her own skin. Pip used to have a best friend, a new boy called Mika, who seemed to understand her in a way nobody else did. Together they went exploring, learnt facts and thought about the universe. But now Mika has gone, and Pip sits at their waterhole alone, and often lonely.
When she finds a dying creature in the mud, she smuggles it home to try and care for it. But who knows how to care for a dragon? Surely not ordinary Pip, who must spend all her time trying to make herself invisible – or at least as small as possible – in her own house.
As the days pass, and Pip tries a combination of Weet-bix, sticky-tape, sugar and water, she learns that the most important ingredient of all is to believe in everything.
Written in Karen Foxlee’s unmistakeable style, with characters you will fall in love with, and language that sings from the pages, Dragon Skin touches on themes of friendship, grief, abuse, powerlessness, families, love, magic and mysteries and the infinite possibilities of childhood. A truly beautiful novel that will resonate with young people finding their way, navigating relationships, and searching for their true purpose in life.
Ten-year-old Pip lives with her mum, Melissa, whom she adores, and her mum’s boyfriend, Matt, who is not so great. In fact, Pip’s mum becomes somehow less when Matt is around – less fun, less happy, less confident, less brave, less easy in her own skin. Pip used to have a best friend, a new boy called Mika, who seemed to understand her in a way nobody else did. Together they went exploring, learnt facts and thought about the universe. But now Mika has gone, and Pip sits at their waterhole alone, and often lonely.
When she finds a dying creature in the mud, she smuggles it home to try and care for it. But who knows how to care for a dragon? Surely not ordinary Pip, who must spend all her time trying to make herself invisible – or at least as small as possible – in her own house.
As the days pass, and Pip tries a combination of Weet-bix, sticky-tape, sugar and water, she learns that the most important ingredient of all is to believe in everything.
Written in Karen Foxlee’s unmistakeable style, with characters you will fall in love with, and language that sings from the pages, Dragon Skin touches on themes of friendship, grief, abuse, powerlessness, families, love, magic and mysteries and the infinite possibilities of childhood. A truly beautiful novel that will resonate with young people finding their way, navigating relationships, and searching for their true purpose in life.
January 2, 2024
What a way to start the year. Karen Foxlee has written a beautifully moving story for children that should become an Australian classic.
It has a timelessness to it, and the setting could be any isolated country town in Australia (although Foxlee confesses that it is inspired by Mt. Isa).You can smell the eucalypt, hear the cockatoos and feel the summer heat.
Pip's home life is no longer safe, since her mum's boyfriend moved in. 'Matt liked Pip in her room with the light off and the door closed so he could have her mum all to himself. He didn't like any competition. Competition made him angry.' In fact, a lot of things make Matt angry, and Pip's mum has lost herself in trying to placate this angry man.
Sitting near her favourite waterhole at dusk, remembering her best friend Mika, Pip sees something that doesn't belong. Something that she immediately knows needs her help to survive. So she takes 'Little Fella' home and hides him in her closet. Pip feels 'protective of him, motherly, and that inflating pain ballooned inside her chest and the tears welled in her eyes'. As she learns to trust some new friends, the story behind Mika's disappearance is revealed.
This novel has all the elements needed to create a perfect book: there is suspense and magic; sorrow and loss; friendship and adventure; and a baby dragon to draw all these elements together.
Highly recommended for readers aged 10-14 years old.
It has a timelessness to it, and the setting could be any isolated country town in Australia (although Foxlee confesses that it is inspired by Mt. Isa).You can smell the eucalypt, hear the cockatoos and feel the summer heat.
Pip's home life is no longer safe, since her mum's boyfriend moved in. 'Matt liked Pip in her room with the light off and the door closed so he could have her mum all to himself. He didn't like any competition. Competition made him angry.' In fact, a lot of things make Matt angry, and Pip's mum has lost herself in trying to placate this angry man.
Sitting near her favourite waterhole at dusk, remembering her best friend Mika, Pip sees something that doesn't belong. Something that she immediately knows needs her help to survive. So she takes 'Little Fella' home and hides him in her closet. Pip feels 'protective of him, motherly, and that inflating pain ballooned inside her chest and the tears welled in her eyes'. As she learns to trust some new friends, the story behind Mika's disappearance is revealed.
This novel has all the elements needed to create a perfect book: there is suspense and magic; sorrow and loss; friendship and adventure; and a baby dragon to draw all these elements together.
Highly recommended for readers aged 10-14 years old.
February 20, 2023
Her only one true best friend is gone forever and her Mum's new boyfriend is toxic and controlling but ten year old Pip has just found a baby dragon near death down at the creek. What do dragon's eat? How do you take care of one? And can you keep it hidden and safe from prying eyes? It's all a monumental juggling act but she has Mika's voice in her ear offering advice and unexpected new friendships that change everything. If only Pip knew what the troubling changes wrought by the dragons bite meant?
The setting is atmospheric and beautifully described and Foxlee yet again takes an unexpected heroine and gives her the strength to deal with all the challenges in her life, with grief and wishing she could get her old mum back, the one she had before Matt came on the scene. How can they be free again to do all the things they used to do, or planned to do?
Pip's journey nursing the baby dragon back to health and freedom, echoes her own journey through that grief, and regaining freedom for herself and her mum. I loved the blend of fantasy and gritty realism and the well crafted and at times poetic prose. Recommended.
The setting is atmospheric and beautifully described and Foxlee yet again takes an unexpected heroine and gives her the strength to deal with all the challenges in her life, with grief and wishing she could get her old mum back, the one she had before Matt came on the scene. How can they be free again to do all the things they used to do, or planned to do?
Pip's journey nursing the baby dragon back to health and freedom, echoes her own journey through that grief, and regaining freedom for herself and her mum. I loved the blend of fantasy and gritty realism and the well crafted and at times poetic prose. Recommended.
October 22, 2022
This is a wonderful and harsh book. It is not a fast book. Please be patient with it.
Pip is missing her friend Mika and doesn't feel like she fits with the other kids but finds a dragon on the brink of death. Pip's Mum (Melissa) is trying to escape an abusive relationship.
It's a beautifully woven story, Pip looking after the dragon and making friends (as well as being quite bold with her mother), Mika's story and the loss of him, Melissa trying to keep her daughter safe even though she is suffering at the hands of her boyfriend. (This maybe hard for some people to read, particularly kids in the target audience but I imagine some kids will also relate quite strongly as well.)
Cried like a baby at the end, not just at the release of Little Fella (the cutest little dragon), but at Melissa and Pip leaving.
Also, if your roses are struggling... dragon poop is the answer.
Pip is missing her friend Mika and doesn't feel like she fits with the other kids but finds a dragon on the brink of death. Pip's Mum (Melissa) is trying to escape an abusive relationship.
It's a beautifully woven story, Pip looking after the dragon and making friends (as well as being quite bold with her mother), Mika's story and the loss of him, Melissa trying to keep her daughter safe even though she is suffering at the hands of her boyfriend. (This maybe hard for some people to read, particularly kids in the target audience but I imagine some kids will also relate quite strongly as well.)
Cried like a baby at the end, not just at the release of Little Fella (the cutest little dragon), but at Melissa and Pip leaving.
Also, if your roses are struggling... dragon poop is the answer.
August 10, 2022
5/5
This is not a usual read for me but is required for a uni assignment.
I was taken away by this book and could not believe the emotional topics covered. These topics were covered and handled so well and delicately and at a level that students can understand what is going on, and create their own opinions about it. The story itself was beautiful and unique there was friendship, heartbreak, healing and hope. I'm only reading this for an assignment for my university unit in teaching, however once completing uni this would be a book I would keep and introduce to any stage 2 or 3 class.
Pip was such a fantastic character, while there were moments of heartbreak about her home life I was glad there was a resolution at the end, although I would have liked a few more pages reflecting "a month later" or something along those lines.
This is not a usual read for me but is required for a uni assignment.
I was taken away by this book and could not believe the emotional topics covered. These topics were covered and handled so well and delicately and at a level that students can understand what is going on, and create their own opinions about it. The story itself was beautiful and unique there was friendship, heartbreak, healing and hope. I'm only reading this for an assignment for my university unit in teaching, however once completing uni this would be a book I would keep and introduce to any stage 2 or 3 class.
Pip was such a fantastic character, while there were moments of heartbreak about her home life I was glad there was a resolution at the end, although I would have liked a few more pages reflecting "a month later" or something along those lines.
May 18, 2022
Pip doesn’t want to go home. Mum’s boyfriend is unpredictable and mean and had stopped her mother from working, criticises everything she does and scares both Pip and her mother.
Pip spends as much time exploring around Mt Isa as possible and on one of her expeditions, she finds a small, nearly dead scaley thing in a dried creek bed. Her decision to take it home makes her life suddenly much more complicated. What did she find, who ends up helping her and what happens at home?
I enjoyed the characters and Queensland setting. The background tension around the domestic violence adds richness to the story.
Recommended for middle-grade readers.
Pip spends as much time exploring around Mt Isa as possible and on one of her expeditions, she finds a small, nearly dead scaley thing in a dried creek bed. Her decision to take it home makes her life suddenly much more complicated. What did she find, who ends up helping her and what happens at home?
I enjoyed the characters and Queensland setting. The background tension around the domestic violence adds richness to the story.
Recommended for middle-grade readers.
December 3, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me the arc. This book is beautifully written and cute. Most importantly, the cover is pretty too. Since this book is for middle grade, the writing style is simple and easy to understand. Not only for children but for someone who is not an english native speaker. I enjoy reading this. Mix between fantasy and reality. Really recommend this.
May 20, 2023
Oh wow, what a story. My heart and eyes are sore from this tale. Pip was such an amazing character, and Mika was so beautifully brought alive through this story. The domestic abuse element was written about so tenderly and from the eyes of child made is so more frighteningly real.
This book has made a mark on me.
This book has made a mark on me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2021
Truly a wonderful story.
The ending is a little bittersweet as there is no guarantee that what happened before won't happen again... but there's hope
The ending is a little bittersweet as there is no guarantee that what happened before won't happen again... but there's hope
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