The last book I read during winter break was City of Dragons: The Awakening Storm by Jaimal Yogis and Vivian Truong. This fantasy graphic novel is about Grace, a girl who starts going to the Hong Kong International School after she moves to Hong Kong with her mom and new stepdad. During the first week of school, she goes on a field trip with her classmates. When Grace and her new friend, Ramesh, decide to explore the city on their own, they come across a mysterious old woman who gifts Grace with a dragon egg. To Grace's surprise, the egg hatches overnight and she discovers that the stories that she heard when she was younger might actually be real. Needing to hide the dragon, Grace brings it to school where she ends up revealing it to Ramesh and two more of her classmates, James and Jing. Together, the four of them have to protect the dragon from sinister forces that will abuse his powers.
This graphic novel was an absolute delight to read and I finished it in one day because I enjoyed it so much. I love how it incorporated Chinese mythology and thought it was interesting that dragons are more known for their power and fearlessness, rather than danger and violence. It was sweet that Grace decided to name the dragon after her dad, Nate, who died three years before the main events of the story. I also liked how Ramesh, James, and Jing decided to help Grace even thought they had just met her that week. They definitely made a great team because they each had their own strengths. I especially appreciated how funny Ramesh was because he helped keep the mood light when the story became more suspenseful. His technology skills came in handy, too. With a diverse group of main characters, this graphic novel illustrates how we are all mixed regardless of how we look on the outside, as Grace's dad shares at the beginning. The Awakening Storm does end with a cliffhanger, so I'm eager to read the second book in the series. Anyone who loves fantasy or dragons should read this wonderful adventure.
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