Thirteen-year-old Silver Batal dreams of being a water dragon racer, an unlikely ambition for a girl from a small village deep in the desert. When she gets word that a legendary water dragon racer d her idol coming to town, Silver seizes the chance to pursue her dream, despite her parents' insistence that she follow the family tradition of becoming a jeweler. But the meeting with her idol doesn't go as planned, and one desert storm later, Silver finds herself on a journey to the royal city to rescue a stolen baby water dragon, previously believed to be mythical, that can both swim and fly. Along with her cousin, who brings a water dragon of her own, Silver embarks on a high-stakes mission into an Arab-inspired setting filled with dragons. Although it's a world that could have benefited from deeper development, Halbrook's latest is a fun, fast-paced adventure with an engaging supporting cast in which young fantasy lovers will delight.

Thirteen-year-old Silver Batal lives in the desert town of Jaspaton and wants only to go to the capital city of Calidia to race water dragons.She is meant to follow in her family's legacy and become a jeweler, but she secretly plans to leave Jaspaton when she learns Sagittaria Wonder, "the best and most brilliant Desert Nations water dragon racer in the whole world," will be visiting. Only her cousin Brajon, also 13, knows her secret. She befriends elderly and mysterious Nebekker, who promises to help her make a racing suit to impress her hero. However, her plans are thwarted when Sagittaria reveals herself to be far less than heroic, stealing Kirja, Nebekker's bonded dragon, kept in secret outside of town. Silver also meets and bonds with Kirja's baby, whom she names Hiyyan. The bond between a human and dragon is so strong that "you would do anything the other needs. Even die for each other. And when the day of death comes for one, the other cannot live." Silver, Hiyyan, and Brajon's quest to rescue Kirja takes them to Calidia and readers on a rip-roaring adventure. Halbrook's worldbuilding includes a rich taxonomy of water dragons who are fully realized, with emotions, loyalty, and aspirations. The history of water dragons and the geopolitics of the Desert Nations are smoothly woven into her adventure plot. Halbrook, who is of Lebanese heritage, injects cultural details readers familiar with the Arab world will recognize.For readers who enjoy a fantasy-filled world of adventure. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Gr 5-8 Desert-dweller Silver Batal knows in her heart that she's destined to race water dragons, but the desert lacks both water and dragons. Turns out her dragon bond, Hiyyan, will come to herand Silver, along with her cousin Brajon, must embark on a dangerous quest to save Hiyyan's mother. A perilous journey brings them into contact with bloodsucking worms, vicious cave monsters, and (most deadly of all) the world's greatest dragon racer, Sagittaria Wonder. Can two kids outwit a scheming queen, cutthroat competitors, and a prince in hiding? This book will appeal to fans of the "Rick Riordan Presents" series as it features the same well-known combination of action, adventure, and magic. There's quite a bit left to the imagination, but fans of the genre will be willing to forgive the somewhat flat world-building and thin descriptions of the dragons (Hiyyan could just as easily be an over-large dog, with his goofy grin and slobbering tongue) once they get to the dragon races. And while the untrained Silver's win over experienced racers may strain credulity for the adults in the room, the intended audience won't care. VERDICT Hand this to the Rick Riordan crowd, or to kids who like Tui Sutherland's "Wings of Fire" series. Elizabeth Friend, Wester Middle School, TX