Gr 8 Up-There is a little something for everyone in this sequel to the acclaimed The Story of Owen (Carolrhoda Lab, 2014). Fantasy fans will love returning to an alternate world in which the armed forces slay dragons. History fans will get a kick out of the way Johnston intermixes actual U.S. and Canadian history with a dragon-friendly story line. Eco-aware fans are unlikely to miss the underlying sentiment that oil brings nothing but trouble in both titles. This time around Owen, Sadie, and Siobhan have enlisted in the Oil Watch (think the U.S. Army, but with more fire drills). While Sadie and Owen excel with ease, troubadour Siobhan struggles to prove her worth. When the three are stationed in separate locations, Siobhan must learn to find her role without the reassurance of her two best friends. VERDICT A fantasy YA novel that steers clear of love triangles, teen angst, and a tidy ending is hard to come by; Prairie Fire and its prequel are must-haves. Jennifer Furuyama, Pendleton Public Library, OR

Owen, dragon slayer in training, is required to serve in the Oil Watch for four years, during which time he'll learn to work with the support team, who will help him fight dragons around the world. Siobhan, his bard, is less certain of her role, since there hasn't been a bard in the Oil Watch for a very long time. But as she learns military life, she also discovers the dangers that come with being a part of history. Since this sequel dives right into Siobhan's life after the events of The Story of Owen (2014), this volume is by no means a stand-alone story. Fans of that standout novel, however, will love watching Siobhan gradually find out she is the hero of her own story, not merely the narrator of Owen's life. American readers may be thrown by some elements of Canadian history and geography, but Johnston's solid writing will keep them engaged with her smooth blend of fantasy and realism, all anchored by Siobhan's determined personality and her solid friendship with Owen and his team.

Famed dragon slayer Owen Thorskard and bard Siobhan McQuaid (whose hands were severely burned in The Story of Owen) begin compulsory service in the Oil Watch, protecting the world's carbon sources from hungry dragons. The story of how the squad comes together to accommodate Siobhan's disability and her transformation into a star in her own right is highly gratifying.