It's 1957 and in the small town of Frome, Washington, teen Sarah Dewhurst's life is about to get really strange. She and her father have been struggling to keep the family farm afloat, but the work required to do so has become too much for just two people. Nevertheless, Sarah can't help but be surprised when her father hires a dragon to help clear their fields. The dragon, Kazimir, is different from the other dragons typically hired to help out on farms. This dragon is a Russian Blue, a breed rarely seen in the United States, and with the Cold War in full effect, a dragon with Russian heritage is regarded with suspicious scrutiny. This dragon also seems to have taken a specific interest in Sarah.
As it turns out, however, the dragon's presence in Washington state may not be random. Kazimir reveals to Sarah that, while she is not particularly special or magical, she has been prophesied to save the world with the help of Kazimir. This is all surprising enough to Sarah, but what she doesn't know is there are other parties who are well aware of this prophecy, including a teenage member of a dragon- worshiping cult who is under secret orders to make sure Sarah cannot fulfill her role -- and the FBI agents tracking him. When all of these parties finally make their way to each other, the results are consequential, to say the least. Everything Sarah thought she knew about herself, dragons and the world she inhabits is about to be dramatically altered.
This alternate version of the world we know combines a number of elements into a fascinating and mind-bending story. Author Patrick Ness is no stranger to writing unusual and occasionally heart-wrenching stories and this book, "Burn," is no exception. Sarah's journey from overworked farm kid to the center of a deeply consequential prophecy is compelling while also exploring themes of class, race, power and identity. There is no shortage of books involving dragons in teen fiction, but rarely do these dragons appear outside of a fantasy setting. Setting the story in a small town in Washington state effectively blends the extraordinary with the familiar in an intriguing way. Unpredictable twists abound, however, meaning readers will be just as surprised as Sarah when Ness inevitably pulls the rug out from under them. Fans of alternate histories and/or dragons will find much to love in this unconventional novel.
Courtney Waters is the teen services manager at the Missouri River Regional Library.