Fostering Imagination and Resilience: Read Our Review of Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm by Siobhan McDermott

Fostering Imagination and Resilience: Read Our Review of Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm by Siobhan McDermott

An extraordinary destiny unfolds…

Twelve-year-old Zhi Ging has always been an outcast. Until she receives an invitation to Hok Woh, an underwater school that offers her the chance to become immortal, and to finally belong.

There, she takes part in hair-raising boat races, meets age shifting tutors and competes in thrilling trials. But there are rumours of a growing dark force… and students who fail the trials are disappearing. Can Zhi Ging uncover the truth before it’s too late?

Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm is the first in an unmissable magical fantasy series, set to take the world by storm. This is a heart-racing children’s novel that transcends the boundaries of fantasy storytelling. McDermott’s masterful crafting and world-building makes it a must-read for children aged 9+, perfect for fans of Nevermoor and Dragon Mountain.

At its core, The Fight for the Hidden Realm is a celebration of imagination and resilience. Through the journey of our protagonist Zhi Ging and her friends, McDermott weaves a narrative rich with themes of courage, friendship, and self-discovery.

Zhi Ging serves as a shining example of bravery and determination. She and her friends go through a lot challenges throughout their journey, but they never lose hope. Instead, they rely on their inner strength and the support of one another to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Through these characters, children learn valuable lessons about empathy, inclusion and the importance of standing up for what’s right.

The story is filled with suspense, but it’s also filled with humour, keeping young readers engaged from beginning to end – this is perfect for reluctant readers. From the intricate details of each character to the sweeping landscapes of Hok Woh, McDermott’s imaginative world is brought to life in vibrant detail.

The Fight for the Hidden Realm is a standout debut children’s novel. With its relatable characters and engaging storytelling, Paper Dragons is sure to be a hit series among young readers. McDermott is an author to watch – I predict a lot more to come in this series, and beyond.

Buy a copy of Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm here.

Publisher details

Paper Dragons #1: The Fight for the Hidden Realm
Author
Siobhan McDermott
Publisher
Hachette
Genre
Fiction
Released
30 January, 2024
ISBN
9781444970142

Synopsis

An extraordinary destiny unfolds . . .

Twelve-year-old Zhi Ging has always been an outcast. Until she receives an invitation to Hok Woh, an underwater school that offers her the chance to become immortal, and to finally belong.

There, she battles in hair-raising boat races, meets ageshifting tutors and competes in thrilling trials.

But there are rumours of a growing dark force . . . and students who fail the trials are disappearing. Can Zhi Ging uncover the truth before it's too late?

The first in the unmissable magical fantasy series of 2024, set to take the world by storm. Perfect for fans of Nevermoor and Dragon Mountain.

Siobhan McDermott
About the author

Siobhan McDermott

Siobhan McDermott was born in Hong Kong and grew up on a steady stream of stories filled with Chinese legends and Irish folklore. She now lives in the UK and continues to order dim sum in Cantonese tinged with a distinctly Dublin lilt. She worked in publishing for six years, during which she took part in every event imaginable: from a 'yoga with your dog' session in a bookshop to running around Isle of Man in a full unicorn onesie. She is now the PR Lead at BBC Maestro. Paper Dragons is her debut novel and was inspired by moments across her life: from childhood ferry trips between Lantau Island and Hong Kong, to travelling around Taiwan, Italy and Spain.

Books by Siobhan McDermott

COMMENTS

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *