Kelly Barnhill

A slyly funny, utterly original, triumphantly feminist novel, by the Newbery award-winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon, about the Mass Dragoning of 1955 in which 300,000 women spontaneously transform into dragons…and change the world. Alex Green is a young girl in a world much like ours. But this version of 1950’s America is characterized by a significant event: The Mass Dragoning of 1955, when hundreds of thousands of ordinary wives and mothers sprouted wings, scales and talons, left a trail of fiery destruction in their path, and took to the skies. Seemingly for good. Was it their choice? What will become of those left behind? Why did Alex’s beloved Aunt Marla transform but her mother did not? Alex doesn’t know. It’s taboo to speak of, even more so than her crush on Sonja, her schoolmate. Forced into silence, Alex nevertheless must face the consequences of dragons: a mother more protective than ever; a father growing increasingly distant; the upsetting insistence that her aunt never even existed; and a new “sister” obsessed with dragons far beyond propriety. Through loss, rage, and self-discovery, this story follows Alex’s journey as she deals with the events leading up to and beyond the Mass Dragoning, and her connection with the phenomenon itself. In this timely and timeless speculative novel, award-winning author Kelly Barnhill boldly explores rage, memory, and the limitations of girlhood. When Women Were Dragons exposes a world that wants to keep women small—their lives and their prospects—and examines what happens when they rise en masse and take up the space they deserve.

A Novel

When Women Were Dragons

A slyly funny, utterly original, triumphantly feminist novel, by the Newbery award-winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon, about the Mass Dragoning of 1955 in which 300,000 women spontaneously transform into dragons...and change the world. Alex Green is a young girl in a world much like ours. But this version of 1950's America is characterized by a significant event: The Mass Dragoning of 1955, when hundreds of thousands of ordinary wives and mothers sprouted wings, scales and talons, left a trail of fiery destruction in their path, and took to the skies. Seemingly for good. Was it their choice? What will become of those left behind? Why did Alex's beloved Aunt Marla transform but her mother did not? Alex doesn't know. It's taboo to speak of, even more so than her crush on Sonja, her schoolmate. Forced into silence, Alex nevertheless must face the consequences of dragons: a mother more protective than ever; a father growing increasingly distant; the upsetting insistence that her aunt never even existed; and a new "sister" obsessed with dragons far beyond propriety. Through loss, rage, and self-discovery, this story follows Alex's journey as she deals with the events leading up to and beyond the Mass Dragoning, and her connection with the phenomenon itself. In this timely and timeless speculative novel, award-winning author Kelly Barnhill boldly explores rage, memory, and the limitations of girlhood. When Women Were Dragons exposes a world that wants to keep women small--their lives and their prospects--and examines what happens when they rise en masse and take up the space they deserve.

Lu Morgan

There is a tremendous power in remembrance. Indeed, it is memory that teaches us, and reminds us, again and again, who we truly are and who we have always been.

I really like the revelations made here about anger: in the first quote, that anger and the fear it causes isn’t something you can ever take back, and in the second quote, that anger is so often a mask for something deeper and more raw that you’re too afraid to voice. 

I also think this page gives you a lot of insight into Alex’s mother, who is such a mysterious character in the book. 

Bethany Jenkins

Beatrice jumped. And then she held herself terribly still. She had never been afraid of me. Never before this moment. But now she was. I could see the fear, harsh and livid, pressed into her face. I couldn’t take this moment away. Another Before and After.

, said a voice deep inside me. I ignored it. I didn't think about it. I pretended it wasn't there. 

“Inappropriate." My voice had edges and weight. 

Please don't leave me. You can't leave me. We only have each other.

We spend our lives as adults making sense of the memories we carry with us from our childhoods, but we must still be beholden, always, to the facts.

Jayme Bosio

“All I know is that we all just spent a lot of damn time learning nothing of consequence, except what it feels like to get your ass handed to you by a goddamned librarian.” 

I was four years old when I first saw a dragon. I was four years old when I first learned to be silent about dragons. Perhaps this is how we learn silence - an absence of words, an absence of context, a hole in the universe where the truth should be. 

Nica Rhiana

The work of storytelling requires a person to remain in a state of brutal vulnerability and punishing empathy.

Emilie

Victoria Justice

This book had me until the dragons started carrying purses.

There were parts of this book that felt like a five star read, but then there were just too many things the book did wrong.

There were parts I absolutely adored. I loved Alex, and the way that I could feel her joy and sorrow and rage as if it were my own. I loved how the central female characters, Marla, Alex, Beatrice, and Bertha were written into life. The book was beautifully descriptive and very effective at giving me a sense of place and time. I loved the way the narrative voice changed as Alex aged; her perspective felt different but still distinctly Alex as she shifted from childhood to adolescence to young adulthood and to her old age. I loved the way the book navigated complex emotions and talked about forgetting and grief and abandonment.

The book was often intentionally repetitive, and at times I thought it was super effective and at times it just felt.. repetitive.

The ending.. the return of the dragons could have been done really well. I didn’t feel like it was a bad concept for an ending, but it was so fast and it didn’t feel like the author took the time to think it through, but rather just wanted the book to be over. It was rushed.

On that note, the widespread acceptance of dragons took place within only 30 years or so from the mass dragoning, which historically has not exactly been the case for marginalized groups in the US.

Moreover, after so much grief and hardship, everything in Alex’s life was just perfect, and everything fell into place very quickly. Obviously it’s nice to see Alex get a good life, but it didn’t feel realistic to me. 

Finally, as a feminist piece of literature I definitely think the scope of this book is pretty limited. In the research sections, the book nods to the struggles of women of color, trans women, and women in all kinds of repressive situations, but as a whole the sexism we encounter in this book is the kind of sexism faced by a young white girl with a brilliant mind and a horrible father. It’s a narrow view for a historical fantasy set in the 1950s and 60s.

With those frustrations, I still think it’s a 4 star read because I really did love the parts of the book that were done well.

There were parts of this book that felt like a five star read, but then there were just too many things the book did wrong.

There were parts I absolutely adored. I loved Alex, and the way that I could feel her joy and sorrow and rage as if it were my own. I loved how the central female characters, Marla, Alex, Beatrice, and Bertha were written into life. The book was beautifully descriptive and very effective at giving me a sense of place and time. I loved the way the narrative voice changed as Alex aged; her perspective felt different but still distinctly Alex as she shifted from childhood to adolescence to young adulthood and to her old age. I loved the way the book navigated complex emotions and talked about forgetting and grief and abandonment.

However,

The book was often intentionally repetitive, and at times I thought it was super effective and at times it just felt.. repetitive.

The ending.. the return of the dragons could have been done really well. I didn’t feel like it was a bad concept for an ending, but it was so fast and it didn’t feel like the author took the time to think it through, but rather just wanted the book to be over. It was rushed.

On that note, the widespread acceptance of dragons took place within only 30 years or so from the mass dragoning, which historically has not exactly been the case for marginalized groups in the US.

Moreover, after so much grief and hardship, everything in Alex’s life was just perfect, and everything fell into place very quickly. Obviously it’s nice to see Alex get a good life, but it didn’t feel realistic to me. 

Finally, as a feminist piece of literature I definitely think the scope of this book is pretty limited. In the research sections, the book nods to the struggles of women of color, trans women, and women in all kinds of repressive situations, but as a whole the sexism we encounter in this book is the kind of sexism faced by a young white girl with a brilliant mind and a horrible father. It’s a narrow view for a historical fantasy set in the 1950s and 60s.

With those frustrations, I still think it’s a 4 star read because I really did love the parts of the book that were done well.

This book was interesting. And it was beautifully written. But not the book for me. 

It really is written in a memoir like style - although not a memoir in actuality. We read about the MC past from her eyes as an older woman as she grows up, much faster than any child should. We see her cope with loss and with the boundaries society set on women (specifically in the 50s/60s). She’s an incredibly brilliant child, skilled in math and science, but still a child for much of the story and a confused one at that. 

I think this idea was incredibly unique and incredibly interesting. However, I was just anticipating more. More of what I don’t know. Perhaps more of a story and less confusion? I did give this book a 3/5 though because while it wasn’t my favorite, I did love the characters Barnhill created, especially Beatrice, and the idea of dragoning into reality. This story had so much potentially, but as it is it just wasn’t for me.

Tace

This book was interesting. And it was beautifully written. But not the book for me. 

It really is written in a memoir like style - although not a memoir in actuality. We read about the MC past from her eyes as an older woman as she grows up, much faster than any child should. We see her cope with loss and with the boundaries society set on women (specifically in the 50s/60s). She’s an incredibly brilliant child, skilled in math and science, but still a child for much of the story and a confused one at that. 

I think this idea was incredibly unique and incredibly interesting. However, I was just anticipating more. More of what I don’t know. Perhaps more of a story and less confusion? I did give this book a 3/5 though because while it wasn’t my favorite, I did love the characters Barnhill created, especially Beatrice, and the idea of dragoning into reality. This story had so much potentially, but as it is it just wasn’t for me.

anxiouspixie

I saw a review that said this could have been a short story, and I agree. It felt very dragged out, though the concept was interesting.

Margaret McFarlane

When women where dragons is a wonderful book written by Kelly Barnhill. The story isn't something I read often. It's a mix of the reality of living as a woman in the 50s with the twist that dragons exist. The focus is on a girl who grows up having to deal with sexism and topics not deemed appropriate to be talked about. In between are parts written as a scientific report which made it a bit difficult to read for me as someone who learned English as a second language. But despite the difficulty this book was written well and empowered me as a woman. 

Lilliana Rüegg 

I quite enjoyed this. It captured the feel of the period well, and the perspective of the author with a life of regrets interspersed with the little joys of living rang true in a melancholy kind of way that kept me engaged. The way the author conveyed the experience of the social taboos around topics, the dragons of the books, was one of the better I’ve read in fiction and so clearly captures the queer experience of my own youth, and the feeling of being denied even the language to ask about the experiences I had to even begin to make sense of it. 

It was let down, to a degree, by an ending that was perhaps too convenient to match the tone of the book, letting down somewhat the political metaphors running throughout, and by presenting a version of the 1950s in which its metaphors were used only for the oppression of women without any meaningful acknowledgment of the racial struggles of the time until the very end when women-as-dragons conveniently “solved” the majority of social issues. 

Go in expecting a good story, written well, with good, compelling, and complex characters, and a generally progressive but not particularly deep political message. 

Izzy

I quite enjoyed this. It captured the feel of the period well, and the perspective of the author with a life of regrets interspersed with the little joys of living rang true in a melancholy kind of way that kept me engaged. The way the author conveyed the experience of the social taboos around topics, the dragons of the books, was one of the better I’ve read in fiction and so clearly captures the queer experience of my own youth, and the feeling of being denied even the language to ask about the experiences I had to even begin to make sense of it. 

It was let down, to a degree, by an ending that was perhaps too convenient to match the tone of the book, letting down somewhat the political metaphors running throughout, and by presenting a version of the 1950s in which its metaphors were used only for the oppression of women without any meaningful acknowledgment of the racial struggles of the time until the very end when women-as-dragons conveniently “solved” the majority of social issues. 

Go in expecting a good story, written well, with good, compelling, and complex characters, and a generally progressive but not particularly deep political message. 

I really enjoyed this read! The story was simple and easy to get through. While to overall idea of the story is very easy to grasp and one we’ve seen before, I did like it. 

Others have mentioned a lack of diversity in the book which I think is important to highlight. There is definitely a lack of characters of color. 

Claire Fuesting

I really enjoyed this read! The story was simple and easy to get through. While to overall idea of the story is very easy to grasp and one we’ve seen before, I did like it. 

Others have mentioned a lack of diversity in the book which I think is important to highlight. There is definitely a lack of characters of color. 

"Memory is a strange thing. It reorganizes and connects. It provides context and clarity; it reveals patterns and divergences. It finds the holes in the universe and stitches them closed, tying the threads together in a tight, unbreakable knot."

When Women Were Dragon's follows the main character, Alex, through her life, as the women around her begin to turn into dragons.

This is a brilliant novel focusing on feminism and the power women can hold. It calls out all the injustices in the novel's society and uses the passion and spirit of the main character's voice to drive home the stories mission and messages into your own heart and mind.

There are a few different forms of imagery formed within this book, which are played with and built on throughout the story, giving the writing a lyrical element in my mind, producing many quotes I loved.

This was a book that made you want to stand up and direct attention to all the areas society still lacks in upholding women's rights to equality, and one whose characters will stick with me for a while to come.

Narah Quinn

“I am here to point you to the fact that once upon a time, humanity worshipped the Divine Feminine, and that in that time all of humanity was in thrall of her power and strength, both procreative and destructive, both fecund and barren, both joy and terror, all at once.” – Kelly Barnhill.

When Women Were Dragons is a fierce, unapologetically feminist, novel that I read (almost in it’s entirety) in one sitting. Despite knowing essentially nothing about it apart from the fact I loved the cover, the blurb was intriguing, and Dragons I am so very glad this book exists.
Set in an alternate 1950/60’s America, where on a single day in 1955, thousands upon thousands of women spontaneously transform into Dragons, it’s such a shock to the patriarchy that it’s forbidden to talk about.

Alex, our main character – bright, academically inclined and with zero plans to marry in a time when keeping house and raising babies was all women were good for - was a child when the day known as The Mass Dragoning took place and her aunt sprouted wings and took to the skies. As per the blurb, Alex is forced into silence and now must live with the consequences; a mother more protective than ever, a father growing increasingly distant, a dragon obsessed cousin she must now call sister and an aunt she must forget ever existed.

The pacing can seem a little slow in the start, but throughout it worked well, adding in to Alex’s narrative, historical accounts, newspaper articles and snippets from the wonderful Dr. Gantz’s findings from his study of Dragoning, and added depth and richness to the world building. The one thing I would love a bit more of background/information on, is the knots. I know about using knots in spell casting and magic, and as they appear throughout the story - they have history, and lore, - and I would have loved for them to be more fully explained, but I can’t say much without spoiling it. 

There are other truly wonderful characters that I adored, in particular the local librarian, Mrs. Gyzinska, who was Alex’s biggest supporter and whose own story I would love to read as a companion novel. 
For me, I think one of the most striking features of this novel is the relevance. We like to think we have come a long way societally (which in many regards we have) but we are still fighting the same fight. In one later scene, during a protest, a Dragoned protestor is holding a sign that reads “My Body, My Choice” and **** if that didn’t feel familiar. This book is important.
I read a quick review (I avoid anything long until I’ve read it myself) a couple of days before I started it, that said When Women Were Dragons is ‘a wonderful ode to the strength and resilience of women, who have been transforming into dragons for centuries. Women who have been put down by men, humiliated, held back, told “no”, abused, ignored. They feel the power inside then and emerge anew. For all women and female-identifying people are full of magic.’ And if that doesn’t make you want to read this, I’m not sure what will!

Beth Bartholomew

This book was sent to me from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. 

What started as a short story has developed into a brilliant story about feminism and the power women hold. Following our main character, Alex, throughout her life as those around her start to turn into dragons, but only the women. This book questions the way things are and the rules women have always been taught. It did a fantastic job of standing against the system and empowering its female characters and readers. 

Initially, this book started slow, focusing a lot on Alex's early years. I found it didn't really get going until we saw Alex get further in her education and discover more about herself and her wants and desires. Once we established this though, there was a lot more to route for and the clever story started to unfold. 

I love it when books call out the flaws in society and this one did big time, in the way the patriarchy has a resounding hold over so much. Alex is a fiercely feminist main character and fights for what she believes in, values I strongly agree with. As a result of the mission this book goes on to spread the feminism message, you'll definitely feel passionate alongside these characters. 

I loved the way the dragons were used to show the fury of the women and also their power, something both beautiful and terrifying all at once - uncovering years of unhappiness and oppression. There were a lot of metaphors hidden in this book, but I'll leave those for you to discover yourself. A very enjoyable and unique book.   

When Women Were Dragons A Novel

Reviews

Highlights