When Women Were Dragons
Beautiful
Bold
Thought provoking

When Women Were Dragons A Novel

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.
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Reviews

Photo of Kristen Claiborn
Kristen Claiborn@kristenc
3 stars
Aug 27, 2024
Photo of Liyah 🤎
Liyah 🤎@aallen1019
5 stars
Jun 17, 2024
Photo of Leticia Leal
Leticia Leal@theillumiletty
3 stars
Dec 18, 2023
Photo of Krys C
Krys C@bearsbeetsbooks
3 stars
Dec 1, 2023
This review contains a spoiler
Vivid
Layered
Surreal
Erratic
Vibrant
Inventive
Conceptual
Long winded
Photo of Charlotte Squire
Charlotte Squire@tempest
3 stars
Jun 24, 2023
Clever
Intense
Original
Beautiful
Refreshing
Sophisticated
Photo of Floofyflower
Floofyflower@jusalilfloof
5 stars
Jun 21, 2023
Profound
Beautiful
Thought provoking
Photo of Emily McMeans
Emily McMeans@emilymcmeans
5 stars
May 19, 2023
Photo of Sophia
Sophia @phiabia
5 stars
Mar 29, 2023
Bold
Deep
Layered
Profound
Beautiful
Emotional
Expressive
Meaningful
Photo of emma 🍓
emma 🍓@emmataylorsversionn
3.5 stars
Mar 6, 2023
Fascinating
Thought provoking
Photo of Coley T
Coley T@cholleywholley
4 stars
Feb 23, 2023
Bold
Clever
Offbeat
Creative
Meaningful
Surprising
Photo of Danielle Raymond
Danielle Raymond @idkmydude
Photo of Laura Mei
Laura Mei@thelibrariansnook
3.5 stars
Jan 16, 2023
Photo of Bethany Jenkins
Bethany Jenkins@bluepenguin17
4.25 stars
Jan 7, 2023
This review contains a spoiler
Photo of Jayme Bosio
Jayme Bosio@jaymeb
5 stars
Nov 23, 2022
Photo of Tace
Tace@bookedonstarlight
3 stars
Sep 9, 2022
Sweet
Original
Photo of anxiouspixie
anxiouspixie@anxiouspixie
3 stars
Sep 8, 2022
Photo of Margaret McFarlane
Margaret McFarlane@margmcfarg
2 stars
Aug 25, 2022
Photo of Lilliana Rüegg
Lilliana Rüegg @littlered
4 stars
Aug 6, 2022
Powerful
Photo of Izzy
Izzy@izzystardust
4 stars
Aug 5, 2022
This review contains a spoiler
Sweet
Creative
Touching
Contemplative
Photo of Victoria Justice
Victoria Justice@litatori
4 stars
Jun 6, 2022
Bold
Complex
Powerful
Page turning
Photo of Narah Quinn
Narah Quinn@narahquinn
4.5 stars
Apr 22, 2022
Photo of Beth Bartholomew
Beth Bartholomew@BooksNest
4.5 stars
Apr 18, 2022
Photo of Katie B.
Katie B.@thismermaidreads
5 stars
Nov 22, 2024
Bold
Magnetic
Charming
Ambitious
Remarkable
Fascinating
Photo of Devika M
Devika M@devikareads
3.5 stars
Jul 12, 2024

Highlights

Photo of Devika M
Devika M@devikareads
Photo of Devika M
Devika M@devikareads
Photo of Devika M
Devika M@devikareads
Photo of Devika M
Devika M@devikareads
Photo of Devika M
Devika M@devikareads
Photo of Devika M
Devika M@devikareads
Photo of Devika M
Devika M@devikareads
Photo of Charlotte Squire
Charlotte Squire@tempest
Photo of Charlotte Squire
Charlotte Squire@tempest
Photo of Sophia
Sophia @phiabia
Page 390
Photo of Sophia
Sophia @phiabia
Page 323
Photo of Sophia
Sophia @phiabia
Page 322
Photo of Sophia
Sophia @phiabia
Page 228
Photo of Sophia
Sophia @phiabia
Page 3
Photo of Coley T
Coley T@cholleywholley
Page 336
Photo of Coley T
Coley T@cholleywholley
Page 334
Photo of Laura Mei
Laura Mei@thelibrariansnook
Page 280
Photo of Bethany Jenkins
Bethany Jenkins@bluepenguin17
Page 154
Photo of Laura Mei
Laura Mei@thelibrariansnook
Page 43
Photo of Jayme Bosio
Jayme Bosio@jaymeb
Page 200
Photo of Jayme Bosio
Jayme Bosio@jaymeb
Page 9
Photo of Nica Rhiana
Nica Rhiana@paperback
Photo of Em
Em@transluceo
Photo of Victoria Justice
Victoria Justice@litatori
Page 336