This was an absolute blast! Zadie is such a relatable, hilarious narrator, and the mix of awkward family road trip with full-blown dragon rescue made this feel both heartfelt and epic. The pacing never lets up, but there are still so many touching little moments about what it means to be a family—even a messy, complicated one. I laughed, I gasped, and I may have teared up a bit. A rollicking adventure with real emotional punch.

I couldn't help but have fun reading this amusing romp through another secret fantasy world existing all around us. Zadie and her family are loveable, silly and a blast to spend an entire book with.

I couldn't help but have fun reading this amusing romp through another secret fantasy world existing all around us. Zadie and her family are loveable, silly and a blast to spend an entire book with. On the serious side, readers will watch dad grow a little, Zadie learn a little, and the family gain confidence and stability. On the fantasy side, there's nearly everything a fan of fantastic beasts could ask for. I highly recommend playing each song used as a chapter title to enhance your reading experience. This one isn't serious in the least, but a great read all the way through.

A more punk rock version of Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter or Fablehaven if you wanna go back further. 12 year old Zadie ends up on a camping trip with her older sister, super chill dad, and her mom's lame boyfriend which turns into a road trip when the family secret comes out: both of her parents are "gamewardens" (humans who can bond with an animal companion and wield their magic) which also makes her and her sister gamewardens. Unfortunately, she learns this by watching her dad's animal companion (a dragon named Maverick) get kidnapped by poachers. Cue the rescue mission! This book was just a ton of fun. The magic system is very cool. Having a responsible adult on the mission in a MG book is such a novelty. And watching Zadie's relationship with both her dad and her mom's boyfriend change throughout the book was great. Also, it's just plain funny. I highly recommend this one!