Bolinger, Hope. Paintball with Dragons. Wisdom, MT: Chicken Scratch Books, 2023.

Guide to Categories – MS Review – review of books for older elementary-aged and middle school-aged children

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Summary

On his first day back to school in 7^th grade, Xander Carson discovers a large black dragon blocking his locker. Soon he’s seeing wyverns, wyrms, and other lizard creatures, but no one else seems to notice them at all.

Was he going crazy?

His life was tough enough already. His older brother – his best friend – had been killed in a car accident during the summer.

And now dragons.

Through an unlikely business deal with a nerd named Zayn, Xander discovers that there may be a reason he’s seeing dragons – and these discerning creatures may be just what he needs to solve his paralyzing grief.

But doing the wrong thing could make them disappear, exactly when he’s growing to need them.

Purchase Paintball with Dragons on Amazon – https://amzn.to/4cfkfSF

My MS Review

I love the concept of Paintball with Dragons – that dragons do exist and that they appear to those who are grieving. Hope Bolinger has crafted a delightful and meaningful story about a middle school boy dealing with guilt after his older brother died in a car accident while going to get him a birthday present. 

Xander is grieving but just wants everyone in his family to get past it and stop having memorial times – every day of the week – when they do something Mason loved. In his grieving process, with the help of an outcast classmate and dragons, Mason learns to spot others who are grieving something. He also begins to work through his grief. 

The story is a great one for those who enjoy dragon stories or for those who might be grieving. 

Paintball with Dragons could easily find a place in a K-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students.

I received a complimentary copy of Paintball with Dragons. This is my honest review.

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