School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--5--While foraging for ingredients in the forests near Silverleaf village, young Rinn stumbles upon the slumbering dragon Aedhan, who has been asleep and largely forgotten by the village for the past 80 years. Rinn and the other villagers don't know what caused Aedhan to sleep for so long, but Rinn's uncle Erik and his partner Hesekiel (Hese) arrive just in time to help investigate. O'Neill returns to the world of tea dragons in this prequel to 2017's The Tea Dragon Society. Erik and Hese return, as well as a few tea dragons from the original, in their younger years, but both titles in the series can be read independently. Judiciously used dialogue is welcoming but upstaged by the peach- and seafoam-infused artwork. The limited use of lines gives the art a soft and dreamy feel. Lesa, the head village cook, is deaf and communicates via sign language, cleverly depicted via speech boxes rather than the speech bubbles used for audible communication. Rinn and Aedhan discuss gender-fluidity in dragons, and the main human characters appear to be people of color. Fun extras in the back matter include a short note about the relationship between dragons and tea dragons, as well as a one-page tea dragon handbook. VERDICT A serene and delectable feast for the eyes, with a gently shared message about recognizing one's strengths.--Alea Perez, Elmhurst Public Library, IL
Booklist Review
The characters of Erik and Hezekiel return in O'Neill's companion to The Tea Dragon Society (2017). Rinn, who is staying with their grandmother while their parents are away, goes out to gather mushrooms and discovers a dragon named Aedhan, who was sent by his clan to guard the village but has been mysteriously asleep for 80 years. Hezekiel and Rinn's uncle, Erik, arrive looking for a bounty, and they soon discover that the bounty and mystery behind Aedhan's slumber are one and the same. O'Neill creates another lush, whimsical setting filled with a variety of mythical species. The human characters vary widely in skin tone, and Resa, the village's cook, is deaf. As with the Tea Dragon Society, many of the characters identify as something other than cisgender and heterosexual. The illustrations are vibrant and have the same smooth, flowing style without the use of bold outlining. This book relays a message about embracing your gifts and finding value in even the simplest of tasks. Readers who loved the earlier title will be equally swept up here.--Suzanne Temple Copyright 2010 Booklist
