Since Konrad's dad died, he has been unable to speak to anybody, the words getting stuck in his throat instead of making their way out. A sudden death, both he and his mum have found things difficult since and they are now being forced to sell the bookshop that his dad owned and ran. One day, whilst walking along the beach, Konrad finds a dinosaur footprint and next time he goes back to investigate further, he meets Maya and he finds that, for the first time in months, he can talk. He takes Maya to the bookshop and whilst, showing her his favourite book of folktales, they find themselves inside the book reliving the quest with the dragon. But what happens once they are actually in medieval times? Can they find a way to stop the dragon or will they be faced with no choice but to kill it?
It is clear from the start of the book that Konrad is grieving and finding life without his father very difficult. Grief hits everybody in a different way and for Konrad that means he has lost his ability to talk to people. His thoughts and frustrations are there, but he simply cannot find his voice. I know that Ewa wrote this book following her own personal experiences of losing her father as a teenager and the effect this had on her and, knowing this made the book even more powerful for me. I was lucky enough not to experience grief as a child but I have seen the effect it can have on children and I hope that books like this can offer readers support and hope.
A big part of the book is set in Medieval times where Konrad and Maya are transported back to live the dragon quest that Konrad has spent many years loving in the pages of his favourite book. The sense of adventure and daring are wonderful to read and yet, you can also see a sense of Konrad (and Maya) working through their own grief as the quest unfolds.
The Dragon in the Bookshop is a thought-provoking, heart-felt book about grief and moving on that will touch the heart of everyone who reads it when it publishes in July.
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