Dragonfly Song
by Wendy Orr
There are two ways of looking at Aissa's story. She's the miracle girl who escaped the raiders. Or she's the cursed child who called the Bull King's ship to the island.
The firstborn daughter of a priestess is cast out as a baby and after raiders kill her adopted family, she is abandoned at the gates of the Great Hall, anonymous and mute. Called No-Name, the cursed child, she is raised a slave and not until she is 12 does she learn her name is Aissa: the dragonfly.
Now every year the Bull King takes a tribute from the island: two 13-year-old children to brave the bloody bull dances in his royal court. None have ever returned - but for Aissa it is the only escape.
Aissa is resilient, resourceful and fast - but to survive the bull ring, she will have to learn the mystery of her true nature.
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Author Biography
Wendy Orr grew up in Canada, France and the United States. Wendy was a compulsive reader from an early age and wrote stories throughout her childhood. In 1993 she resigned from her position as an occupational therapist to become a full-time writer, and an hour later heard that her novel Leaving It to You had been shortlisted in the Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards. Wendy now lives in Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, and, along with her husband, is busy trying to restore their few acres of bush to its natural state as a home for wildlife. Roslyn Oades is a creative all-rounder: voice artist, performer, award-winning playwright, director and occasional muppet operator. As a voice artist she particularly enjoys character work and her diverse array of cartoon voices - from plucky kids to evil villains - can be heard on many of Australia's best-known TV series for children including: Tracey McBean, Bananas in Pyjamas, Kitty is Not a Cat, Dogstar, Zigby, Sherazade: The Untold Stories, Sea Princesses, Bambaloo, ZuZu & the Supernuffs, Kangaroo Creek Gang and Toybox.
Review
'As mesmerizing as a mermaid's kiss, the story dances with emotion, fire, and promise.' -- Kirkus Reviews 'Dragonfly Song is an example of an author at the top of her craft. The ancient culture depicted is vivid and full of life, the writing mind-blowingly beautiful and the plot both poignant and thrilling.' -- Children's Books Daily
Prizes
Winner of Prime Minister's Literary Awards Children's Fiction 2017
Winner of Adelaide International Festival Award Children's Literature 2018
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