Publisher Description

WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE MONTH 'A soaring, luminous new world ... An absolute delight!' Jessica Townsend'An incredibly original and immersive fantasy adventure' L.D. Lapinski'An absolute feast for the senses' Nizrana Farook'A thrillingly immersive story of courage, self-discovery, and magic' Sinead O'HartAn extraordinary destiny unfolds . . .Twelve-year-old Zhi Ging has always been an outcast. Until she receives an invitation to Hok Woh, an underwater school that offers her the chance to become immortal, and to finally belong. There, she battles in hair-raising boat races, meets ageshifting tutors and competes in thrilling trials. But there are rumours of a growing dark force . . . and students who fail the trials are disappearing. Can Zhi Ging uncover the truth before it's too late? The first in the unmissable magical fantasy series of 2024, set to take the world by storm. Perfect for fans of Nevermoor and Dragon Mountain.

Author Biography

Siobhan McDermott was born in Hong Kong and grew up on a steady stream of stories filled with Chinese legends and Irish folklore. She now lives in the UK and continues to order dim sum in Cantonese tinged with a distinctly Dublin lilt. Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm is her debut novel and was chosen as Waterstones Children's Book of the Month. Her debut was inspired by moments across her life: from childhood ferry trips between Lantau Island and Hong Kong, to travelling around Taiwan, Italy and Spain.

Review

A soaring, luminous new world ... An absolute delight! * Jessica Townsend, bestselling author of Nevermoor series *
A thrillingly immersive story of courage, self-discovery, and magic - as intricate as a glass dragon * Sinead O'Hart, author of The Silver Road *
An enthralling story set in a world of dragons, cloud seas, jellyfish companions and so much more. An absolute feast for the senses! * Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant *
A gorgeous read from start to finish * Jasbinder Bilan, author of Asha and the Spirit Bird *
A book full of magical delight! * Maisie Chan, author of Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths *
A new classic fantasy adventure! * Eoin Colfer, internationally bestselling author *
An incredibly original and immersive fantasy adventure. I cannot wait to read more! * L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency *
A hidden underwater realm, a looming evil in the world beyond and, of course, dragons! I have no doubt readers are going to fall in love with this magical new world * J.J. Arcanjo, author of the Crookhaven series *

Details