His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain’s defense by taking to the skies . . . not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.
When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future–and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire. (http://www.naominovik.com/his-majestys-dragon/)
His Majesty's Dragon, by Naomi Novik, is a riveting historical fantasy book set during the Napoleonic Wars. It is a story of loyalty and connection, but also of struggling to find a place to fit in, as Temeraire resonates with the experiences of many young people who find themselves exceptional or out-of-place around those who don't understand them.
This class is a self-paced version of a book from the 2021-2022 academic year SEA Online Classes Tween Book Club.
Each book club grants access to the following elements:
* A suggested reading schedule
* A PDF reading guide with comprehension questions
* Vocabulary activities
* Writing/multimodal project prompts related to the reading
If you would also like to sign up for feedback on a project or a chance to discuss the reading, please sign up here. For more tutoring/coaching options, please send a request here.
Ages:
13-18
Content Note:
Story focuses on an alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars and as such includes general discussions of warfare with realistic depictions of violence, injuries, death. Reference to romance and sex, but without focus on it or details, in the context of consenting, respectful adults. Some representations of historically accurate sexism and nationalism (with creative engagement and pushback), abuse and neglect of non-humans, with discussions of rights.