From Powells.com
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Staff Pick
This book made me happy! The inclusion, the joy, the characters, all seemingly effortless in telling the story. Katie O'Neill is a gift! Recommended By Doug C., Powells.com
O'Neill's stories are always unique, diverse, and illustrated with gorgeous art. The Tea Dragon Society is no exception. A young girl training to become a blacksmith stumbles upon a tea dragon, and when she goes to return it, she ends up falling in love with the history and tradition of tea dragons. I was immediately drawn to the passion in the characters and the vibrant earthy tones of the art! Recommended By Brianna B., Powells.com
The Tea Dragon Society is a little ray of sunshine poured onto paper. It's about those small moments that tie friendships and traditions together, and teaches the reader that some of the best things take time. The characters and their corresponding tea dragons are adorable, fully fleshed out, and diverse, providing much needed portrayals of both queer identity and disability. Even if books written for a younger audience aren't your cup of tea, this book is sure to be a delight to anyone that gives it a chance. Recommended By Cosima C., Powells.com
The Tea Dragon Society is such a delightful story. You follow Greta, a blacksmith’s apprentice, as she stumbles upon a lost tea dragon. After returning it to its rightful owner, she becomes enamored with the fantastical world of tea dragons. It's short and sweet and I guarantee this book will leave you craving more. Recommended By Hannah B., Powells.com
Somehow The Tea Dragon Society manages to pack about a million important messages into one adorable volume, without being preachy or sentimental. Instead it is a testament to love — love of family, friends, pets, tradition, craft, tea, generosity, and kindness…all of the best things in life! Recommended By Leah C., Powells.com
This graphic novel is short, but it easily earned a cherished spot on my bookshelf. It's sweet, the art is soft, special, and adorable. This story will warm your heart just like your favorite cup of tea. Really though, you should just read everything by this author. All of her books are inspiring and creative. Recommended By Junix S, Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes The Tea Dragon Society, a charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons.
After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives — and eventually her own.
Review
"Old crafts are falling by the wayside in the enchanting fantasy world of O’Neill’s second graphic novel. Part goblin-part human Greta, a girl with brown skin and squat horns, is learning her mother’s trade of blacksmithing even though swords aren’t used for much anymore. After rescuing a tiny tea dragon that has gotten lost at the market, Greta starts learning how to care for these creatures whose horns sprout leaves that are harvested for tea. O’Neill sets her story over four chapters, one for each season, gradually expanding Greta’s world and her understanding of it. Colored in a palette of warm greens, pinks, oranges, and blues, her delicately drawn panels hum with a subtle romantic energy, particularly when Greta learns the backstory between the two remaining members of the Tea Dragon Society: a goatlike creature named Hesekiel and his strapping wheelchair-using partner Erik. (There’s also a whiff of burgeoning romance between Greta and Minette, a girl with unreliable memories who is also learning to care for the dragons.) A quiet, charming story of nurturing friendships and traditions." Publishers Weekly