An old Polish city fizzes with fear. The townsfolk are at the mercy of a dragon who lurks in the cave below the castle...
Konrad's dad always used to say, 'There is a character in a book somewhere that matches you almost entirely. It's just a matter of finding them'. Konrad never expected the 'finding' to involve stepping right into a story, and he never expected his dad not to be there with him.
After his dad's death, Konrad stops speaking. Not a word at home or school as the year rolls by. But that begins to change when he meets Maya on the beach he loved to explore with Dad. She doesn't mind his silence. It gives her a chance to be heard, because at home no one seems to notice her. When the pair go on a last visit to Konrad's family bookshop before it's sold, they soon get lost in the pages of Konrad's favourite book of folk tales. Whisked back in time to quest with a dragon, they must find themselves and their voices, as well as a happy end to the story in the book and in real life.
A beautifully told, compassionate story about grief and finding your voice, with a sprinkle of Polish folklore and a magical, medieval adventure from Waterstones-shortlisted Ewa Jozefkowicz.

Ewa Jozefkowicz's debut novel The Mystery of the Colour Thief, published by Zephyr in 2018, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Girl 38: Finding a Friend blends contemporary times with WWII Poland. The Key to Finding Jack is about the special bond between siblings. The Cooking Club Detectives tackles the impact of food poverty on children today. The Dragon in the Bookshop blends Polish folklore with a magical quest. And The Wolf Twins is a rewilding adventure. The Woodland Explorers Club is Ewa's debut 5-7 series inspired by Forest School. All are published by Zephyr. Ewa lives in London with her husband and twin daughters.
ewajozefkowicz.com X: @EwaJozefkowicz Insta: ewas_bookshelf