King and the Dragonflies
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender, published by Scholastic Incorporated on May 3, 2022, is a poignant exploration of grief and identity set in a small Louisiana town. This edition spans 288 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows twelve-year-old Kingston James, who grapples with the loss of his brother Khalid, believing he has transformed into a dragonfly. As King navigates his sorrow, he also faces the complexities of friendship and societal expectations, particularly regarding his best friend Sandy Sanders, who is struggling with his own identity.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of themes including friendship, prejudice, and the challenges of self-discovery. As King and Sandy embark on an adventure to escape from Sandy’s abusive father, they create a sanctuary for themselves down by the bayou, where they confront their fears and the realities of loss. The story delves into the emotional landscapes of death, grief, and the courage it takes to be true to oneself, making it a significant addition to juvenile fiction that addresses social themes relevant to young readers.
Official synopsis Publisher
A 2021 Coretta Scott King Honor Book!
Winner of the 2020 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature!
Winner of the 2020 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction and Poetry!
In a small but turbulent Louisiana town, one boy’s grief takes him beyond the bayous of his backyard, to learn that there is no right way to be yourself.
This critcally acclaimed winner of the National Book Award and more joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!
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Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family.
It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy-that he thinks he might be gay. “You don’t want anyone to think you’re gay too, do you?”
But when Sandy goes missing, sparking a town-wide search, and King finds his former best friend hiding in a tent in his backyard, he agrees to help Sandy escape from his abusive father, and the two begin an adventure as they build their own private paradise down by the bayou and among the dragonflies. As King’s friendship with Sandy is reignited, he’s forced to confront questions about himself and the reality of his brother’s death.
The Thing About Jellyfish meets The Stars Beneath Our Feet in this story about loss, grief, and finding the courage to discover one’s identity, from the author of Hurricane Child.
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