The Polar Bear and the Dragon: Dawn of an Alliance (A Middle Grade Coming of Age Fantasy Adventure) by Debbie Watson

Whitney’s thirteenth summer is being hijacked. Plagued with terrifying nightmares and confused by strange new abilities, her life is spiraling out of control. Joining forces with a mysterious and powerful ally may be her only solution. Whitney, her mom, and their unique cat live high on a sandy bluff overlooking Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Whitney has spent her entire life unaware of the unique gifts lying dormant deep inside her. But the summer of her thirteenth birthday changes everything! Strange new talents surface that can’t be ignored, and nightmares terrify her. On top of all that, she suddenly misses a father she never knew. A Chicago fireman, her father died tragically on the night she was born. Whitney’s tired of losing sleep over frequent and frightening nightmares, and these disturbing new skills are baffling her. She knows she needs help, and her mom, Susan, seems like the perfect choice. They’re very close, and never keep secrets from each other. Confiding in Susan should be so easy. But an instinct, both puzzling and believable, surfaces and stops Whitney in her tracks. It warns her not to tell Susan, because doing so might put her in grave danger. Realizing she must find a way to deal with everything by herself, Whitney feels lost and alone. Powerful and strange new allies arrive without warning, and just in time. These new friends, and a series of unbelievable events, help Whitney cope with her nightmares and guide her toward understanding and welcoming her unique abilities.

Middle Grade • Fantasy