Dragons in a Bag

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism.

The dragons serve as a motif of The Importance of Family and Community. Elliott puts a twist on this classic fantasy element because dragons are often presented as formidable and monstrous in Western fantasy, but they are infants in need of care and protection in this novel:

Two have wings, and one has a long body with plates along its curved spine. All of them have purply scales that shimmer like the feathers that circle the necks of the strutting pigeons. The dragons look harmless, and they purr happily as they eat the crumbs Kavita is sharing with them (84).

The baby dragons’ vulnerability underscores their need for family and community. The hatchlings seek a mother figure to imprint on, and Ma fears that they “won’t thrive until they’re reunited” (127). The motif also advances the theme of family and community because Jaxon’s efforts to help the hatchlings lead him to meet members of his family and the broader magical community, including his grandfather, Ambrose, Sis, and Professor Jenkins. The dragons provide an essential catalyst for the story’s plot and Jaxon’s character development from his initial decision to help Ma bring them home to his guilt and renewed resolve when he discovers that Kavita stole one of the hatchlings while they were in his care.