GENRE: Dystopia, fantasy, historical, political drama

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill is a feminist dystopia set in the past rather than the future. It comprises a well-constructed and immersive plot with a charming, precocious protagonist. The story is situated within the backdrop of the Joseph McCarthy trials in the USA in the 1950s, and reads like a junior Handmaid’s Tale. The main character Alex is a complex character, well executed, suitably angry at the submissive nature that women are forced to adopt, and curious about their transformation into dragons when they are pushed to the limit emotionally. Alex serves as our narrator and chronicles her investigations into the metamorphosis of women into dragons. She uses past studies on this phenomenon, many of which have been suppressed by the McCarthyite authorities. We see Alex grow from 11 years old to adulthood, taking on more responsibility as she goes along, following the death of her mother, after which she is abandoned by her cold and distant father. The book is well paced and packed with events too numerous to mention. Linguistically and conceptually this provides a challenge for readers aged 14 and over and covers a mixture of genres, part dystopia, part feminist fable, and part fantasy. Bursting with originality in both its narration and plot, this book deserves a place on awards shortlists.