The Language of Spells

By Garret Weyr, Katie Harnett (Illustrator)

A dragon and a child unravel Vienna's forgotten mystery: the fate of missing dragons.

5.5/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 1,024 ratings

299 pages· 53,765 words· Est. 6 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

In a world blind to dragons, Grisha, a hidden dragon, and Maggie, a seemingly ordinary girl, form an unexpected alliance. Tasked with uncovering Vienna's darkest secret, they delve into a mystery dating back to World War II: the disappearance of dragons. As they navigate a world of forgotten magic and hidden truths, they must ask: Can the lost dragons be saved? Their journey is one of rediscovery, adventure, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship, challenging them to remember old tales and create new ones in a city steeped in history and enchantment.

"Everyone can look at the world,” Lennox said, “But only those who pause to see what is wrong can change it."

— from the book

From the publisher

Grisha is a dragon in a world that’s forgotten how to see him. Maggie is a unusual child who thinks she’s perfectly ordinary. They’re an unlikely duo—but magic, like friendship, is funny. Sometimes it chooses those who might not look so likely. And magic has chosen Grisha and Maggie to solve the darkest mystery in Vienna. Decades ago, when World War II broke out, someone decided that there were too many dragons for all of them to be free. As they investigate, Grisha and Maggie ask the question everyone’s forgotten: Where have the missing dragons gone? And is there a way to save them? At once richly magical and tragically historical, The Language of Spells is a novel full of adventure about remembering old stories, forging new ones, and the transformative power of friendship.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 299
Words: 53,765
Reading age: 10–14
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 900L

Themes & topics

Books about quests Books about problem solving Books about mythical creatures Books about dragons Books about magic

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Violence

A cat (who is actually a person who was turned into a cat) gets killed in this book.

Language

There are two uses of profanity (taking God's name in vain) in this book.

After the last page

Talk about it together

What did your child think of the story's unique, melancholy ending?

What does your child love most—what would they have to give up for the spell to work?

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.5

out of 7

6.3

“This was a spectacular read. My seven year old did not expect the ending, but it made for a great conversation. Weyr includes many hints in the story that help the reader imagine a pleasant life ahead for both Maggie and Grisha.”

Mom of Boys

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one