I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this one, but it was lots of fun -- especially Aventurine's tendency to roar and gnash her teeth. Hooray for plucky girl adventurers, hooray for clever marketing, hooray for chocolate! This is a great choice if you like Jessica Day George (either Tuesdays at the Castle or Dragons Slippers) or Patricia C. Wrede (Dealing with Dragons). ( )

That was a delight. Made me want to read more middle-grade fiction. And eat lots of chocolate, of course. ( )

The dragon of the title is Aventurine, the fiercest creature there is! or so she says. Her mother says she isn’t allowed outside at all until her wings can carry her and her scales have hardened. But Aventurine is a dragon who loves adventure, she isn’t going to sit at home for another thirty or so years, she wants to get out. So she finds a secret way out, and sets off hunting. But her mother’s warning was not in vain, and Aventurine finds herself transformed into a puny human girl! Outrageous.

This book is really excellent. I loved it. Aventurine is a great character, she’s young and naive and her lack of judgement shows. But she’s also passionate and smart and quick to learn, once she sets her mind to it.

And especially where chocolate is concerned.

In some ways this book reminded me of some Georgette Heyer books, not because there is any romance in it, but because the author really manages to make the characters come alive and you feel with them. Plus there are mix-ups and misunderstandings which are the staple of any good romance novel.

I loved it, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun light-hearted read, especially one focusing on girls and friendships, and finding your way in the world. ( )

Gosh, this was a lovely middle grade book. Aventurine had a lot to learn about the human world, but she wasn't stupid. And oh, the descriptions of chocolate... heavenly. ( )

Aventurine is on a strange and new journey. She's restless in her cave of dragons but isn't supposed to leave for many years. She wanders out onto the mountainside and finds more than what she's looking for. This middle grade novel brings us on a different sort of adventure. It was a real and true journey of self-discovery for Aventurine and on that adventure: lots of chocolate. ( )