• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7

Bored by homework and bullied at school, twelve-year-old Gwyn Rae reluctantly takes on a Heritage Fair project to boost his history mark. He begins to investigate the papers of his ancestor Daniel Rae with help from his older sister, Maddie. Together they discover a notebook filled with writing only they can see and an iron key that seems to react to their touch. When the key unlocks a secret door in an old church, Gwyn and Maddie are launched into the adventure of their lives in this compelling sequel to Dragon Seer.

Janet McNaughton was fifteen when she began to write her first book - a historical novel for young readers. She did not finish it, but did learn she loved finding out how people lived and thought in the past. This led her to study folklore in university and eventually brought her to Newfoundland. After completing a Ph.D in Folklore, she returned to her first love, writing for young readers.
Ms. McGrath is the winner of the Violet Downey National Chapter of the IODE Book Award (best Canadian English Language Children's Book), Ann Conner Brimer Award for Children's Literature in Atlantic Canada, and the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People. She has also been short-listed for the Mr. Christie Book Award, the Blue Heron Book Award and the CLA Young Adult Book Award. Most recently she has been nominated for the 1998 Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Literature, 1998 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction and the 1998 Red Maple Reading Award.
Janet also reviews books for Quill & Quire and Atlantic Books Today. She has also contributed to Canadian Bookseller, Books in Canada, and Canadian Author. Janet writes essays for adult literacy education and sometimes does radio commentary. She currently resides in St. John's with her husband and daughter.

Janet McNaughton's profile page

Dragon Seer’s Gift

It’s an old family tale. Once, long ago, his ancestors saved just one dragon from the fierce Vikings, and ever since they have been its keepers and guardians. An ancestor, Daniel Rae, brought it from Scotland to Newfoundland, and it’s there still. Just a story, Gwyn thinks. That is, until a Heritage Fair project leads Gwyn and his sister Maddie to a startling truth: the dragon is real, and now a new generation of Raes must break a centuries-old Viking curse.

Where the original Dragon Seer took us to an exotic, ancient past, the follow-up is firmly rooted in the present day. (The opening chapter provides a brief recap of the first book.) McNaughton’s evocative prose sketches a Newfoundland in some ways not unlike the first novel’s Orkneys — more settled, but still going through a time of great change. Serious-minded Gwyn and his scrappy sister are believable protagonists, and we feel for them as curiosity about an ancestor becomes duty — and, eventually, purpose — as the effects of the Viking curse become clear. The severing of man from dragons is a severing of man from nature, with terrible consequences that will take time and effort to overcome even after the curse is broken. A heavy message heavily delivered, but this is forgivable in an otherwise satisfying read that is rich with themes of change, loss and the responsibilities that come with growing awareness. Recommended for fans of the first novel in particular, but any fantasy fan with an interest in ecology or history will also find much to enjoy.

Dragon Seer’s Gift

Twelve-year-old Gwyne Rae is launched on the adventure of his life when he reluctantly takes on a Heritage Fair project to boost his history mark, and, with help from his older sister, investigates the papers of his ancestor Daniel Rae. Together they discover an old notebook filled with writing only they can see and a key that unlocks a secret door in a church. This is the sequel to Dragon Seer.