The Dragonfly Pool

by Eva Ibbotson

A beloved New York Times bestselling author returns to paper!

At first Tally doesn?t want to go to the boarding school called Delderton. But soon she discovers that it?s a wonderful place, where freedom and selfexpression are valued. Enamored of Bergania, a erene and peaceful country led by a noble king, Tally organizes a dance troupe to attend the international folk dancing festival there. There she meets Karil, the crown prince, who wants nothing more than ordinary friends. But when Karil?s father is assassinated, it?s up to Tally and her friends to help Karil escape the Nazis and the bleak future he?s inherited.

• ISBN10: 0142414867
• ISBN13: 9780142414866
• Publish Date: 15 October 2009 (first published 2 May 2008)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Penguin USA
• Format: Paperback (US Digest)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780142414866

Reviews

“The dragonfly pool was outside time: safe, beautiful and private.”

My first read of 2021! I'm happy that I ended 2020 and started 2021 with this book.

The main character, Tally, is a typical MG heroine. She is kind, helpful to everyone she meets, has a stubborn streak and is likable.

Tally is sent to a boarding school called Delderton Hall and it was nice to see her adapt to life there and meet many interesting characters. I enjoyed reading about the students, teachers and their quirks, Tally's friendship with the Prince and her interest in Bergania. I also appreciate Tally's family and I love how invested her aunts are in her life.

There is an element of Historical Fiction as the occupation of other countries by Nazi Germany and possibility of World War 2 is presented to a younger audience.

There's a clear denotation between the good and the bad, which isn't a negative because sometimes it's good to have the characters and their motives spelt out, but I prefer when they're morally grey. I've recently been noticing this in other books too so it might be a me problem, but the villians also seem like caricatures.

What I enjoy about most MG books is the whimsical aspect. There are elements that aren't believable, characters that are stereotypical and exaggerated and a sense of knowing where the story is heading, but everything seems so magical and genuine.

The Dragonfly Pool is one of those books that I read at the right time. It's wholesome and comforting.