Falling into the Dragon's Mouth

In a Japanese seaside neighborhood lives Jason Parker:
a sixth grader
one year older than his classmates
a stinking foreigner to some classmates
an orange belt in aikido
a big brother
Jason Parker is just a boy trying to get through his days with calm and courage. If only everyone around him would let him.

Falling into the Dragons Mouth is a beautifully spare novel in verse by Holly Thompson, full of detailed illustrations by Matt Huynh, about one boy's life—a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to fit in.

"The free-verse format suits the story well, conveying Jason’s emotions powerfully in few words, allowing readers to fill in the unsaid and mirroring the way Jason uses stoicism as a survival method at school. . . . This stirring read will especially resonate with those who have been bullied." —School Library Journal

“Well-crafted and emotionally compelling.” —Kirkus Reviews