When Women Were Dragons Summary
Kelly Barnhill

When Women Were Dragons Overview

Kelly Barnhill's novel When Women Were Dragons is the story of the women who have become dragons over the years. Dragoning becomes hushed by social stigma, but a mass event and the return of thousands of women in dragon form force changes to the American society. The family of Alex Green has been heavily affected.  Alex, a young adult in a home that includes dragons and humans, finds herself launching into a world that is a better place because of the work of the dragons. The most important themes of the novel are the identity of a mother, the power of social stigma, the power of propaganda, gender roles, and the joys of life.