Family Relationships

Family relationships are important because they are established in the formative years and continue throughout a lifetime. The importance of family is seen in this novel through Turtle's character. Turtle is a SeaWing dragonet. His parents are Gill and Queen Coral, and the family and kingdom have suffered because of a curse that killed all the princesses just before hatching. As a result, Gill and Coral tried for years to have daughters who could one day take over the throne, and there are more than 30 young princes in the kingdom. By the time Turtle leaves home to attend Jade Mountain Academy, he has three surviving sisters and his father is dead. Coral's focus on her daughters and the large family have all had an impact on Turtle's life,.

The sheer size of the family means it is difficult to forge relationships. Turtle deeply loves his...