I am thrilled to be hosting a spot
on the VALOR WINGS by Sam Subity Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out
my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Title: VALOR WINGS
Author: Sam Subity
Pub. Date: September 17, 2024
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 288
Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/VALOR-WINGS
A thrilling WWII adventure that
reimagines the evacuation of Dunkirk... with dragons!
May 10, 1940
Everyone in Iris's small English
village avoids the dragon in the woods. Everyone, that is, except for Iris. She
knows Galahad would never hurt her--she's been caring for the dragon since he
lost his mother when he was a baby. When Galahad is accused of stealing
military rations, Iris strikes a bargain that will spare Galahad's life... but
send him off to the war brewing in Europe. Soon after, she receives news that
her brother is among the troops trapped in France by the advancing German
troops. Refusing to give up hope, Iris devises a desperate plan that will
either save both her brother and her best friend--or end in disaster.
Meanwhile in Belgium, Max's school
day is abruptly interrupted by some terrifying news: The Germans have invaded
his country. He and his grandmother are forced to flee for their lives west
toward France where they hope to find safety. But when they are separated after
a German attack, Max must continue the treacherous journey on his own.
Across hundreds of miles, the stories
of Iris and Max steadily converge toward an explosive conclusion that will
change them both forever. Along the way, they each must find the inner strength
and resolve--the valor--to do the impossible. Author Sam Subity blends history
and fantasy to tell a story like no other--an exhilarating adventure about the
power of friendship, hope, and courage.
Excerpt:
CHAPTER ONE
IRIS
England, May 1940
Each day Iris woke before dawn to
milk the cows, feed the chick ens, and leave breakfast for the dragon. A half
dozen fresh eggs— or sometimes a couple more if she thought they wouldn’t
be missed— placed on a tree stump near the edge of the forest. Iris liked
to save this task for last so that she could lie in the tall grass and
watch. Because oh, what a thrill it was to watch!
The dark wood bordering her
family’s farm would fall silent as if the whole world had frozen in
hushed anticipation. Even the fog that silently crept in each night from
the sea appeared to cease curling lazily through the trees.
Today was no different. Iris held
her breath, not wanting to break the spell.
Everything watching.
Waiting.
Something stirred in the grass
nearby. As Iris turned toward the noise, a huge form loomed out of the
grass and barreled into her from the other direction. Iris tumbled over
and found her shoulders pinned to the ground. A pair of large golden eyes
stared down at her.
The eyes of a dragon.
Iris exploded in a fit of
laughter. “Galahad! Get off me, you big brute!”
The dragon snorted puffs of smoke
in a harrumph of protest. Iris wrinkled her nose and waved her hand in front of
her face. “Ugh, what in the world did you eat for breakfast?” The dragon
made a small rumble in the back of his throat. “Fine. You’re a glorious
creature of unmatched beauty and odor,” she deadpanned. “Now get off
me.”
Satisfied, Galahad shifted his
horse- sized bulk. Iris got to her feet and brushed herself off. The
dragon curled his body around hers and gently nudged her toward the
stump, gesturing with his snout at the eggs.
“Oh,” Iris said, “you want me to
eat them?” She lifted her nose snootily in the air. “Well, sir, ladies
prefer our eggs cooked.” Galahad spat a small fireball. The eggs instantly
burst into flame. “Galahad!” she chided playfully, and hurried to put out
the flames. Shaking her head, she stared down skeptically at the
charred lumps. “A little too well done for my taste, I’m afraid.” Then,
becoming more serious, she stepped toward the dragon. “What would you
think about another flying lesson today?” Galahad started to turn his
head away, but Iris gently reached out and guided his snout back so that
their eyes met. “You can do it. I’m sure of it. You’re only . . . a
little afraid. I know. I am too.” She suspected that Galahad’s fear largely
stemmed from being orphaned at an early age and having no older dragons
to teach him dragonish things. His body
already bore a few bumps and bruises from his previous unsuccessful
attempts at flight.
But Iris refused to give up. As
Galahad had grown older, she’d observed him watching other creatures with
wistful interest. Ducks flocking together. A herd of sheep grazing in
quiet community. She sensed that he longed to be among his own kind.
Which was why she continued to gently persist in their lessons. She realized
she was a poor substitute for another dragon to teach him. But that was
just the problem. There were no other dragons. For centuries, a herd of
dragons had lived in the forest near her village. However, conflicts with
humans had forced them to gradually depart for the wilds somewhere far to
the north. By the time Iris had been born nearly fourteen years ago, all
the dragons were gone. All except for Galahad. Iris believed that
teaching him to fly was the key to his following the dragons one day and
reuniting with his herd.
The creaking of an approaching
wagon pulled her out of her thoughts.
“Galahad, quickly!” she said. By
the time she turned around, the dragon had already disappeared into the
forest with barely a rustle of leaves.
“Ah, there you are!”
Iris’s shoulders relaxed. It was
only her older brother, Jamie. He and her father were probably the only
ones who didn’t think she was crazy for befriending a dragon. Most
everyone in their village had enthusiastically bid good riddance to the dragon
herd. As well as blaming dragons for the occasional goat or sheep that
went missing, dragons were widely considered to harbor disease, and
worse, foul magic.
Iris had her doubts about the
former, but she knew the latter to be utter nonsense.
The rising sun framed her
brother’s strong form as he approached in a rickety hay wagon pulled by
their mare, Juniper. The horse neighed warily as they drew near, scenting
the dragon.
“Easy, girl,” Iris said, running a
hand along the horse’s neck. “Been playing with your dragon again?” Jamie
asked. He looked her over closely as if expecting to find her missing a
limb. “He’s not my dragon,” Iris protested. “Galahad belongs to no
one but himself. And besides, he’s perfectly harmless.” “Well, in case it’s
escaped your attention, your once- little hatchling is now a beast as big
as a horse. With sharp claws as long as a man’s fingers. Oh, and he
breathes fire. So forgive me for—” “Your extreme pigheadedness?” Iris knew her
brother adored her, but even so she felt it to be her sisterly obligation
to point out his lack of reason where her safety was concerned.
Jamie cocked an eyebrow at her.
“If you’re done pouting, Dad’s asked me to go down to the village to pick
up a few things. Thought you might want to join me.”
Iris’s face lit up. “Oh, can I?”
She scrambled onto the wagon, letting her feet dangle off the back. The
village was one of her favorite places, with all its little shops and
wonderful smells. It all held precious memories of her mother and the
hours Iris had spent exploring its delights with her. It was almost as if
her mother’s gentle spirit still wandered those cobbled streets.
Soon they were winding down a lane
lined with trees blooming in the late spring. After a long gray winter, the
whole world seemed to burst with hope in greens and pinks. So it felt
strangely out of place when a regiment of British soldiers marched by in
their plain brown uniforms.
Her heart squeezed with worry when
she noticed Jamie’s head turn to watch the troops. “Remember, you
promised me you’d stay to help with the farm,” she reminded him.
“I remember,” he said, nodding
slowly. “It’s only, I can’t help but feel that I have a duty to help our
country too.” Something in her brother’s voice made Iris’s heart pinch,
but her thoughts were soon interrupted by the clack of their wagon’s
wheels on the cobblestoned lanes as they entered the village. The tightly
clustered shops and buildings with their shaggy thatched roofs always
reminded her of squat old men sitting shoulder to shoulder. Eventually,
they neared the central square and came to a stop. Iris hopped down from
her perch and turned in a slow circle, trying to decide where to go
first.
She felt her brother’s hand on her
shoulder. “Try not to cause too much trouble this time?”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re
talking about.”
“Oh, so you’re already forgetting
what everyone called the Great Pig Parade last spring?”
“Those pigs were being treated
unfairly.”
“It’s a butcher’s shop. That’s . .
. kind of the way it works.” He turned and strode toward the feed store
on the corner, calling over his shoulder. “Maybe try avoiding the
butcher’s this time? And meet me back here in an hour?”
Iris nodded, then quickly crossed
the street, already enraptured by the smells wafting toward her from the
bakery. She stared into the window at the rows of warm bread and sweet
rolls. The shelves weren’t even half-full. It was a sight that had become
all too familiar with the war rationing.
She continued down the street,
ignoring the “dragon girl” a few villagers muttered under their breath as
she passed. At last Iris arrived at her favorite store: Pickwick’s Fine
Books. When she stepped inside, the store’s owner, Mrs. Pickwick, turned
from where she was shelving a book and smiled.
“Hello there, Miss Iris!” she said
cheerfully.
“Hello, Mrs. Pickwick!” Iris
replied, relieved to find a friendly face at last. She paused and
breathed in the aroma of old books. The small store was stuffed
practically floor to ceiling with them. Her skin tingled with excitement
as she thought of the adventures waiting within their pages.
“I just happened to receive a new
shipment this morning,” said the bookseller, pointing to the box she had
been in the process of shelving. “You’re welcome to take a look if you
like.”
“Oh, if you don’t mind?” Iris
said, crossing toward the box. “Not at all. In fact, I imagine the water is
nearly ready for my tea. Would you like some?”
“Yes, thank you,” Iris mumbled,
already lost in studying the spines. She caught the word Dragons on
one and quickly slipped it out of the pile. Opening it, she saw that it
was a children’s book. Page after page was filled with illustrations of
dragons soaring through the air, carrying riders on amazing quests far
away. Maybe, she thought, if I showed Galahad some pictures of
dragons flying—
Suddenly, a loud clanging noise
broke the morning quiet. Iris jerked her head up in surprise. She
recognized the sound. It was the church bell by the village square. But
it shouldn’t be ringing at this time.
Something was wrong.
Racing out the bookstore’s front
door, she could clearly hear another noise mingling with the gonging
bell: a dragon’s scream. A flame of fear ignited in Iris’s chest.
Galahad was in trouble.
About Sam Subity:
Sam Subity loves writing stories that explore the magic and wonder of
being a kid and is thrilled to share his debut novel with readers everywhere --
both the young in age and the young at heart. When he's not writing, you might
find him running the trails of Northern California, where the endless, winding
miles past fog and ocean inspire stories of adventure and mystery. Or he might
be mowing his lawn. Because that's what adults sometimes have to do. But in
either case, he's very likely imagining himself fighting mythical creatures or
at the prow of a Viking dragon ship, feeling the wind and sea spray on his
face. His greatest hope is that in reading this book, you too were in some
small way transported to another place where for a little while you could exchange
the ordinary for the extraordinary.
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Giveaway Details:
1 winner
will receive a finished copy of VALOR WINGS, US Only.
Ends October
31st, midnight EST.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
Week Two:
Week Three:
Week Four:
