Eco-adventures and stories that drop young readers into nature, whether that’s a back garden or a hidden pocket of the natural world, are wonderfully entertaining. They can be exciting stories, packed with adventure, that sparks curiosity as well as helping to build understanding and empathy for the environment and the natural world. The Lost Dragonflies by Julia Blackburn is one such novel for children (middle-grade readers aged 8-12) that fits beautifully into this growing landscape of environmentally conscious storytelling. This story offers a gentle but compelling adventure that encourages readers to look closer at the world around them as well as letting readers lose themselves in a magical story.
The Lost Dragonflies is a beautifully crafted and compelling story for children aged 8-12+. It is a magical eco-mystery about family, secrets, the healing powers of nature and packed with adventure and ancient magic.
Welcome to Whisper Valley, home to 12-year-old Belle and the magical Whisper Lake and its dragonfly guardians. The lake is a source of magical restorative power that protects the environment. But the dragonflies have started to get aggressive and are disappearing and the lake is getting ill. Belle’s grandmother Nana Willow, a women with a spiritual connection to the land, has also disappeared and there are strange people in the valley. Belle has three days to solve the mystery, find Nana and the dragonflies to save the lake and the wider environment.
Overall, The Lost Dragonflies a fantastic magical fantasy adventure. Before I was started to read this middle-grade novel I was intrigued by the mix of magic, adventure and eco-centric family drama, but once I started reading it was a much richer story than I could have imagined, so much better and very hard to put down – I LOVED IT!
The story is set in a magical valley with a lake that has restorative powers and keeps nature itself in balance. The worldbuilding is rich and tangible with the valley being a character in its own right – it feels alive and is just humming with secrets.
The story follows young Belle who becomes fascinated by the dwindling population of dragonflies near her home. When her Nana, who looks after the land and performs the spiritual rituals to keep it healthy, disappears and something is poisoning the precious lake, Belle has nowhere to turn and must investigate the mystery herself, and only has three days to try and fix the problem.
Belle is a character that readers will be able to relate to. She’s thoughtful, brave in the ways that matter and torn between competing loyalties between her family, tradition, science and nature. While the story features a lot about the environment and how it is being destroyed by humans, Belle’s journey is as much about self‑discovery as it is about saving the valley.
With a central theme around nature and the environment, it also expertly weaves in themes of trust, belonging and the having the courage to choose your own path. The supporting cast, including a charismatic scientist and Belle’s steadfast friends and animals, adds depth and tension to the unfolding mystery.
The story doesn’t rely on full-on high‑stakes drama or fast‑paced action on every page, the story builds at a good pace, crafting the tale through atmosphere, observation and emotional resonance. With its short chapters and well‑timed twists, young readers will find plenty to keep them turning pages: a sabotaged healing ritual, a perilous blizzard, an injured kite that becomes a key clue, drones and even an explosion. And then there is the magic of the valley and lake, which never overwhelms the story or crosses over into the absurd.
While is an eco-adventure mystery, it never comes across preachy about the environment. The authors love of nature shines through without any demands on the reader. It looks at how human actions, intentional or otherwise, can disrupt the delicate natural world while blending it with action, adventure, magic and mystery. It balances aspects of nature and science, inviting readers to consider the balance between scientific progress and respect for ancient knowledge, a theme that feels very relevant in today’s age.
I thought that The Lost Dragonflies was an excellent, exciting and engaging read. It is a beautifully written, emotionally rich eco‑mystery that will appeal to young readers who love nature, adventure and stories with real substance. It doesn’t have all-out action to keep readers hooked, instead relying fascinating storytelling that will see readers invested in the story and finding it hard to put down.
Julia Blackburn’s The Lost Dragonflies is a fantastically exciting read as well as a thought provoking one. It has plenty going on without being overwhelming, the pacing is excellent and the story is fantastic.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £7.99 (Paperback) / £1.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit www.juliablackburn.co.uk. Available to buy from Amazon here.
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