The Blue Dragon - Softcover

"Aimed at children 10 and over, this story was written after the terrifying tsunami hit Sri Lanka in 2004. Told through the perspective of children, it describes the devastation and loss that occurs after a "mystical beast rises out of the ocean", an ocean that these children know and love, an ocean their parents rely on to feed them. But how can they ever trust it again after a terrifying wall of water takes everything in its path? And how will they survive? Some of them no longer have parents. A heartbreaking story of loss and devastation, but also one of hope for the future. These children pick themselves up and start rebuilding their lives." Linda Hall, Books Editor, Hawke's Bay Today newspaper

The Blue Dragon by Yiola Damianou-Papadopoulou starts on a typical day in Sri Lanka; the fishermen leave for their daily trip; little children play together along the shoreline; while a party of other children is preparing to depart on a school excursion. However, without warning, something resembling a huge mythical beast emerges from the depths of the ocean, its enormous hands spread high into the sky, and its huge ferocious mouth open wide, engulfing everything in its path. Nothing is spared. The Blue Dragon describes the terror of the catastrophic tsunami that hit Sri Lanka in December 2004. The novel focuses on a group of children - Hanseni, her siblings Awade and Manori, and their friend Nishian - their individual experiences, and how they managed to pull through this horrendous event. Overcoming their fears the children struggle against the forces of nature, fighting against the odds to save themselves and their friends. Their stories portray courage and hope, and demonstrate the inner strength and determination that exists in the human spirit when faced with an unforgiving natural disaster. This emotive and heartfelt story shows how even, in the most terrifying of circumstances, the will to live triumphs.