To distract himself and his little sister from the ugly sounds of his parents arguing late into the night, ten-year-old Jake tells imaginative stories. As a boy with webbed toes and large ears, it’s easy for Jake to pretend he’s a bat, a gentle winged night watchman. During the day, other problems worry Jake—his sister Cassie’s asthma, his performance in his special reading class, and how his family is going to stick together. However, Jake has a good amount of resilience, plus the supportive friendship of his goofy pal Luke and the watchful eye of his neighbor Mrs. Pittmon. He also builds a protective shelter hidden in the backyard hedge—a place called the “Dragon’s Nest” where he and Cassie can hide. While Jake’s reading and comfort at school begin to improve, life at home unravels to the point of physical violence. This tender novel shows the reflective and protective tendencies of a young boy as he finds ways to deal with the hurt, and hope, at the core of his family. (Ages 9–12)