Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher

This theme is woven into the fabric of the narrative, which follows Jeremy’s journey from childhood innocence to a better understanding of responsibility, sacrifice, and emotional complexity. His interactions with Tiamat serve as the primary vehicle through which this theme is explored, with support from his relationships with others as well. At the beginning of the story, Jeremy is a typical young boy dealing with the everyday challenges of school, bullies, and friendships. He also struggles with feelings of inadequacy, especially regarding his passion for art, and his frustration is compounded by the constant criticism from his unfairly biased art teacher, Mr. Kravitz. However, Jeremy’s discovery of Mr. Elives’s magic shop begins his journey toward maturity. Jeremy’s decision to purchase the dragon egg despite Mr. Elives’s warnings against doing so reflects his youthful innocence and lack of foresight. As Tiamat hatches and grows, Jeremy is thrust into a caregiving role that demands significant responsibility. This newfound duty forces him to make many sacrifices, and he learns to prioritize Tiamat’s needs, often at his own expense, taking is a significant step in his journey toward adulthood. Jeremy’s emotional growth is therefore closely intertwined with his relationship with Tiamat, and his eventual realization that he must let her go for her own sake proves to be a crucial turning point in his development, requiring him to accept that love often requires self-sacrifice for the good of others.

Jeremy’s interactions with the other students and with the adults in his life also demonstrate his ongoing quest to overcome his own insecurities. In the beginning, Jeremy is frustrated and isolated by the teasing and bullying he faces from other students and from Mr. Kravitz. However, his time with Tiamat teaches him empathy and patience, and he eventually gains the ability to stand up for himself even when doing so is a daunting prospect. This shift is most powerfully demonstrated when he confronts Mr. Kravitz, his art teacher, near the end of the story. When Jeremy takes responsibility for Tiamat’s actions and accepts the personal cost of being the only student banned from the art competition, this decision shows his newfound courage and strength. The conversation also gives him a new perspective on Mr. Kravitz, for he realizes that “[t]he man was jealous—jealous because Jeremy was a better artist than he was” (131). This section of the novel therefore implies that authority figures and adults in general are not infallible; this realization is an important part of growing up. By describing Jeremy’s transformation from a naïve boy to a responsible young man, Bruce Coville suggests that although growth requires sacrifice and the courage to let go, succeeding at these challenges allows people to become the best possible version of themselves.