author takes students on creative journey

17 April, 2025

We were thrilled to welcome Siobhan McDermott to JESS as part of her world tour! Born in Hong Kong to a Chinese mother and an Irish father, she grew up speaking both languages and was raised on a steady stream of stories filled with Chinese legends and Irish folklore. Siobhan captivated our Year 8 students with tales from her debut novel, Paper Dragons. She shared her own literacy journey, writing techniques, and approach to character development and world-building, sparking creativity and curiosity among the students, who were full of questions and left feeling inspired.

Paper Dragons follows twelve-year-old Zhi Ging, an outcast who receives an invitation to Hok Woh, an underwater school where she can become immortal and finally belong. There, she faces thrilling trials, hair-raising boat races, and meets age-shifting tutors.