If you grew up in the 90s, there’s a high chance your local library had a copy of a book with a bright, swirling marble on the cover. Honestly, Bruce Coville was the king of the "weird kid" genre back then. While everyone remembers My Teacher is an Alien, it’s Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher that usually lingers in the back of people's minds as the one that actually made them cry.
It’s been decades since its 1991 release. Yet, people still search for it. Why? Because it isn't just a "boy finds a pet" story. It’s a masterclass in the bittersweet reality of growing up, wrapped in a shimmering, telepathic dragon skin.
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The Magic Shop and That Irresistible Egg
The story kicks off with Jeremy Thatcher, a sixth-grader who is basically just trying to survive. He’s an artist, he’s small for his age, and he’s currently being chased by bullies and a girl named Mary Lou Hutton who wants to kiss him.
To escape, he ducks into a shop he’s never seen before: Elives’ Magic Supplies.
This is the central hub for Coville’s Magic Shop series. If you’ve read the other books, you know Mr. Elives is a bit of a grump, but he always seems to have exactly what a kid needs, even if they don't know it yet. Jeremy leaves with a weird, multicolored sphere that cost him a quarter.
How to Actually Hatch a Dragon
The instructions Jeremy gets are specific. You can't just sit on the egg. You need a full moon. You need to whisper a very specific rhyme:
"Full moon's light to wake the egg, Full moon's light to hatch it; Midsummer Night will crack the world, But St. John's Day will patch it."
It sounds like standard fantasy fluff until the egg actually starts to glow. When it hatches, out comes Tiamat. She’s tiny, she’s red, and she’s visible only to Jeremy (mostly).
Why Tiamat Isn't Your Average Pokémon
Most "pet" stories in middle-grade fiction are about training or hiding the creature. Jeremy does plenty of that—feeding Tiamat raw liver and milk is a whole ordeal—but the real meat of the book is the telepathic link.
Jeremy and Tiamat don't talk in English. They communicate through images and emotions.
As an artist, this hits Jeremy differently. He sees what she sees. He feels her hunger, her curiosity, and eventually, her massive, crushing growth spurts. Tiamat doesn't stay small. She grows at a terrifying rate, eventually moving from a bedroom to a barn.
The Mary Lou Factor
One of the most interesting nuances Coville included was that Mary Lou Hutton—the girl Jeremy was running away from—can also see the dragon.
It’s a great subversion of the "annoying girl" trope. She becomes his only real confidant because his best friend, Spess, can't see Tiamat at all. This creates a weird, isolated world for Jeremy. It’s a perfect metaphor for that stage of puberty where you feel like you’re experiencing things no one else understands.
The Midsummer Heartbreak
Let's talk about the ending, because that’s what everyone remembers.
Jeremy eventually learns from a book provided by the librarian, Miss Hyacinth Priest, that dragons don't belong here. They used to live on Earth, but they left for their own safety. They can only hatch under our moon, but they can't stay.
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On Midsummer Night, Jeremy has to let Tiamat go.
It’s brutal. There’s no last-minute magic that lets him keep her. He has to lead this creature he loves to a "gate" and say goodbye.
The aftermath is even heavier. Jeremy goes into a legitimate depression. He stops drawing. He stops talking. He’s grieving, and Coville doesn't sugarcoat it. In a genre often filled with "and they lived happily ever after," this book tells kids that sometimes you lose the thing you love most, and it hurts for a long time.
Is There a Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher Movie?
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: You’re probably thinking of Stanley’s Dragon (1994) or maybe the teaser posters for How to Train Your Dragon back in 2010.
There have been stage plays—most notably a production at Western Michigan University that used incredible puppetry—but a big-screen adaptation has never materialized. Honestly? That might be for the best. The telepathic imagery Jeremy experiences is so tied to his internal growth as an artist that it might feel "cheap" as a CGI effect.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
If you’re a parent looking for a book for a 10-year-old, or a nostalgic adult wanting to revisit Blodgett's Crossing, here is why this book holds up:
- It respects art. Jeremy’s struggle with his art teacher, Mr. Kravitz, is something every creative kid feels. The book treats art as a primary way of communicating when words fail.
- It handles loss. It’s a "training wheels" book for grief.
- The World-Building. It’s part of a larger universe. If you like this, you can jump into The Monster’s Ring or Jennifer Murdley’s Toad.
Practical Steps for Fans and New Readers
If you're looking to dive back into the world of Bruce Coville or introduce it to a new generation, here is the best way to do it:
- Read the Magic Shop series in order. While they are standalone, reading The Monster’s Ring first gives you a better feel for Mr. Elives’ mysterious shop.
- Look for the Gary A. Lippincott illustrations. The older editions feature his art, which perfectly captures the "swirling" nature of the dragon egg and Tiamat’s design.
- Check out the Full Cast Audio version. Bruce Coville actually runs an audiobook company, and the production for Jeremy Thatcher is top-tier, featuring different voices for every character.
- Explore the Mythology. Tiamat’s name comes from Mesopotamian mythology. Looking up the "real" Tiamat adds a cool layer of depth to why the dragon chose that name.
Nothing you love is ever truly lost. That’s what Miss Priest tells Jeremy at the end. Even when the link feels dead, it’s still there in the art he creates.