The Dragons of Spratt, Ohio by Linda Zinnen

Set in the real place called The Wilds, a wild animal preserve that was once a strip mine in southeast Ohio, John gets the shock of his life when he sees a dragon flying around. While he is very excited, his mom is upset that the zebras are getting eaten. Zebras are expensive and she has to fight for every dollar from both the state and federal government. When both parents leave to go to Washington D.C. to fight for funding, John is left to care for the late dragon's eggs. (His dad has to go to keep Mom from doing great bodily harm to too many senators even if some of us might enjoy that.) Somehow, his Dad's sister who lives in France finds out about the dragon and shows up with too much stuff that could mean she is taking her job of research and development for cosmetics company a little too seriously. What can a high school nerd do to protect the cute little dragons if his only help is the sister of his best friend, who seems to only think about style and beauty? Never underestimate a teenage girl when the going gets tough, and boy, does the going get tough. Someone or something is not going to make it out alive. To find out who, read the book. The surprise twist will not be expected and no, it isn't that Ohio has dragons. People in Michigan always think the weirdest things about Ohio. To learn more about The Wilds, just go to: www.thewilds.org/about/