Written by Candace Lee and Eric Newman
Foreword by Bear Grylls

The world’s most legendary dragon slayer, St. George, gets a bold, modern reimagining in this explosive beginning to the Order of the Dragon Slayer series—launching a ragtag band of Scouts into a hidden world of ancient beasts, buried secrets, and destinies forged in dragon fire.

Everyone in Big Mountain, West Virginia, knows entering the coal mines is strictly forbidden. But twelve-year-old George Goodwin knows something more—deep underground lies a treasure that could save his town and clear his father’s name.

When his Scouting troop heads out for a weekend camping trip, George secretly recruits his best friends, Skunks and Artie, on a quest to find proof. But their plans unravel when they collide with George’s camera-wielding nemesis, Clementine, and her pageant-queen sister, Flo—and the motley crew is pulled into the adventure of a lifetime.

They’ll need every ounce of courage—and every trick in the Scouting handbook—to survive! Collapsing tunnels. Ruthless thieves. Dynamite traps. And a fire-breathing monster with a hunger to devour mankind . . . starting with them!

Full of unexpected thrills, rebellious hope, and laugh-out-loud humor, New York Times bestselling authors Candace Lee and Eric Newman deliver a blazing new adventure starring an unlikely hero who’s about to become the next great legend.

“A Scout is Brave. I’ve always found it curious that the most important virtue in the Scout Law is buried toward the end, sandwiched between Thrifty (#9) and Clean (#11.) Because, really, without Bravery, what hope is there of becoming Trustworthy, or Loyal, or any of the more highly ranked virtues to which all Scouts aspire? Indeed, without Bravery, young George would have never become the hero you’re about to meet, and his remarkable adventure would have died deep in the coal mines of Appalachia, along with him, and his friends, and humanity’s best hope of survival. Here then, is a story of Bravery that will leave you inspired and breathless, and most of all, wondering what you will do, when confronted by the dragon that will one day find us all…”—Mike Rowe, former Eagle Scout, Emmy award-winning TV host, producer, narrator, podcaster, spokesman, bestselling author, recording artist, and America’s leading advocate for the skilled trades

“We live in a world that is full of dragons. We also live in a time where it can be hard to find people with the strength and grit to fight those dragons. But if you are looking to be inspired, look no further than George Goodwin and his brave band of friends. They will grab a hold of your heart and make you laugh a lot as they face all the various dangers that come their way. You will love every minute of this story and, as you turn each page, hopefully discover that a dragon slayer lives inside of you.” —Melanie Shankle, New York Times bestselling author of Here Be Dragons

“Our favorite adventures have always been the ones that make us feel brave—Jurassic Park, The Goonies, The Chronicles of Narnia. Stories that inspire us to believe we could be heroes too. That’s exactly why we created George Goodwin, Dragon Slayer.

Funny thing? After writing the first draft, we discovered a forgotten gem in the original Scout handbook. Over a century ago, the founder of the Scouting movement wrote that Saint George “is the Patron Saint of Boy Scouts everywhere. Therefore, all Scouts should know his story.”* He even sketched a Scout slaying a dragon!

From day one, we knew George Goodwin was a Scout. Why? Because Scouts are real-life superheroes—they’re a global community, over fifty million strong—building robots, launching rockets, rafting rapids, and serving up BMX tricks, all while serving their communities. And here’s the best part— you can join them (click here to learn more). And as for George . . . his journey is just beginning! There are more secrets to uncover, new dragons to face, and many more heroes to rise.”