Dragons in the Waters – Madeleine L’Engle (1976)

Dragons in the Waters by Madeleine L’Engle was published in 1976 and is part of the O’Keefe family series, which also includes The Arm of the Starfish and A House Like a Lotus. Set aboard a freighter bound for Venezuela and later in the tropical landscapes of South America, the novel blends mystery, adventure, and introspection as it follows a young boy’s journey to uncover his identity and legacy while confronting perilous secrets on the high seas.

Plot Summary

The rain fell in thin, needling streams over the port of Savannah as a small white freighter, the M.S. Orion, readied for its voyage to Venezuela. Thirteen-year-old Simon Renier, pale and introspective, stood apart from the bustle of cranes and forklifts, holding tightly to the thin thread of courage that had brought him this far from home. The chill in the air could not match the unease in his heart. Raised by his formidable great-aunt, Leonis Phair, in a weathered cottage named Pharaoh, Simon carried a heavy name and an even heavier legacy – that of Quentin Phair, his ancestor who once stood beside Simón Bolívar during the fight for South American liberation. Simon, an only child surrounded by the ghosts of a noble past, was now bound for foreign shores with Cousin Forsyth Phair, a stranger whose motives, though cloaked in civility, felt like a tightly drawn curtain hiding something darker.

On the pier, as a crate bearing the precious Bolivar portrait was loaded aboard with almost obsessive care, a near-tragedy struck. A faulty forklift charged toward Simon, and only the quick reflexes of a girl named Poly O’Keefe saved him from being crushed. In that breathless plunge into icy waters, a bond was forged. Poly, bright with red hair and fiercer intellect, and her younger brother Charles, kind and perceptive, welcomed Simon into the warmth of their family, led by their calm and capable father, Dr. Joshua O’Keefe. That Simon had been rescued not only from the forklift but from the solitude of his grief-stricken life was a quiet truth that he did not yet fully understand.

Aboard the Orion, the sea gathered around them. The portrait of Bolívar – once belonging to Aunt Leonis and now sold, reluctantly, to Forsyth – was stored in a locked cabin. Simon’s admiration for his ancestor shimmered with an ache; Quentin Phair, the brave young Englishman who gave his youth to Venezuela’s freedom, loomed like a beacon against Simon’s uncertain path. As the ship set sail, a chorus of new characters emerged: the enigmatic Dr. Inés Wordsworth and her companion Dr. Eisenstein; the warm and wise Mr. Theo; and the beaming Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Over tea and conversation, stories unfurled like sails – strange coincidences, deep histories, and pasts not quite forgotten.

Simon drifted between curiosity and caution. Forsyth fussed over the portrait with almost reverent paranoia, his every move shrouded in something too guarded to be honest. A whispered argument with Dr. Wordsworth revealed cracks in a long-buried history, sharp with bitterness and threat. Meanwhile, a black hearse sat silently on the deck, its windshield cracked in a pattern too deliberate to be dismissed as accidental. Its presence gnawed at Simon, and at Poly, whose instincts were as keen as her wit.

The freighter reached the port of Puerto de los Dragones. But before any journey inland could begin, murder struck. Forsyth Phair was found dead – the hearse had become his tomb. Suspicion tightened like a noose around the ship’s inhabitants. The Bolivar portrait had vanished, and with it, the fragile sense of trust Simon had been piecing together. The world, already uncertain, had fractured into riddles and shadows. Poly and Charles, loyal as ever, stood by Simon as truths began to rise like hidden reefs under calm water.

The trail led them deep into Venezuela, to the shimmering stillness of the Lago de los Dragones, where the Quiztano people lived in seclusion. It was a place humming with unseen rhythms, where the air felt heavy with secrets and the landscape pulsed with quiet wisdom. Here, the threads of Simon’s past stretched into the present. The Quiztanos, it turned out, were not strangers to Quentin Phair – the bond forged generations ago had endured. Forsyth, driven by greed masked as diplomacy, had sought to steal their ancestral treasure. His death, brutal as it was, had come not from vengeance but from tangled desperation.

In the quiet of the jungle and the openness of the lake, Simon found clarity. He was no longer just a name. He was no longer the boy clinging to the shadow of his ancestor. He was himself – formed by grief, strengthened by loyalty, tempered by courage. The journals and letters left behind by Quentin Phair, now his to inherit, offered more than history. They offered guidance, affirmation, and the understanding that legacy is not a weight but a path to be walked with integrity.

The stolen portrait was recovered, though its ownership no longer mattered to Simon. The past could be honored without being chained to it. The Quiztanos, with dignity and silent grace, reclaimed their peace, and the freighter turned homeward with lighter hearts aboard. On deck, Simon stood beside Poly and Charles, no longer separate, no longer uncertain. The sea sang beneath them, not with sorrow, but with promise.

As the Orion sailed into the blue, the wind lifted Simon’s hair, and his face turned toward the sun. The portrait of Bolívar had been meant for a museum, but the spirit of liberation it symbolized now lived in a boy who had found his place, his voice, and a future that would belong wholly to him.

Main Characters

• Simon Bolivar Quentin Phair Renier – A shy, introspective thirteen-year-old boy from South Carolina, Simon is burdened by the legacy of a noble ancestor and the weight of familial obligation. Orphaned and raised by his great-aunt, he undergoes a journey of self-discovery, grappling with betrayal, grief, and trust. His deep bond with Aunt Leonis and later friendship with the O’Keefe children highlights his desire for belonging and identity.

• Poly O’Keefe – Spirited, intelligent, and passionate about science and languages, Poly is fourteen and full of curiosity. Her bravery and sharp instincts often steer the group through danger. Her emotional intelligence complements her academic prowess, and she quickly forms a strong friendship with Simon, acting as both confidante and protector.

• Charles O’Keefe – Younger than Poly yet insightful beyond his years, Charles brings calm reasoning to tense situations. His observant nature and gentle demeanor create balance within the trio of young adventurers. Despite his teasing, he shares a close bond with Poly and is perceptive of people’s deeper emotions.

• Forsyth Phair – Simon’s distant cousin and a man cloaked in secrets. He is both polished and enigmatic, traveling with Simon ostensibly to deliver a valuable family portrait to Venezuela. His complicated past and conflicting motivations unravel throughout the novel, revealing a man torn between guilt, ambition, and affection.

• Miss Leonis Phair – Simon’s great-aunt and guardian, she is an indomitable nonagenarian with a commanding presence and deep wisdom. Her devotion to Simon and sacrifice in selling the family’s treasured portrait catalyze the story. Though physically absent for much of the narrative, her influence lingers in Simon’s conscience and choices.

• Dr. Joshua O’Keefe – Poly and Charles’s father, a marine biologist whose calm authority and compassion offer stability. He becomes a protector and father figure to Simon during the voyage, anchoring the children in turbulent times.

• Dr. Inés Wordsworth – A refined and aloof academic with a mysterious past connection to Forsyth. Her sharp demeanor masks deeper emotional scars and a history that intertwines tragically with Simon’s journey.

• Mr. Theo (Emmanuele Theotocopoulos) – A charming and wise older passenger on the freighter, Theo exudes a paternal warmth and philosophical outlook. His past adventures and connections to characters like Tom Tallis subtly weave the book into a broader universe of shared history.

Theme

• Identity and Heritage – Central to the novel is Simon’s quest to understand who he is beyond the weight of his name and lineage. The legacy of Quentin Phair and the symbolic Bolivar portrait frame Simon’s internal conflict between living up to his ancestor’s ideals and forging his own path.

• Trust and Betrayal – Throughout the voyage, alliances are tested, and secrets surface. Simon’s initial trust in Forsyth is eroded, while new bonds with the O’Keefes highlight the fragility and importance of genuine trust. Betrayal becomes a catalyst for growth and revelation.

• Coming of Age – Simon’s emotional arc reflects a classic bildungsroman. He matures through exposure to deception, danger, and moral ambiguity, learning to make choices rooted in courage and empathy.

• Family and Found Connections – While Simon begins the story clinging to his biological past, he gradually discovers a chosen family among the O’Keefes and other kindred spirits. The book underscores that true kinship is forged in loyalty, sacrifice, and love rather than blood alone.

• Colonialism and Justice – The legacy of Simon Bolivar and the journey to Venezuela evoke themes of liberation and historical reckoning. The subplot involving the Quiztano Indians touches on exploitation, respect for indigenous culture, and the moral duty to protect the oppressed.

• Isolation and Belonging – Whether aboard the freighter or in the jungles of Venezuela, characters experience physical and emotional isolation. The movement from solitude toward community, particularly for Simon, embodies the novel’s redemptive tone.

Writing Style and Tone

Madeleine L’Engle’s prose in Dragons in the Waters is rich with introspection, lyrical narration, and psychological depth. She blends suspense and philosophical inquiry with deft elegance, allowing her young protagonists to confront mature, sometimes unsettling truths. The language often mirrors the rhythm of the sea – fluid, measured, and occasionally tumultuous – drawing readers into the emotional undercurrents of each scene.

Dialogue is crisp and often tinged with irony or warmth, revealing character through subtle turns of phrase. L’Engle excels at rendering complex emotional landscapes, especially within young minds navigating adult dilemmas. She avoids didacticism, instead allowing moral and ethical quandaries to emerge organically from character interactions and choices.

The tone oscillates between melancholy and hope, underscored by themes of loss, discovery, and connection. There’s a persistent sense of wonder – in the natural world, in human complexity, and in the mystery of the past. L’Engle crafts an atmosphere where the tangible (a bullet-shattered windshield, a steaming tea tray) coexists with the metaphysical (legacy, honor, spiritual growth), making for a haunting and contemplative journey.