I really wanted to like this story. I've heard a few people say it was their favorite book of the year so far so I was intrigued. I liked how diverse the characters were and that it seemed like an authentic diversity not just shoehorned in to claim it as so. The characters, while middle graders, seemed smart and confident in themselves. However I made it 130 pages into the story and I wasn't engaged with the plot. Nothing much had happened. We were just watching Ella's figure out who everyone was and what their abilities were and it was boring. I get we need a set up but 100 pages of just a kid feeling left out because she's the only conjurer. On that note the whole division between conjuerers and marvellers was vague as hell. After 100 pages I still wasn't sure exactly why they were segregated in the first place. I can appreciate the author trying to weave the issue into a magical school setting and maybe that was the reason I didn't understand it because it has never made sense even in reality. Overall this didn't hook me enough to want to face myself through 300 more pages. I hope it finds its audience and sparks the love but it wasn't for me.