Well, I’ve stumbled upon yet another really great middle grade fantasy series, perfect for replacing that nostalgic magical middle grade series 90s kids grew up with. I love the story world and world building here - it is rich with whimsical detail. I could see where the story was headed as an adult, but the threads are so well done - I would have absolutely loved the mysteries in this book as a kid and would have been guessing all along with less certainty had I been a young reader. There’s good character growth, good themes of friendship, and some heavier themes of racism done in a really age appropriate way. The magic premise is easy to understand and the fantasy elements are easy to settle into, making this great for fantasy readers and not typically fantasy fans alike. I definitely recommend and immediately read the sequel after finishing!