When a dangerous criminal known as the Ace of Anarchy escapes prison, eleven-year-old Ella Durand, the first conjurer to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, becomes the target of suspicion. With the help of her friends and her own growing powers, Ella must find a way to clear her name and thwart the criminal's plans before it's too late.
Let's be honest--magic school fiction is big. After Harry Potter exploded on the scene, many authors rushed in to capitalize on the popularity of the theme. And a lot of it seems so repetitive. I've found myself putting down a handful of books thinking "this is just Harry Potter, but with _______" and you can fill in the blank with the simple spin each writer put on it.
Dhonielle Clayton's The Marvellers might be about a magic school, but wow does it feel fresh. The writing sparkles, the characters are relatable and the interior illustrations make for a fantastic reading experience. This is for middle grade readers who are looking for something with meat on its bones--this world is richly detailed and full of life. I'd gladly hand this over to the young readers in my life.
Special thanks to BookishFirst and Square Fish/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Let's be honest--magic school fiction is big. After Harry Potter exploded on the scene, many authors rushed in to capitalize on the popularity of the theme. And a lot of it seems so repetitive. I've found myself putting down a handful of books thinking "this is just Harry Potter, but with _______" and you can fill in the blank with the simple spin each writer put on it.
Dhonielle Clayton's The Marvellers might be about a magic school, but wow does it feel fresh. The writing sparkles, the characters are relatable and the interior illustrations make for a fantastic reading experience. This is for middle grade readers who are looking for something with meat on its bones--this world is richly detailed and full of life. I'd gladly hand this over to the young readers in my life.
Special thanks to BookishFirst and Square Fish/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the free copy of this book in exchange for a review.