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1. Check for duplicates.
2. Use your Twitter or Instagram Handle.
3. Feel free to add more than one book here.
4. Include a link to your review.
5. Pick any color but black for your recommended read.

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1. First see if the book is already listed here by doing a keyword search of the page.
2. Select ➕ sign from bottom right or timeline.
3. Enter Book Name in "Title"
4. Add Author Name + ISBN in "Description."
5. Copy Cover Image link 🔗 from Goodreads.com

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These Padlet is for reader-to-reader recommended books.

We reserve the right to remove books that do not meet our DEI guidelines, do not meet eligibility criteria, and/or are self-nominated by their creator.

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By: Lori R. Snyder
ISBN13: 9780063047105

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A Taste Of Magic(Park Row Magic Academy #1)

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A Taste Of Magic(Park Row Magic Academy #1)

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by J. Elle
Goodreads

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A Taste Of Magic (Park Row Magic Academy, #1)

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A Taste Of Magic book. Read 42 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. NYT bestseller J. Elle makes her MG debut in the delightful story ...

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Written by Van Hoang.
ISBN

9781250240446

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Thom mistakenly trusted the Monkey King and set him free to cause havoc to the learn. She goes on a quest to undo her wrong. This story was interesting in that the main character though full of determination and spirit falters by making poor decisions. The poor decisions cause lasting consequences that I feel are a set up for further installments in this series. The pacing of the novel was fast. From the first page and on the action continued. The world is flushed out with us seeing the differen ...more

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Girl Giant and the Jade War (Girl Giant and the Monkey King #2)

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Thom mistakenly trusted the Monkey King and set him free to cause havoc to the learn. She goes on a quest to undo her wrong. This story was interesting in that the main character though full of determination and spirit falters by making poor decisions.

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by Julian Randall.
ISBN 9781250774101
Alibrarymama's review here: https://alibrarymama.com/2022/05/11/generational-trauma-and-healing-pilar-ramirez-and-the-escape-from-zafa-and-a-comb-of-wishes/

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Falling into the magical, SantinDomingo-influenced world of Zafa from a piece of paper, twelve-year old Pilar Ramirez meets a series of powerful women and others who escaped the rule of the monstrous Trujillo. Pilar discovers that an aunt/grand aunt of hers had disappeared years earlier after
Getting snatched up by Trujillo's men, and Pilar thinks Natasha could be in Zafa. With the help of Carmen and a bruja, Pilar discovers her own strengths and power, in addition to her already known skill as a...more

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Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa (Pilar Ramirez #1)

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Falling into the magical, SantinDomingo-influenced world of Zafa from a piece of paper, twelve-year old Pilar Ramirez meets a series of powerful women and others who escaped the rule of the monstrous Trujillo. Pilar discovers that an aunt/grand aunt of hers had disappeared years earlier afterGetting snatched up by Trujillo's men, and Pilar thinks Natasha could be in Zafa.

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Crown of Flames (The Pinki Adventures #2)

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Crown of Flames (The Pinki Adventures #2)

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by Sayantani DasGupta

Crown of Flames (The Pinki Adventures, #2) by Sayantani DasGupta | Goodreads

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Crown of Flames (The Pinki Adventures, #2)

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Crown of Flames book. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. From New York Times bestselling author Sayantani DasGupta comes the sequel...

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FIELD GUIDE TO THE SUPERNATURAL UNIVERSE

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FIELD GUIDE TO THE SUPERNATURAL UNIVERSE

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by Alyson Noel
9781534498235

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Field Guide To the Supernatural Universe

by Alyson Noel

Margaret K. McElderry Books

An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2022

339 pages'

ISBN: 9781534498235

Max has been seeing ghosts for years, and he's blamed for all kinds of ghostly quirky pranks. Because others can't see Max's ghosts, poor Max takes the blame. When his father (who doesn't believe in ghosts) sends him to live with his grandfather for the summer, Max meets his eccentric grandfather, Ramhart Woodbead, world's greatest monster hunter and collector of extraordinary knowledge. The town of Glimmerville itself is enchanted: ghosts appear everywhere and none of them hide, werewolves, magic pies; it's a veritable Charlie and the Chocolate Factory full of supernatural. At first Max is scared and wary, but Wodehouse Manor begins to grow on him.

When Ramhart's soul is stolen, Max must go on a hero's journey to find his grandfather's Guide To the Supernatural Universe to put his grandfather right. Glimmerville depends on Max to exist. Max has a habit of listing his top five terrifying things at the beginning of most chapters. It will keep middle grade readers turning the pages with anticipation of more magical discoveries like mutant glowworms, time slips, werewolves, zombies and supernatural storms.

Time is ticking away and Max better hurry before Ramhart is doomed forever. Max must save the day in order to stay in the first place he feels at home.

Alyson Noel's imagination truly knows no bounds. This is an enchanting tale is full of whimsy that rollicks and celebrates. I loved Field Guide To the Supernatural Universe and MG readers of all ages will love it, too! Bound to be awarded this year as one of the best books for middle grade, and you heard it here first!

Highly, highly recommended for anyone who enjoys fantasy and fantastical beings.

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MG Pick: Field Guide To the Supernatural Universe

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Field Guide To the Supernatural Universe by Alyson Noel Margaret K. McElderry Books An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing D...

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Moving from Texas to Oregon was a big transition for James and his younger sister, Ava. Making the move even more difficult is the fact that James is still grieving the loss of his beloved Grandmother.

Homesickness and grief are not necessarily a great recipe for success at their new home. Regardless, James is giving it his best. His parents are supportive and even though he hasn't made any new friends yet, he always has Ava.

Much to the chagrin of their parents, the siblings are currently in the...more

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Moving from Texas to Oregon was a big transition for James and his younger sister, Ava. Making the move even more difficult is the fact that James is still grieving the loss of his beloved Grandmother. Homesickness and grief are not necessarily a great recipe for success at their new home.

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by Pete Hautman

The Rat Queen by Pete Hautman | Goodreads

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E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Always amazed at the variety of topics that Hautmann comes up with, and how he can write fantasy and realistic stories equally well. This has more of a feel of his Otherwood or the Klaatu Chronicles, and would be great for readers who like fairy tales and also are fond of drawing. Readalikes would include Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom or Oppel's Inkling....more

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E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus Always amazed at the variety of topics that Hautmann comes up with, and how he can write fantasy and realistic stories equally well. This has more of a feel of his Otherwood or the Klaatu Chronicles, and would be great for readers who like fairy tales and also are fond of drawing.

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by Deva Fagan

The Mirrorwood by Deva Fagan | Goodreads

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Read 30 reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. Perfect for fans of the Twisted Tales series and Doll Bones, this thrilling, “cleverly orig…

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Amira Hamza: The Quest for the Ring of Power(Amira & Hamza #2)

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Amira Hamza: The Quest for the Ring of Power(Amira & Hamza #2)

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by

Samira Ahmed
Amira Hamza: The Quest for the Ring of Power by Samira Ahmed | Goodreads

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Amira Hamza book. Read 9 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Amira and Hamza are back in this epic sequel, which takes readers on a t...

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This picks up from the cliffhanger of The Great Bear. While still compelling, not as strong as the other two, or maybe I didn't catch all the details of the worldbuilding.

I do hope there's another book. While this didn't end on a cliffhanger, I feel there's more to this story. I do want to know more about the kids' biological families, that's for sure.

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This picks up from the cliffhanger of The Great Bear. While still compelling, not as strong as the other two, or maybe I didn't catch all the details of the worldbuilding. I do hope there's another book. While this didn't end on a cliffhanger, I feel there's more to this story.

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Review originally published 2 Sept 2022 at Falling Letters. I received a free copy from the publisher via Netgalley.

Having splashed into Canadian middle grade with a pair of realistic novels, Angela Ahn's third title dives into speculative fiction. Pirates and ghosts? Sign me up. Double O Stephen and the Ghostly Realm follows lively Stephen Oh-O'Driscoll as he discovers he can communicate with ghosts - one of whom may have been a pirate and needs Stephen's help crossing over.

Pirates and Ghosts?

G...more

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Review originally published 2 Sept 2022 at Falling Letters. I received a free copy from the publisher via Netgalley. Having splashed into Canadian middle grade with a pair of realistic novels, Angela Ahn's third title dives into speculative fiction. Pirates and ghosts? Sign me up.

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by Kali Wallace

Hunters of the Lost City by Kali Wallace | Goodreads

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Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader

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Hunters of the Lost City book. Read 100 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Packed with shocking twists, frightening monsters, and da...

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Lush middle grade fantasy about a girl determined to save her brother, who got stuck in faerie during the last wild hunt. Recommended for fans of Emily Lloyd Jones. Good for upper MG/lower YA readers.

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Lush middle grade fantasy about a girl determined to save her brother, who got stuck in faerie during the last wild hunt. Recommended for fans of Emily Lloyd Jones. Good for upper MG/lower YA readers.

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The Curse on Spectacle Key by Chantel Acevedo

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The Curse on Spectacle Key by Chantel Acevedo

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A sweetly spooky ghost story about a Cuban American boy who befriends a pair of spirits and tries to break the curse on his island home ....

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Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter

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Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter

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by Zoraida Córdova
Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter by Zoraida Córdova | Goodreads

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A mostly great story marred at points by trying too hard to be "young".

What was good:
1. The plot: The whole idea of a family that protects rather than hunts so-called "monsters" and the friction between them and the order of Finisterra grabbed my attention and was very well written.
2. The family: This family interacted like a real family, arguing with but still caring for each other, and it was so refreshing to see a family that loved and fought for each other take such prominence in a story.
3....more

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Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter

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A mostly great story marred at points by trying too hard to be "young". What was good:1. The plot: The whole idea of a family that protects rather than hunts so-called "monsters" and the friction between them and the order of Finisterra grabbed my attention and was very well written.2.

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The Last Hope in Hopetown by Maria Tureaud

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The Last Hope in Hopetown by Maria Tureaud

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Thank you for your question! THE LAST HOPE IN HOPETOWN's title was decided by the publisher (the original title was INTO THE LIGHT, which was changed Thank you for your question! THE LAST HOPE IN HOPETOWN's title was decided by the publisher (the original title was INTO THE LIGHT, which was changed when the book went on submission with publishers to BEYOND BLOOD). The premises of both books are very different, but if there was intent to draw comparison, I wasn't clued into that decision-making process. Maria Tureaud...more

--Maria Tureaud(less)

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Thank you for your question! THE LAST HOPE IN HOPETOWN's title was decided by the publisher (the original title was INTO THE LIGHT, which was changed Thank you for your question! THE LAST HOPE IN HOPETOWN's title was decided by the publisher (the original title was INTO THE LIGHT, which was changed when the book went on submission with publishers to BEYOND BLOOD).

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by Kalynn Bayron

The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron | Goodreads

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The Vanquishers book. Read 24 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. In the world of the Vanquishers, vampires were history . . . until ...

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by Michael Mann

Ghostcloud by Michael Mann | Goodreads

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Twelve-year-old Luke Smith-Sharma shovels coal under a half-bombed, blackened power station. With his best friend Ravi he keeps his head ...

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Where the Lost Ones Go by Akemi Dawn Bowman

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Where the Lost Ones Go by Akemi Dawn Bowman

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a story about a biracial japanese american girl helping the local spirits of her new home to remember their pasts, so she can easier hold on to the memory of her receantly deceased grandmother. and she has help from her crush, a local girl!!!

a middle grade i would have needed when i was that age, very excited to read this. the cover is gorgeous as well!!

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a story about a biracial japanese american girl helping the local spirits of her new home to remember their pasts, so she can easier hold on to the memory of her receantly deceased grandmother. and she has help from her crush, a local girl!!!

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by Lorelei Savaryn

The Edge of In Between by Lorelei Savaryn | Goodreads

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I thought this book was written, richly imagined with magic in a creepy house, stunning portrait of love and loss, magic and hope; a true celebration of the strength we all possess to transcend tragedy and the gifts that make life worth living!! People say this is a retelling of Secret Garden, but I haven't read the original to confirm. Readers of all ages will enjoy this book!

Thank you Viking books / Penguin Young Readers for the readers copy!

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I thought this book was written, richly imagined with magic in a creepy house, stunning portrait of love and loss, magic and hope; a true celebration of the strength we all possess to transcend tragedy and the gifts that make life worth living!!

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by Graci Kim

The Last Fallen Moon (Gifted Clans, #2) by Graci Kim | Goodreads

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"Watch out for Jungkook, though, won't you?" she says over her shoulder, pointing to the smallest imugi in the bunch. "He may be the youngest, but he's got the biggest bite."

I pause. Namjoon? Jungkook? Has she named her imugis after the BTS members?

She waves her hand at the one farthest away from her, "And you'll love Tae-hyung - he's the prettiest one."

Oh yep, she's definitely ARMY."

"Hey, Realist Riley, you know we write our own realities, don't you? You have to put the things you want out into the world. If you don't demand the best for yourself, you're guaranteed not to receive it. You gotta be in it to win, kid. Why doom yourself to mediocrity?"

More quotes...

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"Watch out for Jungkook, though, won't you?" she says over her shoulder, pointing to the smallest imugi in the bunch. "He may be the youngest, but he's got the biggest bite." I pause. Namjoon? Jungkook? Has she named her imugis after the BTS members?

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by Marti Dumas

Wildseed Witch (Wildseed Witch, #1) by Marti Dumas | Goodreads

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Hasani’s post-seventh-grade summer to-do list is pretty simple: get a bigger following for her makeup YouTube channel and figure out how ...

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by Juliana Brandt

Monsters in the Mist by Juliana Brandt | Goodreads

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Is there such a thing as a "real life" phantom island? If there is, Isle Philippeaux qualifies. Until the 1820s, maps of Lake Superior placed a sizable island right in the middle of the lake. Mistaken double-mapping of Isle Royale is one plausible explanation for the error, but Juliana Brandt found herself contemplating a supernatural explanation.

I interviewed Brandt for the Duluth News Tribune....more

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Is there such a thing as a "real life" phantom island? If there is, Isle Philippeaux qualifies. Until the 1820s, maps of Lake Superior placed a sizable island right in the middle of the lake. Mistaken double-mapping of Isle Royale is one plausible explanation for the error, but Juliana Brandt found herself contemplating a supernatural explanation.

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by Samantha San Miguel

Spineless by Samantha San Miguel | Goodreads

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Read 44 reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. This exciting middle-grade adventure is Hoot for the Gilded Age—with scientific discoveries…

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by Chuck Wendig
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57007713-dust-grim?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=0dtxXp3LOf&rank=1

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Dust & Grim book. Read 80 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. A middle grade adventure about rival siblings running a monster mortuar...

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Never After: The Stolen Slippers (The Chronicles of Never After, 2)

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Never After: The Stolen Slippers (The Chronicles of Never After, 2)

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by Melissa de la Cruz
978-1250311238

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Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend (now nominted)

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Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend (now nominted)

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by Katie Zhao
Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend by Katie Zhao | Goodreads

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Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend book. Read 84 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. An epic new fantasy series inspired by Chinese mytho...

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by Sarah Beth Durst

The Shelterlings by Sarah Beth Durst | Goodreads

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ARC provided by Clarion Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was such a wonderful book that I absolutely adored from the first page. I loved all of the characters and the adventure hooked me from the start. This will be an excellent book to hand any kid who love animals, adventure and magic.

Holly is a squirrel who wanted adventure and magic, but the wizards didn't want her or her ability to summon pastries. What is wrong with these wizards? She ends up at the home for rejected familiars...more

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ARC provided by Clarion Books via NetGalley for an honest review. This was such a wonderful book that I absolutely adored from the first page. I loved all of the characters and the adventure hooked me from the start. This will be an excellent book to hand any kid who love animals, adventure and magic.

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by Edudzi Adodo

Children of Stardust by Edudzi Adodo | Goodreads

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Children of Stardust book. Read 5 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Zero Adedji dreams of joining one of the Saba guilds-groups of ...

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Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs (now nominated!)

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Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs (now nominated!)

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by

Pam Muñoz Ryan
Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs by Pam Muñoz Ryan | Goodreads

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I forgot this was a kid's book just a few pages in. Munoz Ryan had me totally engrossed and desperately rooting for Solimar's safety as she accidentally found herself the protector of weakened Monarch Butterflies. Fast paced, easy to read, likeable main characters makes this title an excellent recommendation for reluctant readers. Thanks to Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for an early edition. ...more

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I forgot this was a kid's book just a few pages in. Munoz Ryan had me totally engrossed and desperately rooting for Solimar's safety as she accidentally found herself the protector of weakened Monarch Butterflies. Fast paced, easy to read, likeable main characters makes this title an excellent recommendation for reluctant readers.

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Children of the Quicksands (now nominated!)

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Children of the Quicksands (now nominated!)

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by Efua Traoré

Children of the Quicksands by Efua Traoré | Goodreads

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Read 103 reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. A richly imagined magical adventure set in West Africa by a prize-winning new voice in chi…

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Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting(Serwa Boateng #1) (now nominated!)

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Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting(Serwa Boateng #1) (now nominated!)

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by Roseanne A. Brown
1368066364
Goodreads

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A 12-year-old is uprooted from her vampire hunting life after her childhood home is viciously attacked by shapeshifting vampires that mask themselves as harmless fireflies, and is sent to the care of an aunt in Maryland for her own protection and forced to attend a "normal" school for the first time, but finds that vampire hunting and seventh grade don't quite mix; now, it's up to her to make warriors out of her classmates before they all become vampire food.

so i have an Official Most Antici...more

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Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting

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A 12-year-old is uprooted from her vampire hunting life after her childhood home is viciously attacked by shapeshifting vampires that mask themselves as harmless fireflies, and is sent to the care of an aunt in Maryland for her own protection and forced to attend a "normal" school for the first time, but finds that vampire hunting and seventh grade don't quite mix; now, it's up to her to make warriors out of her classmates before they all become vampire food.

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You Only Live Once, David Bravo (now nominated!)

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You Only Live Once, David Bravo (now nominated!)

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by Mark Oshiro

You Only Live Once, David Bravo Lib/E by Mark Oshiro | Goodreads

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You Only Live Once, David Bravo Lib/E book. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. From Mark Oshiro, award-winning author of The Inside...

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Asking for Trouble(Trouble in the Stars)

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Asking for Trouble(Trouble in the Stars)

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by Sarah Prineas

Asking for Trouble by Sarah Prineas | Goodreads

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I adored Sarah Prineas' Trouble in the Stars. The adventure continues with this worthy sequel. The crew of the Hindsight is back, including the eponymous Trouble, who more than lives up to his name. The humorous adventure novel includes multiple rescues, sneaking into StarLeague Academy and an assortment of galactic adventures, including discovering an incredibly dangerous creature in Deep Space. I was fortunate enough, once again, listen to it on Audible with narrator Alex McKenna. Here's hopin...more

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I adored Sarah Prineas' Trouble in the Stars. The adventure continues with this worthy sequel. The crew of the Hindsight is back, including the eponymous Trouble, who more than lives up to his name. The humorous adventure novel includes multiple rescues, sneaking into StarLeague Academy and an assortment of galactic adventures, including discovering an incredibly dangerous creature in Deep Space.

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The Lords of Night (Shadow Bruja #1) (now nominated!)

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The Lords of Night (Shadow Bruja #1) (now nominated!)

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by J.C. Cervantes
The Lords of Night (Shadow Bruja, #1) by J.C. Cervantes | Goodreads

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This book started off fast and quick, and I actually felt like it was book 2 of the series. I had so many questions about what had happened before, especially because they kept referencing it. Not my favorite book just because I felt like there were so many holes (a prequel would help this so much!), but it was fun and surprising to me! I'm not often surprised.

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This book started off fast and quick, and I actually felt like it was book 2 of the series. I had so many questions about what had happened before, especially because they kept referencing it. Not my favorite book just because I felt like there were so many holes (a prequel would help this so much!), but it was fun and surprising to me!

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THE BOOKSHOP OF DUST AND DREAMS (now nominated!)

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THE BOOKSHOP OF DUST AND DREAMS (now nominated!)

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by Mindy Thompson
9780593110379

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by Sofiya Pasternack

Black Bird, Blue Road by Sofiya Pasternack | Goodreads

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*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

I loved Pasternack's Anya and the Dragon series, so I was excited thatn ot only is there a new book from her, but that it's also just as amazing. This story is about Ziva and Pesah, twins who live in a well-off family and whose father is a judge. Pesah, however, has leprosy, and as a result has been largely isolated from the family to keep the disease from spreading. That doesn't stop Ziva, who...more

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Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review* I loved Pasternack's Anya and the Dragon series, so I was excited thatn ot only is there a new book from her, but that it's also just as amazing.

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The Counterclockwise Heart (now nominated!)

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The Counterclockwise Heart (now nominated!)

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by Brian Farrey
The Counterclockwise Heart by Brian Farrey | Goodreads

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Tick . . . tick . . . tick . . . Time is running out in the empire of Rheinvelt. The sudden appearance of a strange and frightening s...

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by Zack Loran Clark
ISBN 978-1984816887

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An adorable and high-energy magical adventure with a tense, engaging plot!!

I LOVE the creative descriptions, the way we 'feel' all the spells being used. The worldbuilding is clear -- we learn about different magical elements in ways that feel naturally-built-up to.

A few more things really pleasantly surprised me: without spoiling too much I really appreciate that the other girls from the orphanage contribute to the plot too. Even characters that are minor aren't outright throw-away. All of th...more

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An adorable and high-energy magical adventure with a tense, engaging plot!! I LOVE the creative descriptions, the way we 'feel' all the spells being used. The worldbuilding is clear -- we learn about different magical elements in ways that feel naturally-built-up to.

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Naomi Teitelbaum Ends the Worldby Samara Shanker (now nominated!)

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Naomi Teitelbaum Ends the Worldby Samara Shanker (now nominated!)

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Read 5 reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. A magical Bat Mitzvah gift gets out of control and thrusts a girl into a supernatural quest …

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Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Födi (now nominated!)

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Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Födi (now nominated!)

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I pitched it as a stand-alone; there was a very specific story and "life moment" that I wanted to tell. Having said that, part of my writing process aI pitched it as a stand-alone; there was a very specific story and "life moment" that I wanted to tell. Having said that, part of my writing process always involves imagining what came before the events of the book-and what could come after. In other words: there are ideas, and I feel there could be other important things to explore in Cara's life and in her world. We shall see . . . ...more (less)

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I pitched it as a stand-alone; there was a very specific story and "life moment" that I wanted to tell. Having said that, part of my writing process aI pitched it as a stand-alone; there was a very specific story and "life moment" that I wanted to tell.

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Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun (now nominated!)

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Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun (now nominated!)

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by  Tọlá Okogwu
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun (Onyeka, #1) by Tọlá Okogwu | Goodreads

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This was so great! I LOVE the story of a young Black girl literally getting power from her hair, and that aspect was done beautifully.

I really enjoyed the friendships and some of the supporting characters, and I like that we didn't spend too much time waiting for a certain character to get better.

The setting is also super interesting - kind of African futurism but more contemporary?

There are quite a few story developments near the end, some of which I really liked and some of which I didn't, but...more

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Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun (Onyeka, #1)

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This was so great! I LOVE the story of a young Black girl literally getting power from her hair, and that aspect was done beautifully. I really enjoyed the friendships and some of the supporting characters, and I like that we didn't spend too much time waiting for a certain character to get better.

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Nura and the Immortal Palace (now nominated!)

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Nura and the Immortal Palace (now nominated!)

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by M.T. Kahn
Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan | Goodreads

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In a Nutshell: A children's fantasy from the Indian subcontinent - what a welcome change and a novel experience!

Story Synopsis:

Twelve year old Nura works in a mica mine for long hours. She is determined to find a legendary treasure known as 'The Demon's Tongue', and thus provide respite to her widowed mother and four younger siblings from the drudgery of poverty and struggle. However, one day, she gets too carried away while digging and ends up triggering a collapse in the mines, resulting in s
...more

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In a Nutshell: A children's fantasy from the Indian subcontinent - what a welcome change and a novel experience! Story Synopsis: Twelve year old Nura works in a mica mine for long hours. She is determined to find a legendary treasure known as 'The Demon's Tongue', and thus provide respite to her widowed mother and four younger siblings from the drudgery of poverty and struggle.

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by Rochelle Hassan
ISBN 9780063054608

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The Prince of Nowhere book. Read 68 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Roda isn't afraid of the monsters that roam the wilds of the ...

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The Clackity by Lora Senf (now nominated!)

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The Clackity by Lora Senf (now nominated!)

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**4.5-stars rounded up**

After a childhood tragedy, Evie Von Rathe moves to the town of Blight Harbor, the 7th-most haunted town in America, to live with her Aunt Desdemona, the local paranormal expert.

When we meet Evie, she is a happy little girl, on the cusp of her summer holiday. She enjoys working at the local library with her Aunt's best friend, Lily, and has a fantastic relationship with her Aunt Des. These things help her deal with the pain of her earlier trauma.

Additionally, Evie is quite...more

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4.5-stars rounded up** After a childhood tragedy, Evie Von Rathe moves to the town of Blight Harbor, the 7th-most haunted town in America, to live with her Aunt Desdemona, the local paranormal expert. When we meet Evie, she is a happy little girl, on the cusp of her summer holiday.

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Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza (now nominated!)

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Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza (now nominated!)

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by Laekan Zea Kemp

Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza by Laekan Zea Kemp | Goodreads

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Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza

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Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza book. Read 21 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Fans of The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Pao...

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by Emi Watanabe Cohen

The Lost Ryū by Emi Watanabe Cohen | Goodreads

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It's been twenty years since the bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The big ryū disappeared soon after the war. Ten year old Kohei is convinced that if he can find them, he'll be able to make Ojiisan, his grandfather, smile again.

Kohei lives with Ojiisan, who spends his time drinking and being angry, and his Mama, whose subscribes to what is referred to as 'shikata ga nai', meaning " there's nothing to be done - move on, carry on, and don't brood over things that can't be helped." This is a re...more

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It's been twenty years since the bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The big ryū disappeared soon after the war. Ten year old Kohei is convinced that if he can find them, he'll be able to make Ojiisan, his grandfather, smile again.

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SECRET OF THE SHADOW BEASTS (now nominated!)

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SECRET OF THE SHADOW BEASTS (now nominated!)

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SECRET OF THE SHADOW BEASTS
by Diane Magras

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I've read lots and lots of good books so far this year, but this past week, for the first time in ages, I started one after supper ( Secret of the Shadow Beasts, by Diane Magras), and read and read and then had an oh no moment when I realized it was almost midnight (usually I'm safely in bed at ten, and wake up around five thirty) and I hadn't quite finished the book yet....a terrible dilemma. I finished it though because there really wasn't a choice, but sadly did not quite give the people of Rhode Island, for whom I work, my absolute shiny and alert best the next day.....(happily I have lots to do that isn't rocket science on which lives are depending, so it's ok, and I have no regrets).

This (very good, very gripping) book is set in a world where nightfall brings forth venomous shadow beasts, and everyone with sense huddles inside protected buildings. The shadow beasts are slower to attack kids and some kids are immune, and these kids are taken from their families when they are little and trained to be beast fighters. Nora could have been one of them, but her father wouldn't let her be taken. Now he has been killed by a shadow beast, Nora decides for herself that she will put the last few years of her childhood immunity to work keeping other people from the same fate.

And she goes off to get to trained, but there are far too few kids, and far too many shadow beasts, so when she shows unusual aptitude, she's quickly slotted into the Hawks, one of the fighting brigades comprised of handful of children, and sent off on her first two week mission. Even immune kids can be killed by shadow beasts, if they are attacked enough times, and the Hawks just suffered the loss of one of their crew, Lucy. Nora is taking her place. The Hawks are also kids taken from their families when they were seven or so, and so they have become a tight knit found family; it takes a while for Nora to be fully part of the group. So things aren't exactly happy triumphant monster slaying.

And the number of shadow beasts keeps growing....there's a sinister reason behind it (the titular secret), and Nora and her fellow Hawks might be the only ones able to survive the incredibly dangerous, almost insane, mission to set the balance right again. (lots of interesting bits of plot here, that I shan't talk about for reasons).

bonus points for:

comfort reading for the characters! there's one bit where the kids have some down time, and visit a bookstore to load themselves up with escapist material, and I loved seeing the different genres they liked.

an adult who adults! The Hawks, and other brigades, don't go out alone; there's a grown-up with them to do the driving, help with game plans and emergencies, and keep moral up. This grown-up, rather disturbingly, also acts as beast bait (kids being less likely to be attacked). In any event, the Hawks grown-up is a good one, and I was really glad they had him.

trauma that was not splashed all over the place but dealt with in a moving, slow burn sort of way--these kids have been dealt a rotten hand, and are working through tough things, and Nora is something of a catalyst that helps with this.

NB-- Secret of the Shadow Beasts (June 14th 2022, Dial Books), is eligible for this years Cybils Awards (in Elementary/Middle Grade speculative fiction). Starting this Wednesday, the 17th, you can apply to be a panelist on for this category, or one of the others....here's a blog post of mine with more info.

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Secret of the Shadow Beasts, by Diane Magras

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I've read lots and lots of good books so far this year, but this past week, for the first time in ages, I started one after supper ( Secret of the Shadow Beasts, by Diane Magras), and read and read and then had an oh no moment when I realized it was almost midnight (usually I'm safely in bed at ten, and wake up around five thirty) and I hadn't quite finished the book yet....a terrible dilemma.

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Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor (now nominated!)

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Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor (now nominated!)

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by Xiran Jay Zhao
1665900709

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Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor (Zachary Ying, #1)

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Read 427 reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. A middle grade contemporary fantasy that follows a young boy as he journeys across China t…

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 Ravenfall(Ravenfall #1) (now nominated!)

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 Ravenfall(Ravenfall #1) (now nominated!)

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by Kalyn Josephson
| Goodreads

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One magical inn, two kids with supernatural powers, and an ancient Celtic creature trying to destroy their world by Halloween night... ...

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56896065-the-marvellers

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,

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Emily The end of the book leaves it open to continue the series while also providing a satisfying end to this book!

Community Reviews

·  450 ratings  ·  148 reviews

Start your review of The Marvellers

Jun 21, 2021 Zoraida rated it it was amazing

This world is phenomenal. I desperately want to be a Marveller, even if I'm biased. This world is phenomenal. I desperately want to be a Marveller, even if I'm biased. ...more

May 20, 2022 Anniek rated it really liked it

Highly recommend if you loved Nevermoor and Amari and the Night Brothers, this is such a whimsical story, and I loved the magic school setting!

Mar 24, 2022 Carlos Vega rated it it was amazing

Many thanks to the author for the e-arc, I am very grateful.
Note: My english review will be at the end, just scroll down.
“Some things have to be faced. They can’t be avoided.”

Español: Estamos ante el que espero sea mi nuevo instituto de magia favorito, el Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors es la academia de magia del mundo que la autora construyo, y a diferencia de anteriores escuelas de magia que aclamaban ser abiertas para todas las personas de todas las cultura
Many thanks to the author for the e-arc, I am very grateful.
Note: My english review will be at the end, just scroll down.
“Some things have to be faced. They can’t be avoided.”

Español: Estamos ante el que espero sea mi nuevo instituto de magia favorito, el Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors es la academia de magia del mundo que la autora construyo, y a diferencia de anteriores escuelas de magia que aclamaban ser abiertas para todas las personas de todas las culturas sin embargo al momento de representar dichas culturas no eran más que llenas de estereotipos, esta academia de verdad aclamaba ser abierta para todas aquellas personas que reciban su carta, no importa su religión, nacionalidad o cultura; mientras iba leyendo me maravillaba al ver distintas culturas de todo el mundo en un solo lugar, y me refiero a una buena representación, incluso ver representación latina dentro de este libro me lleno de alegría como latino.

Una vez que terminé de aclamar la excelente representación que tiene este libro me voy a centrar un poco en la historia. Tenemos a nuestro protagonista Ella quien es una Conjurer, y junto a su familia y demás conjurer son los encargados del Underworld.
A lo largo de la historia, los conjurer han sido dejados de lado por el mundo mágico al tener presunciones de que la magia de estas personas es mala, y al mismo tiempo les ha hecho ser rechazados por las personas sin magia o también conocidos como “fewels”

Pero después de muchísimos años, y muchas conversaciones entre las autoridades del mundo mágico, se produce un avance dentro de la sociedad mágica y se admite a Ella a que entre al instituto, hecho que causa opiniones divididas en el mundo mágico; nuestra protagonista Ella se encuentra muy emocionada por ir al instituto, pero al momento de irse es aconsejada por su familia de que su vida no será muy fácil por los estereotipos que se tiene hacia ella y su magia.
Como era de esperarse, dentro del instituto algunas personas eran muy malas con Ella, hecho que me enojaba bastante, pero al mismo tiempo hubo personas muy bonitas que fueron amigos de Ella.
Pero no todo puede ser color rosa, ¿verdad? Finalmente tenemos el giro donde la líder malvada de una sociedad de magos se fuga de la cárcel especial, misma que se encontraba en el Underworld, este hecho hará que la sociedad mágica enloquezca y culpe de traición a los conjurer, haciendo la vida de Ella mucho más difícil.
Todo quedará a manos de Ella y sus amigos de descubrir el paradero de su maestro favorito cuando este desaparece misteriosamente y las demás personas del instituto actúan de manera extraña.

Espero haber dado una buena premisa porque a lo largo del libro esta historia puede engancharte bastante, su sistema de magia es asombroso y ni hablar de los paragon, que son como las especialidades dentro del mundo mágico y donde cada alumno es ubicado al final de su primer año; yo en lo personal me siento bastante identificado con el paragon de la visión, ¡el ojo es sabio!
Pero de igual manera los demás paragon son bastante interesantes; las materias que se enseñan son algo particulares y volvieron a avivar en mi las ganas de haber recibido una carta para entrar a este instituto a los 11 años.

Este nuevo instituto va por buen camino en convertirse en mi nueva obsesión y entrar a mi top de sagas favoritas, volviéndoles a recordar que tiene una representación fascinante y solamente faltaría saber si es open mind en cuanto a la sexualidad de sus estudiantes, pero se comprende que no se trate este tema en el primer libro pues la mayoría de personajes aun son niños y se encontraban enfocados en otras cosas, espero en futuros libros se pueda ver esta clase de representación y creo que el instituto finalmente podría ser para abierto para todo el mundo, claro, si recibes tu carta.

Me encuentro halagado de haber podido leer este libro antes de su publicación y obviamente estoy ansioso por tener una copia física en mis manos cuando salga, porque algo también a agregar es que su portada es super bonita y los detalles dentro del libro prometen bastante.

Impresionante, cautivador y atrapante, el Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors tiene todo para volverse la saga favorita de muchísimas personas, sus puertas se encuentran abiertas.

Calificación Final: 5 estrellas

English: We are before what I hope will be my new favorite magic institute, the Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors is the magic academy of the world that the author built, and unlike previous magic schools that claimed to be open for all people of all cultures however when representing those cultures they were nothing more than full of stereotypes, this academy truly claimed to be open for all those people who receive her letter, no matter their religion, nationality or culture; as I was reading I was amazed to see different cultures from all over the world in one place, and I mean a good representation, even seeing Latino representation inside this book filled me with joy as a Latino.

Once I am done hailing the excellent representation this book has I am going to focus a little bit on the story. We have our main character Ella who is a Conjurer, and along with her family and other conjurers are in charge of the Underworld.
Throughout history, the conjurers have been sidelined by the magical world with the presumption that the magic of these people is bad, and at the same time has caused them to be rejected by people without magic or also known as "fewels."

But after many years, and many conversations between the authorities of the magical world, there is a breakthrough within the magical society and Ella is admitted to enter the institute, a fact that causes divided opinions in the magical world; our protagonist Ella is very excited to go to school, but at the time of leaving she is advised by her family that her life will not be very easy because of the stereotypes that are held towards her and her magic.
As expected, inside the institute some people were very mean to Ella, a fact that made me very angry, but at the same time there were very nice people who were Ella's friends.
But not everything can be rosy, right? Finally we have the twist where the evil leader of a society of wizards escapes from the special prison, same that was in the Underworld, this fact will make the magical society go crazy and blame treason to the conjurers, making Ella's life much more difficult.
It will be up to Ella and her friends to discover the whereabouts of their favorite teacher when he mysteriously disappears and the other people in the institute act strangely.

I hope I have given a good premise because throughout the book this story can hook you quite a lot, its magic system is amazing and not to mention the paragons, which are like specialties within the magical world and where each student is placed at the end of their first year; I personally feel quite identified with the paragon of vision, the eye is wise!
But in the same way the other paragons are quite interesting; the subjects that are taught are somewhat particular and rekindled in me the desire to have received a letter to enter this institute when I was 11 years old.

This new school is well on its way to become my new obsession and enter my top favorite sagas, reminding you again that it has a fascinating representation and I just need to know if it is open minded regarding the sexuality of its students, but it is understandable that this topic is not addressed in the first book because most of the characters are still children and were focused on other things, I hope in future books you can see this kind of representation and I think the school could finally be open for everyone, of course, if you get your letter.

I find myself flattered to have been able to read this book before its publication and I'm obviously anxious to get my hands on a physical copy when it comes out, because something also to add is that its cover is super nice and the details inside the book promise quite a lot.

Impressive, captivating and enthralling, the Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors has everything to become the favorite saga of many, many people, its doors are open.

Final Rating: 5 stars
...more

13 out of 10, highly recommend to *everyone*.
Welcome to the future of magical schools. The Marvellers takes on difficult topics with ease. Clayton’s writing is accessible but also packs a punch when necessary. I particularly love that Ella has a lot of adults in her life who care! And are alive! I also love Ella herself for being earnest and smart and relatable. The kids are going to loooove this book. There’s magical talking animals! The school and cities in the SKY! Different houses that you
13 out of 10, highly recommend to *everyone*.
Welcome to the future of magical schools. The Marvellers takes on difficult topics with ease. Clayton’s writing is accessible but also packs a punch when necessary. I particularly love that Ella has a lot of adults in her life who care! And are alive! I also love Ella herself for being earnest and smart and relatable. The kids are going to loooove this book. There’s magical talking animals! The school and cities in the SKY! Different houses that you don’t get sorted into until the end of your first year (I am looking forward to seeing more of them in book two)! Academy secrets everywhere! It is a fact in this world that different kinds of magic are still important and all valid and I adore it. Truly and sincerely cannot wait to read the rest of this series. Will be promoting this one quite a lot to the kids at work.

Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review. I ended up purchasing the audiobook via libro.fm as well.
...more

*4.5 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

The Marvellers is Dhonielle Clayton's middle grade debut and what a debut it is!

Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to ever go to the Arcanum Training Institute where Marvellers go to learn everything there is to know about magic; but she receives a less than warm welcome from her classmates. Tensions keep growing as the year goes by, especially after a famous convict escapes from prison and the escape is blamed on Con
*4.5 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

The Marvellers is Dhonielle Clayton's middle grade debut and what a debut it is!

Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to ever go to the Arcanum Training Institute where Marvellers go to learn everything there is to know about magic; but she receives a less than warm welcome from her classmates. Tensions keep growing as the year goes by, especially after a famous convict escapes from prison and the escape is blamed on Conjurors everywhere. At least, Ella can count on her two friends: the angry Brigit and the friendly Jason.

The Marvellers was a great middle grade boarding school book. I enjoyed its plot, its setting, its characters. The mystery elements seemed a bit predictable to me but I didn't mind one bit. The story was very well woven and appealing from beginning to end. The characters were layered and I loved seeing them grow as characters but also seeing their relationships change.
I really liked the writing, I found it easy to read yet detailed and even lush in the setting descriptions. I felt like I was there, right beside Ella and i loved every second of it!

I hope there will be more books in this series and cannot wait to read more by Dhonielle Clayton.
...more

Feb 27, 2022 Ms. Yingling rated it really liked it

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Ella is excited by apprehensive to be the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute. This school floats in the air and changes its appearance every year, and students travel to it by a magical water-zeppelin. Students come from all over the world, and have language crystals that help with translation. This makes for a very multicultural school, although most students are from Marveller communities and not Fewel ones; Ella is from Conjurer communities
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Ella is excited by apprehensive to be the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute. This school floats in the air and changes its appearance every year, and students travel to it by a magical water-zeppelin. Students come from all over the world, and have language crystals that help with translation. This makes for a very multicultural school, although most students are from Marveller communities and not Fewel ones; Ella is from Conjurer communities in Mississippi and New Orleans,but her family occasionally interacts with the Fewels. Her mother would rather have her at home, attending Madame Collette's Conjure Ecole, but her prominent conjure-politician father wants to see conjurers accepted into the elite academy. The staff are generally accepting, and Masterju Thakur is assigned as a staff mentor, while Jason is a student who is supposed to show her around. At first, she is assigned three roommates, Lian, Samaira, and Siobhan. While they are a little apprehensive about having Ella as their roommate, especially after her mother sets up several conjurer wards to help protect Ella, they aren't actively mean to her. Nonetheless, Ella finds herself uprooted soon after and placed in an out of the way room with Brigit, who has been raised in a Fewel community and does NOT want to be at the school. Brigit was raised by a foster mother and doesn't think she has a marvel, although she does a lot of magically inspired knitting. While Ella is shielded from the worst of the news about how people are negatively reacting to a conjurer at Arcanum, she does have to put up with various microaggressions. She does enjoy her classes, and even starts to get along better with Brigit, but things are not going well in the Marveller world. A generation ago, there were students who were fighting against the magic, and these students were called Aces. The major player was named Gia Trevilino, the Ace of Anarchy, but she has been imprisoned in the Cards of Deadly Fate. She managed to escape, and eventually works her way to the Institute to extract her revenge. Ella has been working with Masterji Thakur to understand how conjurer history intertwined with Marveller history, and when he goes missing, she feels compelled to look for him with Jason and Brigit. Will she be able to find her mentor and sustain her position at the Institute? Also, with Gia on the loose, how will the next school year unfold?
Strengths: Pick this one up for the richly developed fantasy world, complete with magical classes, a fantastic school campus, and a selection of magic from many different cultures. I did enjoy the fact that the students weren't given their Marvel Examinations until the end of the year, when an elixir and a magical machine told them their Paragon (one of five) and their Marvel (a specific trait within the Paragon). There are so many good details, along with food, magical creatures, and innovative ways of traveling that it would be easy to read this book and not really care a lot about the plot. While Conjurers haven't been officially in the Institute, there was some interesting hidden history, and surprising secrets of other characters who had Conjurer roots. Ella's family was so interesting that I wouldn't have minded an entire book before this one, explaining her life with her family, and maybe a lot more back story of Gia Trevilino and the Institute. The fact that she was generally welcomed, but there were some people who weren't happy with her being there, made this seem much more brutal and realistic than if the hatred and prejudice had been very bold. A very interesting and well developed fantasy title with characters of color.
Weaknesses: Given the other meanings of Ace (a shortened form of asexual), I found it slightly problematic that the evil characters in the book had that name. Young readers might not be aware of this. There was also some confusing language describing Brigit's crafting; she seems to be knitting with needles, but her work is sometimes referred to as quilting or quilt blocks. Fantasy books are the hardest things for me to read, so I personally struggled a bit with some of the backstory and feel like I need to reread the entire book to fully understand what crimes Gia and the Aces committed and how and why they were punished. This will be important going forward with the series.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and this will be fun to hand to students who have read the Tristan Strong series, since they will get the shout out to author Kwame Mbalia, who is apparently moonlighting as a fictional character! The fantasy world will appeal to readers who couldn't get enough of Bell's The Crooked Sixpence, Black and Clare's The Magisterium series, or Townsends' Nevermoor books.
...more

Apr 18, 2022 Sasha rated it it was ok

I'm obviously in the minority here, but this book is just not a success
This is such a Harry Potter wanna-be (and I say this as a mild fan of HP like 10 years ago) without any of the successes of the books.
- There's division into 5 houses based on talent, or "marvels," but people can have more than 1 of that talent and can even steal each other's (not explained). I'm over this very old and now outdated trend to separate people into different categories based on some random trait/talent that is n
I'm obviously in the minority here, but this book is just not a success
This is such a Harry Potter wanna-be (and I say this as a mild fan of HP like 10 years ago) without any of the successes of the books.
- There's division into 5 houses based on talent, or "marvels," but people can have more than 1 of that talent and can even steal each other's (not explained). I'm over this very old and now outdated trend to separate people into different categories based on some random trait/talent that is never exclusive to any given group of people
- There are small creatures like house elves that serve you/watch over you. Not explained
- The "star" theme is overused: star folk, star mail, Stariary (the worst), Stardust Pier, star-lanterns, "star's teeth!," "star ink".... it's repeptitive and uncreative.
- Plot is... not well-paced and there's a lot of random off-shoots that mean nothing later.
- Writing is not good. I was lost from one sentence to another more than a few times. And this is a children's book.

My random complaint that will not bother other people is that there are professors and other characters named after children's book authors, straight-up first and last name. Some characters that appear are Dr. Kwame Mbalia, Dr. Anne Ursu, and Jason with long locs (Reynolds?) It's cute if it's first names, and I love the multiculturalism throughout the entire book, but referencing the full names is cringy.

All that said, the story picks up a lot at the end and despite the lack of explanation and weird timelines, it's kind of interesting when the characters are puzzle-solving to find their missing professor. But still there's so much left unexplained, and I was way too frustrated and not having fun to care to read the second book.

For the wonderful premise of a super-diverse mutliculutral school of magic with interesting concepts and explorations of discrimination, this book falls so short that it becomes a waste of the interesting concept.

And I will end on the thing that enrages me... the strict and domineering dean of discipline is Russian, with an incorrectly gendered name of Nabokov instead of Nabokova for women. Comlpetely zero redeeming characteristics and obvious lack of even the most bare minimum of research. That's a real slap in the face for this so lovingly constructed world of diversity and the story of a girl seeking acceptance. Real nice.

I couldn't be more disappointed in this book, and I'm a little hurt by it. I hope this gets redone and republished after a few more months of workshopping with actual sensitivity readers and extensive editing.
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What an accomplishment this story is. It subtly addresses racism and prejudice and children’s ability to overcome these negative perceptions and behaviors in a way that adults often cannot.

Apr 15, 2022 Meg rated it it was amazing

This was fantastic! It isn’t even officially released yet, and I already can’t wait for Book 2

May 16, 2022 Erricka Hager rated it really liked it

This was a cute read! I think this will resonate with a bunch of middle grade kids.

Jun 05, 2022 Lisad rated it really liked it

4.5 stars
A great read! A wonderful world to be immersed in, delightful characters, and fast-paced. There are Marvellers, Fewels, and Conjurors - three different societies, each including members of different ethnicities and backgrounds. The reader can see how the story mirrors our own life experiences/histories. “When we were enslaved, our talents and skills adapted under brutal torture, and after freedom, there was more terror. Enduring that leaves a mark. Conjure is a bittersweet cross between 4.5 stars
A great read! A wonderful world to be immersed in, delightful characters, and fast-paced. There are Marvellers, Fewels, and Conjurors - three different societies, each including members of different ethnicities and backgrounds. The reader can see how the story mirrors our own life experiences/histories. “When we were enslaved, our talents and skills adapted under brutal torture, and after freedom, there was more terror. Enduring that leaves a mark. Conjure is a bittersweet cross between rage and hope, but yet still full of love. … A bruised fruit is still sweet.”
For those familiar with Harry Potter and the Wizarding World, this is a fun story to dive into. Noting similarities and differences is enjoyable. For those readers new to such a world, read with care and enjoy the unique details and descriptions (food, animals/pets, clothing, air trolleys, messaging balloons, starfolk, etc, etc).
This first novel has a fabulous ending and will leave you eagerly waiting for the next. I know I am. ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Note: I was provided an ARC of this novel at the North Texas Teen Book Festival.
“The Marvellers” is a book with a number of strengths: it brings us fascinating, creative magical systems, a world full of life and history that feels like a natural fit for said magic system, and characters who are engaging to read about.

Unfortunately, it is also a novel with a number of weaknesses.

Let’s start with the most prevalent: the worldbuilding. Now, once the story gets going, it is incredibly easy to become
Note: I was provided an ARC of this novel at the North Texas Teen Book Festival.
“The Marvellers” is a book with a number of strengths: it brings us fascinating, creative magical systems, a world full of life and history that feels like a natural fit for said magic system, and characters who are engaging to read about.

Unfortunately, it is also a novel with a number of weaknesses.

Let’s start with the most prevalent: the worldbuilding. Now, once the story gets going, it is incredibly easy to become lost in the magic of this world, an alternate Earth with just enough similarities to our own to seem somewhat familiar. But it is unfortunately one that is very complicated, with not just one but two magic systems: Conjuring and Marvelling.

Marvelling, at least, is described in some detail, which makes sense given the nature of the story (I mean, the title is literally “The Marvellers”, after all). But even so, there are still many questions left by the end of this book that feel like they should have been answered: what does it mean if someone steals someone else’s Marvel? How does having two Marvels even work?

Conjuring is described with even less detail, which is unfortunate since the main character, Ella Durand, is herself a Conjurer from a long line of them. Why exactly Marvellers stand at the top of society why Conjurers are looked down upon is unclear, as is what the difference between the two magic systems.

In addition to how complicated the magic systems are, the rest of the worldbuilding results in what can best be described as a sluggish pace. The plot often takes a backseat as Clayton goes on to describe fine details of her world, such as food or creatures that end up having no real bearing on the story, and it results in a pacing that is uneven and awkward. When the plot does get going, boy howdy does it get going. But there are so many long pauses and breaks in between that it is easy to forget what exactly we’re supposed to be caring about.

Some of this, I feel, is due to the very forced nature of the plot’s timing: like many magic-school books, this story is set over the course of Ella’s first year at Arcanum Training Institute. Yet important parts of the plot don’t mesh with the slower nature of this kind of story: a prisoner breaks out of the Underworld (which it’s never really explained how that exists in this world), and then it takes…2-3 months for them to do anything? The heroes find out that their beloved teacher is missing in January, but don’t really do anything about it until May. A student accuses Ella of harming her in December but doesn’t bother to report it until May. Much of the story feels like it is standing in place – the characters don’t necessarily grow much during these intervening months, and yet the time has passed regardless.

In the end, “The Marvellers” is a book with a lot of promise, certainly with the ambition of setting up a stellar series, but it falls somewhat flat when it is crippled by awkward pacing, maybe-too-detailed worldbuilding, the very nature of its own type of narrative.

Rating: 7.5/10
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If you are ready to enter the whimsical world of the Marvellers and the Conjurors, then step right up for a tale of friendship and mystery.
We follow our main character Ella who was born and raised into a family of Conjuruors, and in their magical world, they are considered outcasts. They are bothered by the Marvellers until her father challenges the court system of the magical world. The court ruling will allow for Conjurors to attend the magical institute, but only one was admitted into the in
If you are ready to enter the whimsical world of the Marvellers and the Conjurors, then step right up for a tale of friendship and mystery.
We follow our main character Ella who was born and raised into a family of Conjuruors, and in their magical world, they are considered outcasts. They are bothered by the Marvellers until her father challenges the court system of the magical world. The court ruling will allow for Conjurors to attend the magical institute, but only one was admitted into the institute...Ella.

Upon entrance into the institution, Ella is met with foe but makes unlikely friends and explores how to find balance in the Conjuruor and Marveller debate while remaining true to herself. Ella makes

At times the pacing felt slow, and it was hard to understand and get to know our character while the world-building distracted from screen-time for our trio and our villain. But the world was a wonderful escape that young readers will absolutely enjoy and be eager to explore further.
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Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing an e-ARC of The Marvellers in exchange for an honest review.
Ella Durand is an eleven year old conjuror who is attending the Arcanum Training Institute, a magic school in the sky. She is the first conjuror to ever attend the Marvellian school and many students, teachers and parents mistrust the magic her family practices. When a dangerous criminal known as the Ace of Anarchy escapes from the Underworld prison, supposedly
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing an e-ARC of The Marvellers in exchange for an honest review.
Ella Durand is an eleven year old conjuror who is attending the Arcanum Training Institute, a magic school in the sky. She is the first conjuror to ever attend the Marvellian school and many students, teachers and parents mistrust the magic her family practices. When a dangerous criminal known as the Ace of Anarchy escapes from the Underworld prison, supposedly with the help of a conjuror, tensions rise to an all time high throughout the Marveller universe. Ella and her friends must use their growing powers to clear her people’s names before it’s too late.

The Marvellers is Black Girl Magic come to life! I absolutely adored this book! Not only is the cover beautiful, but the world building and attention to detail is so phenomenally done that I felt fully immersed in the Marveller universe. The world Ella inhabits is whimsical and unique. I could easily see this story being adapted for film.

The story was well paced and the mystery element kept me engrossed from start to finish. I loved how diverse the characters were and how many cultures were highlighted through the students and teachers at the Arcanum.

I enjoyed Ella’s journey being the first conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute. Many tried to make her feel unwelcome because they believed the conjure folk practices to be too different and bad. Her strong family ties, support from her mentor Masterji Thakur and friendships with Brigit and Jason gave her the courage to stay and stand up for herself and all conjure folk.

The Marvellers is a book that I wish 12 year old me could read. When I was in middle school I desperately craved books with Black girls like me getting to go on adventures and attend magical schools. It makes my heart so happy to know that today Black girls and other girls of color are getting to see themselves in stories like this because representation matters!

The Marvellers is now tied with Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky as my favorite middle grade fantasy novel. I finished the story wanting to be a Conjuror/Marveller just like Ella. While it’s not currently listed as a series, I am almost certain there will be another book and I can’t wait for it!
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Apr 10, 2022 C.L. Colyer rated it it was amazing

The Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors claims to be open to everyone, except, until now, Conjurers. And while the administrators of this fine magical academy say all are welcome, Ella’s family and friends warned her that there would be those who cling to the stereotype that Conjurer magic is evil. There is also the threat of evil returning, as any good fantasy would have.
This story is about acceptance, good vs. evil, and overcoming stereotypes. Ella faces many challe
The Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors claims to be open to everyone, except, until now, Conjurers. And while the administrators of this fine magical academy say all are welcome, Ella’s family and friends warned her that there would be those who cling to the stereotype that Conjurer magic is evil. There is also the threat of evil returning, as any good fantasy would have.
This story is about acceptance, good vs. evil, and overcoming stereotypes. Ella faces many challenges, including classmates who don’t like her just because she’s a Conjurer and not a Marveller. These students aren’t outright mean to Ella, but their dislike of her does get Ella moved from the room she shares with three Marvellers to a room with a new roommate raised by a Fewel (mortal) family. Ella makes friends, though. Jason, Brigit, and Masterji Thakur are great allies.

The Marvellers is a delightful magical book with a fun magical academy and a diverse cast. The world-building is wonderful and imaginative. Fans of fantastical worlds are sure to enjoy this one.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a review copy.
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This story is Dhonielle Clayton's Middle-Grade debut however you cannot even tell. She tells this story with the true whimsey that it deserves. This story is so incredibly fun. As someone who loves what the YA genre can bring this story does all of that. The magic is delightful.
Every middle schooler dreams of going to boarding school, or at least I did, and this book makes that desire even more real. With so many mysteries to unfold the story is unendingly engaging. The descriptions of the set
This story is Dhonielle Clayton's Middle-Grade debut however you cannot even tell. She tells this story with the true whimsey that it deserves. This story is so incredibly fun. As someone who loves what the YA genre can bring this story does all of that. The magic is delightful.
Every middle schooler dreams of going to boarding school, or at least I did, and this book makes that desire even more real. With so many mysteries to unfold the story is unendingly engaging. The descriptions of the set are equally amazing as well.

The characters in this story are lovable if a bit one-dimensional at times but never in a way that takes away from their stories. Ella, Bridget, and Jason I love you. Little Black girls everywhere are going to love Ella as well and I cannot wait to see more of her in the future.

If you loved Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky you will love this story as well.

More Black girls and magic please and thank you.
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This was just a really great book about magic, being misfits and accepting yourself. I enjoyed Ella, Jason and Brigits friendship and how they looked out for each other during their first year at Arcanum. I really loved the world building and how the magic of everyone was portrayed and how the stigma that Ella received being the first Conjuror to attend the school and how she had to overcome peoples prejudice about her form of magic. Really great start to a series and I can’t wait to read the ne This was just a really great book about magic, being misfits and accepting yourself. I enjoyed Ella, Jason and Brigits friendship and how they looked out for each other during their first year at Arcanum. I really loved the world building and how the magic of everyone was portrayed and how the stigma that Ella received being the first Conjuror to attend the school and how she had to overcome peoples prejudice about her form of magic. Really great start to a series and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.
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i think it is just too hard to read a book about ids attending a secret school of magic without making comparisons to Harry Potter. That has just become the standard. everything just sort of gets measured against that even when I try not to. Oo, with that confession as background, did I think the storylines were pretty similar? Yes. Did I think this book was as good as HP? No. But I don’t think this book was as dark as HP, and therefore probably pretty appropriate for a young audience, which I c i think it is just too hard to read a book about ids attending a secret school of magic without making comparisons to Harry Potter. That has just become the standard. everything just sort of gets measured against that even when I try not to. Oo, with that confession as background, did I think the storylines were pretty similar? Yes. Did I think this book was as good as HP? No. But I don’t think this book was as dark as HP, and therefore probably pretty appropriate for a young audience, which I clearly am not. Do think this book was re diverse, and did a better job featuring black and brown characters than HP. ...more

Apr 17, 2022 Hanna Fogel rated it really liked it

I know books are meant to have plots and stakes and conflicts, but I just wanted to dive into a Marvellers encyclopedia! What magnificent worldbuilding.

Jun 13, 2022 Teresa Rush rated it it was amazing

I am fond of all stories about magic. This is a nice and way read too

May 15, 2022 Robyn rated it it was amazing

I posted this on twitter, but I will post again because it's important.
The Marvellers is a fantastical original story I am sure many will enjoy. I will be buying it for my school library. There have been lots of (negative) press compared to the HP series that, as an educator, I will now address.

The Marvellers is frequently compared to Harry Potter. Before you go down that road, it is as much akin to Harry Potter as Rick Riordan's Camp Half-Bloods is akin to Hogwart's. There is a historical lit
I posted this on twitter, but I will post again because it's important.
The Marvellers is a fantastical original story I am sure many will enjoy. I will be buying it for my school library. There have been lots of (negative) press compared to the HP series that, as an educator, I will now address.

The Marvellers is frequently compared to Harry Potter. Before you go down that road, it is as much akin to Harry Potter as Rick Riordan's Camp Half-Bloods is akin to Hogwart's. There is a historical literary tradition, it evolves over time. Each new author adds to the cannon by helping to reshape it with new prose representing unique voices. Like JK Rowling
added to the YA Fantasy cannon of Edith Nesbit, Edith Nesbit, and others, Dhonielle Clayton, has submitted a new addition and introduced us to a fantastic setting with rich and engaging characters.

What JRK did for the British schooling tradition, Cleyton created a story familiar to the American educational experience. Here thousands of kids are bussed out of their communities for hard fought educational opportunities to places that are not as welcoming. What HP started in 1997 and
Percy Jackson continued for dyslexic kids; this book's Ella Durand will do for children who have rarely seen themselves in middle grade Fantasy literature.

This is a book that will get kids reading! Something that is more important than ever in our post-pandemic Era. We have new data from Harvard, that gaps in reading GREW the past 2 years. Stories that kids want to read, that they connect with, are MORE important than EVER!!

I had Harry and Hermione when I needed them and did not want to read. I loved that the kids I teach had Percy, I would have loved having him when I was struggling with my dyslexia in middle school. Millions of girls and boys will see themselves in Ella, Jason and Brigit. I wish there was a Marveller series for kind of every kid, a new universe to discover and love. One that brings them into the fantasy literarily tradition where they read characters like them written in a manner appropriate to their skill level.

This book was engaging, exciting, and intriguing. I will be eagerly and not very patiently waiting for the rest of the series.
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Jun 05, 2022 Leigh Gaddy rated it it was amazing

This was a work of love by author Dhonielle Clayton. The worldbuilding is supremely lovely. I loved Ella and all the cast. Great for readers who want to sink into another world and experience magic and beautiful culture. I'm glad there will be more to come. This was a work of love by author Dhonielle Clayton. The worldbuilding is supremely lovely. I loved Ella and all the cast. Great for readers who want to sink into another world and experience magic and beautiful culture. I'm glad there will be more to come. ...more

Trigger & Content Warnings:
Racism
Blood depiction
Kidnapping
Bullying

Mar 07, 2022 Brenda rated it really liked it

Ella Durand has been invited to attend the prestigious Arcanum Training Institute (ATI), a magical school floating in the sky that is never in the same place twice and can only be reached by a sky ferry. Ella is the first Conjuror to attend, having gained her spot after her father won his case at the Marvellian court and the three-hundred-year-old ban on Conjurors attending was lifted. Before that the Institiute admitted Marvellers from all around the world, but never a Fewel, or non-magical stu Ella Durand has been invited to attend the prestigious Arcanum Training Institute (ATI), a magical school floating in the sky that is never in the same place twice and can only be reached by a sky ferry. Ella is the first Conjuror to attend, having gained her spot after her father won his case at the Marvellian court and the three-hundred-year-old ban on Conjurors attending was lifted. Before that the Institiute admitted Marvellers from all around the world, but never a Fewel, or non-magical student. Ella is apprehensive about attending the institute, not only is she feeling the pressure of representing all Conjurors, but she really wants to belong and make some friends. At the same time, she's fully aware that most Marvellian's don't seem to trust Conjuror magic. After meeting her mentor, Masterju Thakur and fellow student Jason, Ella feels a little more optimistic about her year. But when her new roommates reject her, and she's placed with Brigit, a girl who hates magic, being at the institute, and is homesick for her Fewel community, Ella is once again discouraged.
Then news of the notorious Ace of Anarchy, Gia Trevilino's escape from the Cards of Deadly Fate, a high security prison reaches the ATI. The Marvellian community suspects a Conjuror helped her and Ella's fellow students once again turn on her. To make matters worse, her mentor is missing, and it seems that Gia Trevilino has found her way to ATI and may be the one pulling all the strings. Can Ella, Brigit and Jason track down and save Masterju Thakur before the institute is brought down in runes?

I really enjoyed the immersive and diverse magical world and school that Dhonielle Clayton created. So many different cultures are represented and each student has their own unique form of magic, or Marvel. Everyone starts out the year on an even playing field, not knowing what their specific Marvel will be until the end of the years Marvel Exam. I loved the magic of the Conjuror's and Marvellian's, both sounded very cool. How Marvel's are performed with light and come from one of the five Paragon's (Touch, Sound, Taste, etc.) which provides for many different combinations to include brewing Indian spice elixirs, marvels that make predictions or even control the weather. And how Conjurors, sing spells and have intricate tattoo's of roots and flowers on their bodies because of the magical spells they cast. I'm sure there are many other subtitle differences I missed while reading, but that only means a re-read is in order.

I do love my magical schools, think The Hound of Rowan, The Magicians Guild or Wundersmith. I relish all the lovely details about foods and classes and there were certainly enough here to satisfy. The only thing I was saddened by was all the prejudices that were directed toward Ella and Conjurors, and especially the unfair treatment she received when it was perceived that she broke a rule. However, Ella admirably stands up for herself and challenges the Marvellers thinking. Overall, I enjoyed the characters and varied magic systems, I can really see this expanding into a longer series of books. I especially can't wait to explore more in the Underworld. Did I mention that multiple children book authors appear as characters in the book? Such fun. **E-ARC from Edelweiss+**
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May 21, 2022 Vicky rated it it was ok

Reads like a Harry Potter fan fiction. It was just ok.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Eleven-year-old Ella Durand comes from a family of Conjurors in New Orleans and is the first Conjuror admitted to the prestigious Arcanum Training Institute for Marvellers. Students come from all over the world to study and hone their skills. Ella is immediately subjected to prejudice because they don’t like or trust conjure magic and she is seen as lesser. She connects with fello
Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Eleven-year-old Ella Durand comes from a family of Conjurors in New Orleans and is the first Conjuror admitted to the prestigious Arcanum Training Institute for Marvellers. Students come from all over the world to study and hone their skills. Ella is immediately subjected to prejudice because they don’t like or trust conjure magic and she is seen as lesser. She connects with fellow misfit and roommate Brigit, who hates magic, and Jason, the youngest in a large Marveller family. Just when she is starting to find her way, a notorious criminal escapes from her supposedly inescapable prison allegedly with Conjuror help. On top of that, her mentor disappears just when he starts explaining to Ella her heritage at the school. With her friends’ help, Ella work to find her teacher and clear her family’s name.

What a great start to a new series! Readers will see similarities to Harry Potter but this story brings in a richness of different cultures and customs. It also addresses real world issues and prejudices. Adult readers, especially librarians, will see Clayton’s call outs to other authors by name (A.T.I. teachers). Overall, a “marvelous” book! I can’t wait for the next one in the series! I would recommend this middle grade fantasy for readers in grade 4 and up.

#TheMarvellers #NetGalley
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Apr 24, 2022 Mary rated it it was amazing

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Marvellers follows Ella, an eleven-year-old girl who is invited to attend the Arcanum Training Institute as its first ever Conjuror student. Though she is excited to show the Marvellers what it's like to be a Conjuror, and to learn to be a Merveller herself, Ella and her Conjuror family face rumors, suspicion, and distrust around every corner.

My favorite thing about this book was the world. The
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Marvellers follows Ella, an eleven-year-old girl who is invited to attend the Arcanum Training Institute as its first ever Conjuror student. Though she is excited to show the Marvellers what it's like to be a Conjuror, and to learn to be a Merveller herself, Ella and her Conjuror family face rumors, suspicion, and distrust around every corner.

My favorite thing about this book was the world. The Marvellers live in cloud cities and attend school in the sky. They eat magical foods like squirmy japchae and jumping jollof. Each magic wielder has a different affinity, and though they're sorted into groups based on affinity for training and community purposes, they're all generally open and accepting of any affinity (there is, of course, the exception for magic wielders like the Conjurors, who are perceived to use their magic in a vastly different way than the Marvellers, and that bias is explored by the narrative).

The plot is also a fun time, though the external conflict with the Ace of Anarchy, etc., does end up being kind of a backseat conflict. The story itself is much more focused on Ella, on her friendships and her experience with discrimination in school. While I don't particularly find that to be a drawback, it's something to note for readers who are looking for more of an adventure. Masterji Thakur isn't even discovered to be missing by our characters until 65% of the way through the book.

I do think this book is an absolute marvel, and a worthy addition to the middle grade genre. It is rich and vibrant and digs into not only a new magical world, but also real world prejudices that both adults and children see, struggle with, and participate in today. A book like this that explores those themes is beyond valuable.
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Born and raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., Dhonielle spent much of her childhood hiding beneath her grandmother's dining table with a stack of books. As an English teacher at a ballet academy, Clayton rediscovered her passion for children's and young adult literature. To ground herself in the canon, she pursued her Masters in Children's Literature from Hollins University before receiving Born and raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., Dhonielle spent much of her childhood hiding beneath her grandmother's dining table with a stack of books. As an English teacher at a ballet academy, Clayton rediscovered her passion for children's and young adult literature. To ground herself in the canon, she pursued her Masters in Children's Literature from Hollins University before receiving her MFA in Writing for Children at the New School. She is a former middle school librarian, where she pestered children to read and curated a diverse collection. An avid traveler, Dhonielle's lived in several foreign countries, but she's now settled in Harlem, where you'll find her writing late into the night, lurking in libraries, and hunting for the best slice of New York pizza. She is the COO of We Need Diverse Books and the co-founder of Cake Literary. The co-author of the dance dramas Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces, as well as the upcoming Rumor Game, Dhonielle is the author of the New York Times bestselling YA fantasy series The Belles. Find her on the web at DhonielleClayton.com or on Twitter @brownbookworm. ...more

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The Marvellers book. Read 148 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Author Dhonielle Clayton makes her middle-grade debut with a fantas...

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By Beth McMullen
97815344482852

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Secret of the Storm

by Beth McMullen

Aladdin

An Imprint of Simon & Shuster Children's Publishing Division

2022

304 pages

ISBN: 9781534482852

When twelve-year old Cassie King's father dies, her mother retreats from the world and Cassie. Cassie feels like she's lost two parents and has no one to talk to or share secrets with. Cassie can't turn to her ex-best friend since her friend ditched her for the popular kids. The only outlet Cassie has is her volunteer work at the library where she spends hours with her "sort of" friend Joe.

Nothing ever happens in their boring town of Lewistown, California, until one day Cassie and Joe are trapped in an alley during a violent, magical storm. After lightning strikes a dumpster near them, the storm subsides and Cassie hears an animal crying. She discovers a tiny black kitten survived the strike and appears somehow unhurt. She names the kitten Albert and takes him home.

Soon Albert becomes something more than a tiny kitten and Cassie and Joe discover what Albert truly is and where he came from. Albert has unbelievable strength for a tiny cat and a symbol appears to Cassie. She thinks the symbol is a map, but doesn't know where the map is goes to. Lewistown is suddenly much more dangerous, yet exciting place.

Cassie's goal is to protect Albert no matter what. With Joe's help, the two discover pieces of Albert's past. Miss Asher, the librarian, has secrets and is "the best librarian ever." Who doesn't love a librarian with a past?

A cliffhanger ending leaves readers wanting more, and Book 2 is already released!

Highly recommended grade 5 and up. For readers who love dragons and fantasy.

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Middle Grade Fantasy Pick: Secret of the Storm

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Secret of the Storm by Beth McMullen Aladdin An Imprint of Simon & Shuster Children's Publishing Division 2022 304 pages ISBN: 9781534482852 When twelve-year old Cassie King's father dies, her mother retreats from the world and Cassie. Cassie feels like she's lost two parents and has no one to talk to or share secrets with.

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SHAD HADID AND THE ALCHEMISTS OF ALEXANDRIA (now nomianted!)

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SHAD HADID AND THE ALCHEMISTS OF ALEXANDRIA (now nomianted!)

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Author: George Jreije
ISBN: 9780063094819

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Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria

Release date: Oct 04, 2022

With danger at every turn and the fate of the alchemy world on the line, can Shad save his friends and defeat a sinister evil? Enter to win a copy!

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Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria

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Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria Release date: Oct 04, 2022 With danger at every turn and the fate of the alchemy world on the line, can Shad save his friends and defeat a sinister evil? Enter to win a copy!

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A Dragon Used to Live Here (now nominated!)

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A Dragon Used to Live Here (now nominated!)

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Written and illustrated by Annette LeBlanc Cate
ISBN: 978-1536204513

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The children of the castle, Thomas and Emily, meet Meg, an old friend of their mother's. Meg tells the two children stories of their mother's youth, especially about the time their mother was taken prisoner by a dragon, and the children gradually come to know the story of the estrangement of Meg and their mother.

The characters are all cleverly drawn and appealing, and the story is rich with humor and fun. As a child (and, truly, even as an adult) I loved the stories like this, with illustrations sprinkled throughout the book, and with a feeling of magic throughout.

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Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance's review of A Dragon Used to Live Here

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4/5: The children of the castle, Thomas and Emily, meet Meg, an old friend of their mother's. Meg tells the two children stories of their mother's youth, especially about the time their mother was taken prisoner by a dragon, and the children gradually come to know the story of the estrangement of Meg and their mother.

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Hummingbird - Natalie Lloyd (now nominated!)

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Hummingbird - Natalie Lloyd (now nominated!)

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Natalie Lloyd is back and working her magic. but this time, she’s taking it up a notch, giving us an unflinchingly realistic but age-appropriate depiction of disability and ableism in the glitter-obsessed Olive. Based on Natalie’s own experiences with osteogenesis imperfecta, Hummingbird is the own voices masterpiece we don’t deserve and didn’t know we needed… but got anyway.
Oh, and there is a pelican BFF.

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Read 397 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Bestselling author Natalie Lloyd returns with her most personal book to date, a story abou...

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58495688-healer-and-witch?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=0Xy1NiDdHF&rank=1

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Sylvie's village and the closest city seem to be kept deliberately vague, but about a third of the way through the book she travels to Lyon, (describeSylvie's village and the closest city seem to be kept deliberately vague, but about a third of the way through the book she travels to Lyon, (described as a great distance) and much of the remaining action takes place there. ...more (less)

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Sylvie's village and the closest city seem to be kept deliberately vague, but about a third of the way through the book she travels to Lyon, (describeSylvie's village and the closest city seem to be kept deliberately vague, but about a third of the way through the book she travels to Lyon, (described as a great distance) and much of the remaining action takes place there.

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Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation (now nominated!)

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Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation (now nominated!)

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Perfect for fans of Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee, this thrilling, cinematic sci-fi novel follows Hana Hsu’s mission to save herself—and he...

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Amari and the Great Game (now nominated!)

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Amari and the Great Game (now nominated!)

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The first book is on Scribd and you get a way better variety than what you'd find on audible. The subscription fee is way cheaper if you ever eventualThe first book is on Scribd and you get a way better variety than what you'd find on audible. The subscription fee is way cheaper if you ever eventually want an audiobook service. ...more

But yeah the library is your best bet.(less)

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Amari and the Great Game (Supernatural Investigations, #2)

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The first book is on Scribd and you get a way better variety than what you'd find on audible. The subscription fee is way cheaper if you ever eventualThe first book is on Scribd and you get a way better variety than what you'd find on audible.

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The Ogress and the Orphans (now nominated!)

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The Ogress and the Orphans (now nominated!)

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https://www.sonderbooks.com/Childrens_Fiction/ogress_and_the_orphans.html

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https://www.sonderbooks.com/Childrens_Fiction/last_mapmaker.html

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The Midnight Children (now nominated in regular MG)

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The Midnight Children (now nominated in regular MG)

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56896075-the-midnight-children?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=LQfNDjkDRo&rank=2

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Witchlings by Claribel Ortega
ISBN 9781338745528
Alibrarymama's review: https://alibrarymama.com/2022/06/08/witchlings-by-claribel-ortega/

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Discover and share books you love on Goodreads.