Kids Books - Magic
Inkspell
By Cornelia Funke
Inkspell, the story that takes place a year after the events of Inkheart, where Dustfinger returns to the Inkheart after a storyteller brought him in there, leaving his friend Farid. Meggie somehow gets in this situation and the adventures begin. The storytelling is great and the plot flows smoothly and it was really a page-turner for me, giving this book 5 stars. The characters actions relates to me on a personal level. I recommend this book for middle school and higher who love fantasy and adventure in their books (after you read the first book).
Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School)
By Jen Calonita
Amusing, witty and full of magic - FLUNKED has a wonderful assortment of fairytales and their characters, most notably, their villains. A wonderful book that will make you think about what defines the good from the bad, giving second chances and who your true friends are. Gilly is a 12 year old who has developed a Robin Hood complex due to her father's dying shoemaking business. She steals from the nobles in order to help put food in her siblings bellies and smiles on their faces. One of six siblings who live in a shoe, Gilly has brought it onto herself to take the risks to do what she can. She knows that if she is caught she will be sent to Fairytale Reform School and her siblings will suffer. When Gilly pulls off her biggest heist to date, she is completely unaware of the trail she leaves behind until she is caught. Having to see the disappointment on her families faces is hard, but being sent away to school is even worse. Who will help and look after her siblings. Fairytale Reform School was founded by the reformed "Wicked Stepmother", Flora. After realizing how badly she mistreated Ella, Flora decided to change her ways and what better way to complete the process than to extend a hand to others who have done wrong and help them find a way to better themselves. After reforming these "villains", she recruited them to do something worthy with themselves within society and asked them to join her faculty at the school. A few of these memorable characters are - the Werewolf that ate Little Red's grandmother, the Sea Witch and the Evil Queen, who is still obsessed with apples. The school itself resembles a castle - with ornate rooms and furniture, and nothing is lacking. Gilly's classes and meals are better than anything else she's ever had in her life. She feels guilty for not being able to take care of her siblings, but also, for living better than them too. However, strange things have been happening at the school. Unexplained disappearances and teachers and students acting differently... something is happening. And Gilly and her friends are going to find out what it is. What I love most about this book is Gilly's personality, she is very strong-minded and not only sticks up for what she believes in but for others too. She won't tolerate any type of bullying towards anyone and is very loyal to what and who she believes in. Gilly is definitely someone you can count on. Her new friends all fit an important role in her life and situation. There is a little magic here and there, but by all means, this is no fairytale where magic fixes everything and things are swept away with a swish of a wand. Everyone has to work hard and your best is always expected. The story is wonderfully written and told strictly from Gilly's point of view, primarily through conversations and her thoughts. I see and know precisely what Gilly does without unnecessary details.
Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #2: The Slither Sisters
By Charles Gilman
The Slither Sisters is the best book yet in the Lovecraft Middle School series. Professor Gargoyle was really good but this one is even better! Robert Arthur is back with his best friends; his old enemy Glenn Torkells, a ghost named Karina, and a two-headed rat named Pip and Squeak. They found out that the Price sister who mysteriously disappeared in the first book and came back are now monsters/snake people in disguise as both Sarah and Sylvia Price. All the monsters at the haunted mansion have hatched a plan to kidnap each and every seventh grader one student at a time and convert them into monsters and it's Robert Arthur and his friends job to stop them. The only question is. . . how? It's a outstanding book with lots of surprises on each page. The author's descriptions and illustrations help you make your own monsters in your mind. No matter how frightening the cover may seem, the book inside is amazing and not scary at all. My favorite part in the book is in the last chapter and it's counting down to it the whole book. I recommend this book to everyone who likes fantasy and suspense. I can't wait until the next book comes out!
Everyday Angel #2: Second Chances
By Victoria Schwab, V. E. Schwab
Well I haven't read the book yet but I REALLY wanna read it. I read the first book and absolutely fell in love with it. It was so amazing and heartwarming and just GREAT! Now that I've finished the book I would ABSOLUTELY love too read the second book and the whole series in fact. I don't think I could find a better boo to read. So thank you and I would love to read this PLEASE!
Alices Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
By Lewis Carroll
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland-- What would you do if you fell down a rabbit hole and entered a whole other world? The book Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll takes you into a whole different place, and it's such a good book! The setting of this book is the rabbit hole/wonderland and the time takes place in the mid 1800's. The main character who is also the protagonist, Alice who just out of curiosity follows the white rabbit down his hole and ends up taking a long journey through wonderland. In this book the antagonist is all of the characters that Alice meets along the way because they try to baffle and confuse her. Throughout Alice's journey she sees and meets many different creatures, enemies, and friends. Will they help Alice along the way? One of the conflicts are on the last chapter, during the trial, when Alice is called to give evidence. She calls the creatures by their name: ‘nothing but a pack of cards’ and they all come flying down on her in rage. Will Alice ever get out of wonderland? Find out by reading this amazing book. Fall into wonderland yourself as you read the words on the pages.
The Wizards of Once
By Cressida Cowell
"once there was magic..." "once there was magic and the magic lived in the dark forest until the warriors came Xar is a wizard boy who has no magic and will do anything to get it. Wish is a warrior girl but she owns something forbidden something magical and will do anything to conceal it. When stars collide Xar and wish must forget there differences if they are ever going to make it to the hidden dungeons at warrior fort... ...where something that has been sleeping for hundreds of years is stirring... " For me this book was full of wander imagination and ceratvatey I fully enjoyed this book and will be reading it again before I go read the next one 10/10
THE MAGIC FINGER (THE BEST OF ROALD DAHL)
By TONY ROSS (ILLUSTRATOR) ROALD DAHL
I loved this book so much i read it over and over again. My favourite part about this book is when the girl in this story put the magic finger on her teacher because she spelt the word cat wrong in class and the teacher said that she was a stuipd girl and that is when she put the magic finger on the teacher and the teacher started growing a tail and whickers. I would recommend this book to people who like funny stories.
Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities)
By Shannon Messenger
Have you ever heard of something called Panakes? Panakes help heal a wound if you eat the petals or put it on the wound. In the book there is only one way to get Panackes. Panackes are a fictional tree related to the Keeper Of The Lost Cities. The way to get Panackes was by a gnome Sophie met when she was joining the Black Swan. When Sophie swears an oath that she would be joining the Black Swan she discovers that Mr. Forkleis also Sir Astin. She also learns Mr. Forkle has other identities like Magnate Leto. Sophie and her friends get banned because the council thought the Black Swan was their enemy and during the time Sophie and her friends decided to join the Black Swan. While Sophie and her friends were with the Black Swan they went to Exullim. Sophie and Biana went to go and investigate about the plague the gnomes were getting. She found out that one tree was staying healthy and the Neverseen was guarding it. During their Exilim training Sophie meets twins. They helped Sophie and became good friends. They joined the Black Swan and they were trying to cure the plague and used Fitz 'brother as a guide because he knew it the best. When they stole the “cure” they made a quick escape and this turned out to be the Neverseen’s plan. After they escaped from that Calla realized that the only way to get Panackes is when a gnome sacrifice themselves and turn into a Panackes tree. What I liked about the book is that Messenger makes a huge twist by making Alvar part of the Neverseen. I think the theme for this book is “trust your instincts”. I think that is the theme because when Alvar Fitzs brother didn’t let Tam read his Shadow vapor. Tam thought it was suspicious. Later they learn that what Alvar was hiding is that he was part of the Neverseen. Important characters in the book include Sophie Foster and her friends. Sophie is a girl who is good at everything but she would take life risking things to destroy the Neverseen. Fitz always tries to stay by Sophie’s side; they are cognates. He wants to Destroy the Neverseen because his brother betrayed him. Dex is a technopath and has been helping the Black Swan build things. The Elvin world is set apart from the human world because they went against the treaty they signed with the Councilors. The Elvin world is very sparkly and everyone is born with a birth fund. Something that can be improved is that when Fintan built a wall of Everbalze around them why couldn’t Tam cover them because of the black fog so it looked like they were gone. I would give this 5 stars despite the part that can be improved. I would recommend this to fourth graders and up because this book series so far has a lot of violence. Neverseen was a good book and I really enjoyed it and it was really breathtaking what they did in this book.
Lodestar (Keeper of the Lost Cities)
By Shannon Messenger
Lodestar, the fifth book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger, is another epic page-turning book. The fight with the Neverseen is still ongoing. Sophie Foster doesn't know who or what to trust. With her friend Keefe gone and life a blur, there is a possibility that the lost cities will never return normal again. But there is a new clue, and that clue may lead Sophie, her friends, and the Black Swan to the answer of the mess. It leads to dangers, risk-taking, and maybe even failure. But Sophie isn't going to let the Neverseen win. She isn't giving up without a fight. This book was so exciting for me because every chapter constantly left me in suspense. I also loved how Tam and Linh Song were introduced in this book. Just saying, this is from the #1 KOTLC fan.
The Ickabog
By J K Rowling
The story of the Ickabog shows just how quickly a little lie can turn into a never-ending deception. In Cornucopia, each part of the kingdom is known for having a specialty food that they are the best at making, like cheeses or pastries. Best friends Daisy and Bert have heard the rumors and legend of the Ickabog, a massive monster that eats people, but they always knew they were just stories... or were they? When a shepherd from the Marshlands, a far out and rural part of the kingdom, says the Ickabog ate his dog, ruler King Fred the Fearless doesn't believe him at first. Fred thinks going to investigate the Ickabog would be the perfect opportunity to prove that he could be a good king with no risk after people had begun to call him selfish, vain, and cruel, since the Ickabog was only a myth... right? His advisors Spittleworth and Flapoon concoct a story of lies after an accident on the journey about encountering the real Ickabog with King Fred saving the day, and it spreads through Cornucopia faster than Bert can eat a Hopes-of-Heaven pastry. Taxes and defense brigades are put in place to help protect from the supposed Ickabog, even though Spittleworth knows he made it all up, and the only thing the defense brigade taxes were helping was the flow of money into his pockets. Daisy and Bert are determined to thwart Spittleworth after learning some shocking information, and they are ready to do whatever it takes to restore peace to the kingdom. But Spittleworth is dangerous, threatening to kill and imprison their families if they don't stay quiet. It's a battle of the wits to determine who will come out on top. This book was AMAZING! I love a good fairytale, and this book did not disappoint! J.K. Rowling worked her magic again into this page-turner that will keep your imagination running. The suspense, adventure, plot-twists and complex characters really made this book enjoyable, and I loved every minute of it. I was transported into a magical world with endless possibilities as I read this book! The colorful illustrations made by kids throughout the book were the cherry on top! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in need of a great fairytale, and I would recommend it for ages 8+.









