Miss Ellicott's school for the magically minded

*Starred Review* Chantel Goldenrod is the most talented student at Miss Ellicott's School for Magical Maidens. While others struggle for years to summon a familiar, Chantel summoned hers (a snake named Japheth) at age six. Unfortunately for the more magically minded, Miss Ellicott emphasizes deportment and obedience over the study of spells, potions, and wards. But when Miss Ellicott and the rest of the sorceresses disappear, Chantel must ignore all rules in order to find them. Meanwhile, it's hard to identify the true enemy. Is it the evil Marauders surrounding Lightning Pass who threaten to attack the city wall? Or the patriarchs and king who hoard the scarce food supply while citizens go hungry? Good thing Chantel has capable companions in her sensible friend Anna, a Marauder boy on the run named Franklin, and a dragon called Lightning. This fantastical adventure is a sheer delight, featuring a smart, kind, and brave heroine. Though the story involves the darkness of people's hearts when they lust for power, it maintains a playfully humorous and good-natured tone. The king and patriarchs are narratively limited by their selfish behavior, but most of the other significant characters exhibit a realistic mix of strengths and flaws. Recommended for fantasy readers who want a plot on the cozier side, but still with serious consequences.--Young, Michelle Copyright 2017 Booklist

Gr 4-8-Chantel is a powerful young sorceress, but she's had less luck with the deportment lessons that all magical maidens learn at Miss Ellicott's school. When Miss Ellicott mysteriously disappears, a lack of deportment may be the least of Chantel's problems. Marauders are besieging the city, and suddenly none of the adult sorceresses are around to perform the spells that strengthen the walls. Also, Chantel's snake familiar has crawled into her head, which doesn't help matters. As she takes responsibility for the school's younger students, questions the city's patriarchy and the old ways of thinking, and begins to find her way into her full powers, Chantel starts to learn when to be biddable and when to be bold. This imaginative story has it all: magic and adventure but also humor and relevant political undertones for savvy readers. Chantel is described as brown-skinned; the racial identity of other characters is not specified. This book features a strong plot and well-developed characters. Readers who enjoyed Blackwood's earlier works will not be disappointed. Hand this to fans of Diana Wynne Jones and Shannon Hale. VERDICT This clever fantasy is a strong purchase for most middle grade collections.-Misti Tidman, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, OH © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Magical maiden" Chantel's biggest challenge in her education to become a proper and correct sorceress is "deportment." And when Miss Ellicott and the other sorceresses disappear, the school runs out of food, and the manageress assigned by the city patriarchs plans to sell off the girls, Chantel finds deportment particularly difficult. A magical-school story with welcome diversity (Chantel is black), unexpected reveals, and thrilling surprises. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

*Starred Review* Chantel Goldenrod is the most talented student at Miss Ellicott's School for Magical Maidens. While others struggle for years to summon a familiar, Chantel summoned hers (a snake named Japheth) at age six. Unfortunately for the more magically minded, Miss Ellicott emphasizes deportment and obedience over the study of spells, potions, and wards. But when Miss Ellicott and the rest of the sorceresses disappear, Chantel must ignore all rules in order to find them. Meanwhile, it's hard to identify the true enemy. Is it the evil Marauders surrounding Lightning Pass who threaten to attack the city wall? Or the patriarchs and king who hoard the scarce food supply while citizens go hungry? Good thing Chantel has capable companions in her sensible friend Anna, a Marauder boy on the run named Franklin, and a dragon called Lightning. This fantastical adventure is a sheer delight, featuring a smart, kind, and brave heroine. Though the story involves the darkness of people's hearts when they lust for power, it maintains a playfully humorous and good-natured tone. The king and patriarchs are narratively limited by their selfish behavior, but most of the other significant characters exhibit a realistic mix of strengths and flaws. Recommended for fantasy readers who want a plot on the cozier side, but still with serious consequences. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 4–8—Chantel is a powerful young sorceress, but she's had less luck with the deportment lessons that all magical maidens learn at Miss Ellicott's school. When Miss Ellicott mysteriously disappears, a lack of deportment may be the least of Chantel's problems. Marauders are besieging the city, and suddenly none of the adult sorceresses are around to perform the spells that strengthen the walls. Also, Chantel's snake familiar has crawled into her head, which doesn't help matters. As she takes responsibility for the school's younger students, questions the city's patriarchy and the old ways of thinking, and begins to find her way into her full powers, Chantel starts to learn when to be biddable and when to be bold. This imaginative story has it all: magic and adventure but also humor and relevant political undertones for savvy readers. Chantel is described as brown-skinned; the racial identity of other characters is not specified. This book features a strong plot and well-developed characters. Readers who enjoyed Blackwood's earlier works will not be disappointed. Hand this to fans of Diana Wynne Jones and Shannon Hale. VERDICT This clever fantasy is a strong purchase for most middle grade collections.—Misti Tidman, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, OH