Fawkes

Gr 7 Up—This historical fantasy set in 1600s London takes the story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot and gives it a spellbinding spin. Thomas has not seen his father in more than 13 years, but he knows that the famous Guy Fawkes will show up to his son's color test. Only a father can give his son a mask, which will then attach him to a certain color of magic. Thomas desperately wishes to bind himself to grey magic so that he can heal himself of the stone plague. When Guy Fawkes fails to appear at the time Thomas needs him most, the teen decides to take matters into his own hands. He heads to London to find his father and demand a mask from him. He's soon thrust into a dangerous city where Keepers (those bound to only one color) are being hunted and killed by Ignitors (those who use White Light to control multiple colors). Thomas manages to locate his father and quickly becomes part of the conspiracy to kill King James, and hopefully, end both the plague and the persecution of the Keepers. The only problem is that Thomas hears White Light speaking to him and badly wants to answer its call—especially when he sees the Ignitor power of his crush, Emma. Brandes successfully blends magic into history, and one can easily see both sides of the conflict as Thomas struggles with his choice.