Magic, Madness, and Mischief

Gr 5–8 Up—Kalvan is not like other 13-year-olds. To start, he attends the Free School, (a school of unconventional learning where teachers go by their first names and multiple periods of the day are unstructured), has a mother struggling with mental illness and a stepfather with whom he does not get along. He also has just discovered his magical powers. The real trouble starts for Kalvan when he begins dreaming of fire and waking up covered in soot with scorched feet. Shortly after his dreams begin, he is introduced to his familiar, a sarcastic red hare named Sparx. Throughout his informal training with Sparx, Kalvan learns of a dark force centered around the Corona Borealis, a crown controlling the power of the world that is intended to be handed off each calendar season in order to keep a proper balance of power. The crown has been taken hold of by a dark force, and as a result, has been in the same hands for too many seasons. It is up to Kalvan to restore order to the world by removing the Corona Borealis from the Darkness. Middle graders will enjoy McCullough's characters, especially Sparx, whose language drips with sarcasm at every turn. Additionally, Kalvan is relatable in his struggles with school and his rocky relationship with his unstable mother and his stepfather. The author excels at introducing magic into the everyday modern world, although readers will find some points of the plot to be predictable.