Wildings

Gr 5–8—Rivka Kadmiel accompanies her ambassador father to Ashara for one reason: to find her lost twin brother, Arik. At age 10, Rivka passed her magic test, remaining in her kasiri (upper-class) family while Arik, a nonmagical wilding, was immediately placed with a halani (lower-class) family in the country of Ashara. Rivka works fiercely to locate her brother with the help of her new school friend, Caleb. Rivka shares class notes with Caleb, since he has hearing loss, and Caleb connects Rivka to Arik and other halani families. The strict "family laws" prohibit kasiri and halani from mixing, and Rivka's future with Arik seems uncertain unless the laws are overturned. She works with her brother and social activists Marah Levi and Azariah to legally reunite wilding families in an exciting courtroom battle. This sequel to Sparkers, Marah and Azariah's story, is not a stand-alone novel. Kasiri and halani terminology are not clearly explained from the beginning, although there is a glossary in the back. Glewwe writes Rivka's tale in first-person present tense, which seems choppy and awkward at the start but immediate and urgent in the final scenes. While Arik doesn't match Rivka for loyalty and bravery, Rivka's growing understanding of the function of law and her passion for creating a just society are inspiring. This is a thoughtful adventure, with magic seeping through the pages.