Nicol, James. The Apprentice Witch.

Nicol, James. The Apprentice Witch. Scholastic/Chicken House  2017 318p $16.99   ISBN 978-1-338-11858-2     ms   Fantasy  E-BN       

Arianwyn has failed her witch’s assessment test and will not get her silver star. She is shuffled off to the distant town of Lull on the edge of the Great Wood to spend her life as an apprentice witch.  However, things are not so quiet in Lull. All sorts of unusual creatures are showing up unexpectedly, and Arianwyn must discover the source of the mysterious occurrences. Her magical abilities are tested as never before and she also has to contend with trouble closer to hand in the shape of  her archrival Gimma.  

This exciting magical adventure written in a sprightly manner is utterly spellbinding. It offers both fantasy and suspenseful fiction in a well-paced plot and features engaging characters. The plot is full of surprises, the locations are beautifully rendered, and even the secondary characters are very three-dimensional. The author mixes adventure, political intrigue, and mystery into this very well done novel.     Highly recommended for middle-school libraries.   

Summary: Airanwyn has failed her assessment test and will always be an apprentice witch.  She is sent to the small town of Lull on the edge of the Great Woods, where her magical abilities are truly tested.

Magic-Fiction, Witches-Fiction                --Susan Ogintz

McLemore, Anna Marie. Wild Beauty.

McLemore, Anna Marie. Wild Beauty. Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends  2017    352p.  $17.99        ISBN 978-1-250-12455-5            ms/hs            Fantasy         E-BN

La Pradera is home to the Nomeolvides who tend the enchanted gardens for nearly a century where outcasts of the prestigious Briar family are sent. It is the place where the lovers of the Nomeolvides women vanish for being loved too deeply. Unexpectedly, a young man, Fel, awakens in the garden with no memory of who he is or where he came from. Some of the Nomeolvide believe him to be a sign that their vanished lovers may reappear, while others worry that his appearance is a warning from La Pradera. Will Fen regain his memory to realize his purpose in the garden? What does La Pradera have to reveal to the Nomeolvides?

This beautifully written novel is a true page-turner. Mystery and suspense abound in each chapter. The writing is as magical and mystical as the story. The plot flows as exquisitely as the gardens are described. Anna Marie McLemore has created an original, mysterious, magical, and at times dangerous novel that is sure to absorb young adult readers.

Summary: La Pradera is home to the Nomeolvides who tend the enchanted gardens where outcasts of the prestigious Briar family are sent; where the lovers of the Nomeolvides women vanish for being loved too deeply; and where suddenly a young man, Fel, awakens in the garden with no memory of who he is or where he came from.          
    

Magic-Fiction                                                           --Virginia McGarvey

McLemore, Anna Marie Wild Beauty

McLemore, Anna Marie        Wild Beauty   Macmillan/ Feiwel & Friends           2017   352p   17.99  978-1-250-12455-5            ms/hs Fantasy            E-BN   

La Pradera is home to the Nomeolvides who tend the enchanted gardens and where outcasts of the prestigious Briar family are sent; where the lovers of the Nomeolvides women vanish for being loved too deeply; and where  suddenly a young man, Fel, awakens in the garden with no memory of who he is or where he came from.        La Pradera is home to the Nomeolvides who tend the enchanted gardens for nearly a century and where outcasts of the prestigious Briar family are sent. It is the place where the lovers of the Nomeolvides women vanish for being loved too deeply. Unexpectedly, a young man, Fel, awakens in the garden with no memory of who he is or where he came from. Some of the Nomeolvide believe him to be a sign that their vanished lovers may reappear while others worry his appearance is a warning from La Pradera. Will Fen regain his memory to realize his purpose in the garden? What does La Pradera have to reveal to the Nomeolvides?

     This beautifully written novel is a true page-turner. Mystery and suspense abounds in each chapter. The writing is as magical and mystical as the story. The plot flows as exquisitely as the gardens are described. Anna Marie McLemore has created an original, mysterious, magical, and at times dangerous novel that is sure to absorb young adult readers.
     McGarvey(1), Virginia     Magic- fiction

McMann, Lisa. The Unwanted Quests: Dragon Captives.

McMann, Lisa.  The Unwanted Quests: Dragon Captives.  Simon & Schuster/Aladdin      2017  432p  $17.99  ISBN 978-1-4814-5681-4     ms  Fantasy  VG-BN

Protected from magic and banned from learning it, the next generation of Unwanteds sets off on a quest. The young dragons have outgrown their magic wings and need new ones. One representative is sent to Alex for help. Alex practically refuses to help due to his own issues of responsibility and feelings of failure.  His two young sisters take it upon themselves to complete this quest. They are woefully underprepared. They trust the wrong people, misfire magic, and land in prison. Alex sends a rescue mission. This volume ends with one twin returning home, and one being taken prisoner by an old rival. The ending sets the reader up for the next installment.
 

These novels exhibit exciting action by headstrong girls who are tragically undereducated in how to use the magic they possess. Fantastical lands and beasts abound. More might be understood if the reader were not entering this series in the middle. There are hints to happenings from the prior novels but more background would be helpful. This purchase would be best for schools already possessing the prior series. The astute reader will overlook the lack of background and enjoy the adventure as presented.  Middle school.  

Summary: Following the Unwanteds series, this is the first book in a new series of quests. The next generation of Unwanteds tries to save the dragons from slavery, and there is much bumbling in the action. Future titles are assured. Middle school.

Magic-Fiction, Dragons-Fiction                                    —Joan Theal

Morrison, Megan. Disenchanted: Trials of Cinderella.

Morrison, Megan. Disenchanted: Trials of Cinderella. Scholastic/Arthur Levine 2016  404p  $17.99  ISBN 978-0-545-64271-2      Hardback    ms/jr Fantasy  E-BN

A retelling, sort of, of the Cinderella story. Ella is fed up with the superficiality of her wealthy friends and really wants to reform society. Dash (Prince Charming) has broken the Curse that held his family in a web of lying, cheating and flattery. He wants to be a better person but has so much trouble expressing himself without the glib voice of the Curse. The third major player in the story is Serge, a blue fairy godfather. He really would prefer to be helping needy children rather than catering to the whims of the wealthy.
 

These three characters work together to make a difference in their world. They start in the garment workhouses where young children work in horrible conditions. Ella knows of these conditions from firsthand experience, because she and her mother worked there before her mother died and her father remarried a wealthy woman.

 
This is an almost complete departure from the classic Cinderella story. Even the stepsisters become a stepsister and a stepbrother who belong to a band that plays at the Prince’s ball. They also are nice to Ella. Her Stepmother isn’t evil but a self-assured wealthy businesswoman who really wants to do right by Ella. Ella is the one who rejects everyone’s overtures and festers in the sorrow of her mother’s death.
  

The conditions in the garment workhouses are reminiscent of conditions that existed in the past. The fire that Ella is accused of starting draws authenticity from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. These connections add depth and veracity to the story.
  

Witty dialog, bits of magic, and interesting characters enliven this title. A previous adventure in the land of Tyme involved Rapunzel. The assumption is that other adventures are waiting to be written. It would be a great read for grades 4-8. The changes to the Cinderella story actually make it more believable.     

Summary: A retelling of the Cinderella story, sort of. Much has been changed, but the reader will recognize the basic story. Witty dialog, magic, and action enliven this tale. Great read for grades 4-8.

Cinderella-Fiction, Magic-Fiction                                 —Joan Theal