The Boy Who Went Magic

✍ Scribed by Winter, A. P.

• Publisher: Scholastic Inc.; Chicken House
• Year: 2018
• Tongue: en-US
• Weight: 320 KB
• Edition: First edition May 2018
• Category: Fiction
• City: New York
• ISBN: 133821716X

✦ Synopsis

Magic doesn't exist in Bert's world...or does it?

The mages of Ferenor were outlawed and destroyed by the royal family centuries ago for performing incredible feats and powering wondrous machines with their magic, and the world is a much duller place. Bert is a young boy who's lived in an orphanage longer than he can remember, with no friends and the most ordinary life. He's told that magic is just a myth.

But then a chain of strange and inexplicable mishaps causes Bert's life to spiral out of control -- only to be rescued by Finch, a plucky girl-adventurer with metal legs. Soon the two are sailing across a sea of clouds with the mysterious Professor, pursued by a royal prince who's desperate to get his hands on Bert at any cost. For magic is all too real and even more powerful than imagined -- and Bert just might hold the key to bringing it back to the world...

**

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–6—A swash-buckling fantasy adventure that hits many of the notes fans of the genre expect. As a young boy, Bert was orphaned and sent to a school by a mysterious man in a cloak. A bit older now, Bert often gets distracted in school but is quite clever. When a series of unfortunate magical events land him in trouble, he's rescued by Finch, a girl with metal legs and a daring spirit. The pair is soon off on a grand adventure to find the lost land of Ferenor. Airships, pirates, automata, steampunk-esque gadgets, and ample acts of derring-do keep the pages turning. World-building and deep character development are sometimes sacrificed in the interest of moving the plot along, but readers will nevertheless be enchanted by Winter's imaginative creation. The ending hints at the possibility of future adventures to come. VERDICT Full of creative details, mysterious characters, and forbidden magic, most fantasy lovers will want to check this out. A solid purchase for collections where fantasy does well.—Maeve Dodds, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC

Review

Praise for The Boy Who Went Magic _
“A quick and absorbing combination of swashbuckling, steampunk, and supernatural mystery” –_ Kirkus _
“Full of creative details, mysterious characters, and forbidden magic” –_ School Library Journal _
“This soaring fantasy adventure, where friends save friends and villains are vanquished, will be a hit with fans of Kenneth_ Oppel’s Airborn , Brandon Mull’s Sky Raiders or Joel Ross’ The Fog Diver .” – Booklist Online

✦ Subjects

Magicians -- Juvenile fiction