Reading Metrics
Description
Fourteen-year-old Thea, the seventh child of two seventh children, has never been able to perform magic, so her parents send her to the Wandless Academy, a school for those without magical ability. When a deadly threat erupts and her dormant magical powers suddenly awaken, she must learn to use her newly discovered worldweaving skills to survive. As she confronts the danger and navigates the expectations of her family and peers, she discovers that being unmagical may be the very thing that makes her extraordinary.
Quick Summary
If you've ever felt like you don't quite fit in with your family, this story will feel incredibly real. Thea is the seventh child of two seventh children talk about pressure to have magic and the poor girl has absolutely none, which makes her the ultimate black sheep in a family where everyone else is doing impossible things with wands and spells. Her desperate parents try one last wild attempt to unlock her abilities before giving up and sending her to a regular school, and what follows is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt as Thea navigates a world that keeps expecting her to be something she's not. Kids who love humor, anyone who's ever felt like an outsider, and fantasy fans who enjoy clever magic systems will all find something to love here. It's got that wonderful middle grade balance of being genuinely funny while also having some tense, slightly scary moments, so it's perfect for readers who want adventure with real heart. Parents will appreciate that it's a wholesome story about embracing who you are rather than trying to be someone you're not, and at nearly 77,000 words it's substantial enough to keep strong readers absorbed for weeks. If your kid enjoyed books like The Misfits or the early Magic Tree House adventures, they'd probably devour this one.