Miss Ellicott's School for the Magically Minded

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 6, 2017

Review

In this fantasy for 4-6 grade readers, the Kingdom of Lightning Pass is protected by female sorceresses, one of them being Miss Ellicott the head of the Magical Maidens school where dark skinned, thirteen-year-old, Chantel lives. Chantel is a star pupil and exceptionally good at summoning, although the required deportment of her station seems elusive at times. When Miss Ellicott and the other sorceresses disappear, it takes Chantel, with her magical abilities and lack of deportment, to expose the various forces at work in the city that are weakening the bonds of protection. Dragons, prophecies, adventures and unlikely friendships along the way mix with a witty play on gender roles, bureaucratic ineffectiveness and magic spells. Blackwood creates an enticing magical world around a singular city in a large world. Her details of magical spells and the mysterious history of Lightning Pass will delight fantasy readers.

Overall Book Score: excellent