Magic, Madness, and Mischief

by Kelly McCullough

Overview

From the author of School for Sidekicks comes a witty and thoughtful middle-grade fantasy about the bonds of family and the strength of true friendship.

Fans of Percy Jackson will be eager to hop into Kalvan's world. --The Bulletin

Kalvan Monroe is worried. Either he's going mad or he really did wake up with uncontrollable fire magic and accidentally summon a snarky talking fire hare. (Yes, that's right, a hare. Made of fire. That talks.) He's got to be going crazy, right?

But if he's not, then magic actually is real, and he's got even more problems to worry about. Because Kalvan isn't the only one with powers. The same fire magic that allows him to talk his way into and out of trouble burned too brightly in his mother, damaging her mind and leaving her vulnerable to the cold, manipulative spells of the Winter King.

Can Kalvan gain control of his power in time to save his mother, or will their fires be snuffed out forever?

Kelly McCullough combines Magic, Madness, and Mischief--as well as danger--in a delightful fantasy set in a magical version of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250294203
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	01/22/2019
Series:	Magic, Madness, and Mischief
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	10 - 11 Years

About the Author

Kelly McCullough is the author of School for Sidekicks and the adult fantasy series Webmage and Assassin's Blade. He lives in Wisconsin with his physics professor wife and a small herd of cats, all of whom he adores.

Editorial Reviews

Middle graders will enjoy McCullough's characters, especially Sparx, whose language drips with sarcasm at every turn.... The author excels at introducing magic into the everyday modern world. --School Library Journal

McCullough smoothly blends family drama, school story, and magical coming of age in this entertaining fantasy. ... Fans of Percy Jackson will be eager to hop into Kalvan's world. --The Bulletin

From the Publisher

12/01/2017
Gr 5–8 Up—Kalvan is not like other 13-year-olds. To start, he attends the Free School, (a school of unconventional learning where teachers go by their first names and multiple periods of the day are unstructured), has a mother struggling with mental illness and a stepfather with whom he does not get along. He also has just discovered his magical powers. The real trouble starts for Kalvan when he begins dreaming of fire and waking up covered in soot with scorched feet. Shortly after his dreams begin, he is introduced to his familiar, a sarcastic red hare named Sparx. Throughout his informal training with Sparx, Kalvan learns of a dark force centered around the Corona Borealis, a crown controlling the power of the world that is intended to be handed off each calendar season in order to keep a proper balance of power. The crown has been taken hold of by a dark force, and as a result, has been in the same hands for too many seasons. It is up to Kalvan to restore order to the world by removing the Corona Borealis from the Darkness. Middle graders will enjoy McCullough's characters, especially Sparx, whose language drips with sarcasm at every turn. Additionally, Kalvan is relatable in his struggles with school and his rocky relationship with his unstable mother and his stepfather. The author excels at introducing magic into the everyday modern world, although readers will find some points of the plot to be predictable. VERDICT A good purchase for libraries serving avid fantasy fans.—Kat Paiva, Rye Public Library, NH

School Library Journal