June 18, 2007
An author must be either very confident or very foolish to attempt another novel about a fish-out-of-water boy sent to a school of witchcraft and wizardry. Laybourn is evidently the former, as she laces her U.S. debut with heaps of humor and a strong moral message. Eleven-year-old Ned is “magically challenged”—in a world where everyone uses magic to meet their every need, he is totally devoid of magical ability. Despite this, he is accepted into Leodwych School, largely thanks to the efforts of his influential Uncle Kelver, a powerful mage. At school, he is bullied for being different—pelted with flying food, his hair turned into snakes—and in time he runs away, homesick for the simple life on his parents’ farm. Under pressure from his father, he returns to school, only to be one of several school children kidnapped by the airships of the Necromancers. There he discovers that his Uncle Kelver is not the benevolent man he thought he was and learns the reason he cannot perform magic. Comparisons to Harry Potter may abound; indeed, Laybourn seems to invite them at times. But the moral of the story—that laziness and stagnation are truly dangerous—elevate this little book to a grand parable. Ages 8-up.
September 1, 2007
Gr 4-6-Eleven-year-old Ned leaves his family farm to attend Leodwych School at the request of his powerful Uncle Kelver, a Mage. The problem is that all of the students have magical powers except Ned, and he is unable to defend himself against them. After being abducted by an invisible airship, he learns that his uncle is a traitor and that he is responsible for Ned's lost powers. His captors are the highly feared Necromancers, sky pirates who steal supplies and children to run their airships. Two of his schoolmates are captured along with him and forced to use their magic to help fly the ship. Ned bargains with one of the Necromancers to save his friends, but Uncle Kelver casts a spell that accidentally removes everyone's magic. The children make it back to Leodwych with the help of mermaids, and everyone has to learn how to do things without magic. Naturally, Ned is the best person to teach them. Not particularly remarkable, this quick, light fantasy goes against convention in that magic, or the easy way out, isn't presented as the answer to everything. The plot and characters are simply drawn but will satisfy less-skilled readers."Corinda J. Humphrey, Los Angeles Public Library"
Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2007
In a world where everyone has at least some magic, 11-year-old Ned, who has none, is seriously in trouble, especially at Leodwych, his new school. Not only is he a defenseless target, he has to do all his schoolwork the hard way, with no magical shortcuts. But when he and two classmates are captured by pirates, called necromancers, and when their leader turns out to be someone he knows well, Neds practical skills turn out to be lifesaving. In this first-person narrative, Ned comes across as an engaging character who copes manfully with his difference and is brave enough to challenge an arrogant bully. The point that magic is no substitute for real work is clear. This British import has enough action to sustain readers interest and should be an easy sell to middle-graders eager to read more about magical boarding schools.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)