MISFIT'S MAGIC

Gracely returns with a sequel to his middle-grade fantasy novel Misfit’s Magic: The Last Halloween (2022).

Young Goff Graham saved the world with magic last year and nearly lost his life in the process, and he’s been having terrible dreams and strange visions ever since: “The nightmare had started with the gargoyle coming through a window into a dark study lined with bookshelves….” But he also has two amazing friends—the brilliant Halstrom Fint and the quirky Lydia Garcia—he’s finally going to the excellent Amworth Academy boarding school, and he’s no longer living in dreaded foster homes. There’s no magic at Amworth, so Goff is ready to leave all of that in the past and live a more ordinary existence. But when Dempsey, an undercover agent for the Bureau of Supernatural Investigation, comes back into his life to recruit him and his friends to help with a magical mission, Goff’s dreams of a more normal year go by the wayside. Soon he’s thrown into the midst of an evil plot to build a new magical empire. There’s a coven of witches at his school who are up to no good, and his friends are in danger—and it’s up to Goff to save the day. Although this book is a sequel, it works well enough as a stand-alone for newcomers. Still, occasional characters and references from the first novel may be initially confusing, such as Bones and Maxim, two magical creatures who appear as a talking skeleton and a black cat. Despite the large cast, each individual still feels fully fleshed out and distinct. At more than 300 pages, this novel is quite long for a middle-grade adventure, but it features a fast-paced plot that takes off right away, so the page count never feels daunting. Readers are sure to root for Goff, who’s a charming and likable character.

An action-packed, magic-filled adventure for young readers.