THE SEVEN THUNDERS

A 12-year-old boy discovers his true fate when he enrolls in an elite military academy in Jaime’s middle-grade fantasy novel.

Hermium Goodspeed has something that thousands of kids his age want: an acceptance letter to one of the elite Seven Thunder military schools. However, Hermium is more nervous than he is excited; he doubts he'll fit in at the school, because he’s scrawny, shy, and tends to sleepwalk. He’d much rather stay home and tinker with household objects and tools, turning them into little contraptions like a cow-milker and a bedmaker; he even makes things while sleeping. Hermium’s school troubles begin before the transportation ship even sets sail when he’s given a second acceptance letter, changing his placement from the Hammerfeld academy, where he’d learn to wield a deadly Woe Hammer, to Glimmeroc. There, he’ll train as an airjock and learn how to fly with a pair of wings called an Aeriatis. A second acceptance letter is unheard of, and it sets Hermium apart from the other students—and not in a good way. As he undergoes the rigorous summer bootcamp, he finds himself under intense scrutiny from Glimmeroc’s faculty and his peers and becomes more determined than ever to earn his place. However, there are monsters at Glimmeroc—and they’re hunting Hermium. Desperate to understand why, the preteen learns that his destiny is very different than he thought. Jaime’s series starter is an intriguing coming-of-age story in a magical steampunk fantasy setting. Readers will be enthralled by the author’s meticulous and detailed worldbuilding. Hermium is clever, snarky, and brave, even as he copes with health issues—chronic headaches, the aforementioned sleepwalking, and frequent nightmares. The supporting characters are also intriguing and well-developed, including Hermium’s new friends Tayori Keelaroo and Duma Petalborn, the antagonistic Cadet Sgt. Neffery Iggsworth, and even a group of demigods. Some fall into very familiar types—Duma as the academically driven know-it-all, Tayori as the loyal best friend, and Wuvi Wuvain as the bully with a well-connected father—but the novel remains an exciting read, nonetheless.

A clever coming-of-age tale with a steampunk edge.