Into the Wild Magic

When sixth grader Bevvy finds newcomer Cat in Bevvy’s usual school playground hiding spot, she has fleeting hopes of finally making a friend. But when they meet again a day later, Cat is short with Bevvy and abandons her as bullies encroach on their hideaway. Bevvy is surprised, therefore, when she arrives home to find Cat on her porch. Cat is attempting to apologize when strangers emerge from a car, prompting both girls to run into the woods—where Cat opens a portal to another world, which she calls Lorelkey. Fantasy book lover Bevvy’s immediate delight is soon dampened by reality: Lorelkey is a world at war, where sorcerers wielding life-stealing abilities face off against practitioners of natural wild magic. After Cat’s efforts to open a path home fail, the tweens must survive threats both monstrous and human. In this spirited magical adventure, Knudsen (Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten) puts a new spin on fantasy elements such as unicorns as well as contemporary ideas around transportation (some characters travel via giant moth). Bevvy is a compassionate, compelling lead across a surprise-packed plot that doesn’t shy away from such heady topics as the ethical use of magic. Major characters cue as white. Ages 9–12. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Aug.)