Magyk
by Angie Sage
From the publisher:
"The first part of an enthralling new series leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters, clever charms, potions and spells. Ages 9+.
The 7th son of the 7th son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a newborn girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son, Septimus?
The first part of this enthralling new series leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters, clever charms, potions and spells, and a yearning to uncover the mystery at the heart of this story...who is Septimus Heap?
Angie Sage writes in the tradition of great British storytellers. Her inventive fantasy is filled with humor and heart: Magyk will have readers laughing and begging for more."
I have had these books in my library since they came out and several students have mentioned really liking them, so I thought it was time to read the first one. I'm very glad I did - it was really entertaining and gripping! I liked the plot, the characters, and the world building. It's not hard to guess the big secret, but it is fun to see how it comes about. I think this is a great start to a series for middle grade students. The one drawback is that the books are very fat, and sometimes that is off-putting for middle schoolers. It read quickly, though, with plenty of action and excitement.
Areas of concern (and I'm reaching for these):
*An evil bad guy. On a scale of 1 to Voldemort, I would put him on par with Count Olaf. There was a lot of humor involved in his evil-ness.
*Disgusting fantasy creatures that love to attack and kill humans.
*The Young Army that trains small boys to become killers and trackers.
Areas of concern (and I'm reaching for these):
*An evil bad guy. On a scale of 1 to Voldemort, I would put him on par with Count Olaf. There was a lot of humor involved in his evil-ness.
*Disgusting fantasy creatures that love to attack and kill humans.
*The Young Army that trains small boys to become killers and trackers.
Suggested Ages:
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 9+
School Library Journal - Grades 4-8
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