Spell Sweeper

September 15, 2021
Wizard school is enchanting--unless you're the janitor. Such is the life of seventh grader Cara Moone, a remedial wizard with a bad attitude and a utility belt. Not only is she a MOP (Magical Occurrence Purger) at Dragonsong Academy, but her pink unicorn underwear and propensity for rule-breaking further cast her as a misfit. While cleaning up spell dust at several Magical Occurrence sites, Cara encounters a mouth-thingy that oozes black slime. While far from glamorous, her cleanup duties are a critical part of keeping Blisses, or ordinary mortals, happily (even blissfully) ignorant of the magical world that exists right under their noses. Joined by a three-tailed fox, straight-laced classmate Gusto, and an illegal magical pet, Cara must unravel the mystery of an unreliable teacher and her enigmatic--as well as popular and effortlessly cool--classmate Harlee Wu and stop the slime from destroying the Field of Magical Matter. Surprising revelations and plenty of humor keep the story fresh, and the good-vs.-evil plotline is nicely nuanced. A family tragedy and a sisterly rift bring some serious notes to the narrative, while scenes involving a dark magic cult lend sinister vibes. Cara is of Irish descent and reads as White; most other characters read as White with several ancillary characters, such as Harlee, whose surnames add presumed diversity. A spirited and magical underdog story. (author's note) (Fantasy. 9-13)

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October 4, 2021
In a quirky riff on magic school tropes, Fodi (The Secret of Zoone) enlivens familiar elements through a resourceful, humorous narrator. As part of the Magical Occurrence Purger track at western Canada’s Dragonsong Academy, 13-year-old Cara Moone is a spell sweeper in training, learning to tidy away the spell dust left behind by wizards accessing the Field of Magical Matter. The job is crucial—left alone, magical residue “morphs, expands, and takes on a life of its own,” becoming feral—but Cara, who hails from a nonmagical Irish American family, nevertheless resents being thought of as a slacker. When spells start going awry, leaving behind toxic black gunk through a “giant, puckering mouth,” Cara and her fellow spell sweepers must figure out how to stop the problem before the feral magic wreaks havoc. Convinced that golden brown-skinned Harlee Wu, Dragonsong’s 15-year-old star student and so-called “Chosen One,” is to blame, Cara investigates her, only for the two to wind up as reluctant partners as the mystery takes them into the nonmagical world. Snarky and resilient, Cara is a memorable heroine with an engaging narrative voice and a unique perspective. Ages 8–12. Agent: Rachel Letofsky, Cooke Agency.

December 3, 2021

Gr 4-6-Cara Moone is not a traditional wizard; she is failing out of Dragonsong Academy and has been reassigned to study as a "MOP," also known as Magical Occurrence Purger. Basically, Cara's job is to clean up the messes left after real wizards, such as top student Harlee Wu, cast their spells. Dragonsong is a secret boarding school for wizards with an enigmatic leader, rumors of a great prophecy, and an array of magical courses of study. It is a fun story that offers a behind-the-scenes view into wizarding school and the magic that happens. The story is full of wonderful characters and fantasy elements; for example, Cara's best friend is a magical fox with multiple tails, and nonmagical people are called Blisses. The setting evokes similar conventions to that of other popular wizarding schools like Hogwarts. Cara is a determined character who wants more for her life than just cleaning up the mess after spells are cast, but she needs the opportunity to prove herself. In a twist, Cara and Harlee are forced to work together and solve a mystery that could put many people in danger, including Cara's difficult sister, Su. This task gives Cara the opportunity to show her knowledge and bravery to all. VERDICT This is an energetic and exciting story for any reader who loves Harry Potter and enjoys the idea of attending wizarding school.-Christina Pesiri

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