The Kindling (Middle School Magic)
Thirteen-year-old Conner is a normal kid who loves lacrosse and dislikes prealgebra. One “dark and stormy night,” Conner, his twin, Lexa, and her friend Melanie (who Conner wants as a girlfriend) are studying at home. As Melanie opens the front door to wait for her mother, the three children see a man dressed in black in the street. All the lights go out and dogs begin barking—and then go suddenly silent. They see the same man near their school, but it’s not until after-school detention that they learn they’ve been chosen as future magi and that until their “kindling” (training) is complete, they’ll be the targets of a Dark force. Soon the teens become forces of Light and join the ongoing fight between Light and Darkness. In this fast-paced adventure, Bell keeps his well-developed characters grounded in the real world while still allowing them to have otherworldly experiences. Generous dialogue, just enough magic, and expressive use of both humor and fear combine to make this a potential favorite for the right kind of fantasy fan. Grades 6-9. --J. B. Petty