The Marvellers (The Marvellers, #1)

Description

New York Times-bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton makes her middle-grade debut with a fantasy adventure set in a global magic school in the sky, perfect for fans of Rick Riordan, Soman Chainani and Melissa de la Cruz. Eleven-year-old Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, where Marvellers from all around the world come together to practice their cultural arts like brewing Indian spice elixirs, practicing Caribbean steel drum hypnosis, and bartering with fussy Irish faeries. Ella knows some people mistrust her Conjuror magic, often deemed "bad and unnatural," but she's eager to make a good impression-and, hopefully, some friends. But Ella discovers that being the first isn't easy, and not all of the Marvellers are welcoming. Still, she connects with fellow misfits Brigit, a girl who hates magic, and Jason, who is never found without a magical creature or two. Just as Ella begins to find her way at the A.T.I., a notorious criminal escapes from prison, supposedly with Conjurors' help. Worse, her favorite teacher Masterji Thakur never returns from a research trip, and only Ella seems concerned about his disappearance. As tensions grow in the Marvellian world, Ella finds herself the target of vicious rumors and growing suspicions. With the help of her new friends, Ella must find a way to clear her family's name and track down her beloved mentor Masterji Thakur . . . before she loses her place at the A.T.I. forever. PRAISE FOR THE MARVELLERS 'Clayton does a wonderful job with skillful worldbuilding that is bolstered by vivid, detailed descriptions and smart, witty prose, and readers will be swept up in the magic. A charming cast and captivating storylines make this a breath of fresh air' -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review 'The Marvellers deserves the highest compliment I can give a book: I want to live in this world' -- #1 NYT bestselling author Rick Riordan 'Filled with heart, wit, and humor ... a tantalizing introduction to an exhilarating fantasy universe' -- Soman Chainani, NYT bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil 'I can't wait for every reader to find themselves in this story and dream of becoming a Marveller' -- Shannon Messenger, NYT bestselling author of Keeper of the Lost Cities 'With fantastical twists at every turn, Clayton has created a world that readers won't want to leave. The Marvellers is magical!' -- Angie Thomas, #1 NYT bestselling author of The Hate U Give

Dhonielle Clayton loves magic. She loves it more than anything ... even pizza or warm chocolate chip cookies. So she reads millions and millions of books to find some in the real world, because magic makes everything much more interesting. She grew up in Washington, DC, suburbs on the Maryland side and is a former secondary teacher and librarian. She is a New York Times-bestselling author the COO of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books, and owner of Cake Creative. The Marvellers is her middle-grade debut. Twitter and Instagram @brownbookworm dhonielleclayton.com