Spell Sweeper

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.