Wandmaker

Gr 4–7—Henry Leach the eighth is a novice wandmaker with a special destiny. His parents have kept him in the dark about his powerful family ancestry—he's the seventh son of a seventh son, which makes him an especially formidable wandbearer. His first attempt at spellcasting ends up transforming his sister Brianna into a blue porcupine. Henry and Brianna find help in the form of Coralis, the Grand Wand Master. Coralis discovers that an evil Wand Master is planning to destroy the world and believes Henry might be the key to stopping him. The trio travel cross-country to Arizona, where Henry meets some of his Navajo family and faces the evil forces threatening the world. This tale touches on the themes of identity and sibling relationships. The plot is full of action, and several lighthearted, humorous moments keep the pace moving quickly. Main characters Henry and Coralis may remind readers of another famous magical protégé and mentor duo; however, there are enough differences in the story to keep it from being repetitive. One problematic issue in the plot is the inclusion of Henry's Navajo ancestors. An ancient warrior appears as Henry's spiritual guide and ally in the climatic fight against the evil Wand Master. Unfortunately, this section of the story misrepresents Native American spirituality by associating it with magic and fantasy.