Synopsis
Manu and her best friend, Josefina, live at a magical school for girls, and Manu is always getting into trouble. The headmistress believes that Manu has the potential to help people with her magic, but Manu would rather have fun than fall in line. One day, a prank goes seriously wrong, and Josefina gets angry and wishes for Manu’s magic to disappear… and it does. Manu uses a dangerous spell to restore it, but it makes her magic too powerful and nearly impossible to control. Great power comes at a cost, and it may be a price that Manu isn’t able to pay!
From: Scholastic
Notes on This Title
The main character of this title is a young girl who has dark skin and curly black hair. In an Indies Introduce interview, the author confirmed that the main characters are intended to be read as queer, and stated that the world of the story was inspired by her own Dominican heritage.
Though this title is primarily in English, Spanish is spoken throughout.
Awards
2022 International Latino Book Award Silver Medal Winner
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Indies Introduce Summer/Fall 2021 Pick
American Booksellers Association Indie Next Pick Nov/Dec 2021 Pick
Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Graphic Fiction of 2021
2021 Washington Post Best Children’s Book of the Year
Reviews
Starred Review: “It’s a lovely portrayal of religious mysticism, in which witchcraft and Catholicism are interdependent, that emphasizes how people can use their abilities, regardless of where they came from, for good.” (Source: Booklist)
“Fun, refreshing, antics-filled magical adventures.” (Source: Kirkus Reviews)
“The interesting intertwining of magic and religion makes this a unique read for middle-grade students.” (Source: School Library Journal)
Interviews
American Booksellers Association: “An Indies Introduce Q&A with Kelly Fernández“