ACCESS DIGITIZED EDITION
Guide/Reviews Database
INTERMEDIATE FICTION
Knudsen, Michelle

Into the Wild Magic

368 pp. | Candlewick | August, 2025 | Trade ISBN 9781536227697 $18.99
(2) 4-6 Eleven-year-old Bevvy, a quiet sixth grader more comfortable with kittens and fantasy novels than with her peers, finds herself drawn to a mysterious new girl, Cat. After Cat provokes a confrontation at school and disappears, Bevvy is left bewildered -- until Cat returns, pursued by shadowy forces. Fleeing through the woods, the girls leap through an opening in the air and into the kingdom of Lorelkey. The land is in chaos: the king is dead, and war looms between wielders of wild magic and a dangerous villain with dark powers. As Bevvy and Cat are reluctantly swept into the resistance, Bevvy discovers she has a gift that connects her to Lorelkey's natural forces. She begins to understand why she was brought to Lorelkey -- and what's at stake. Knudsen successfully weaves elements of classic fantasy -- portal travel, hidden royalty, a heroine who must grow into her unexpected destiny -- with themes of friendship and bravery and an emphasis on moral complexity and emotional intelligence. Her world-building is immersive, and the story balances action and magic with deeply felt emotional stakes. Bevvy and Cat's friendship is tested and strengthened through their adventures, and the novel's ensemble of magical characters adds warmth and nuance to the plot. Recommended for readers who dream of other worlds -- and wonder if they could be brave enough to face what lies within them.
Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

RELATED 

INTERMEDIATE FICTION

The Republic of Birds
by Miller, Jessica
INTERMEDIATE FICTION

Atlantis
by Mone, Gregory
INTERMEDIATE FICTION

It Doesn't Take a Genius
by Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola
INTERMEDIATE FICTION

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls
by Rivera, Kaela
INTERMEDIATE FICTION

Soul Lanterns
by Kuzki, Shaw
More

Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?