Henry Leach the Eighth is rich in magical family lineage,
something he is just starting to discover as he tries to get
his wand to work. When he seeks help about his wand, he
becomes thrust in an entanglement of magic, mysterious
books, a father who is more than a little suspicious, and a
road trip full of danger. Together with his little sister,
Brianna, who used to be his biggest annoyance, Henry must
save the world and his family.
WANDMAKER is a magical story brimming with adventure and
plenty of humor. The writing has a nice flow to it,
capturing the tone of every character perfectly, and the
short chapters make this a quick read. Though some of the
history of the magical system is a little unclear, Masessa
does a great job of making it interesting and engaging,
allowing plenty of room for more information to be given in
future sequels. While Henry's story has several "Chosen One"
tropes, they are well balanced with another character who is
also coming into magical powers. Henry also has several role
models helping him, from the powerful Grand Wand Master
Coralis to his mother, building an exciting team of fierce
and unforgettable characters.
Under all the magic, one of the strongest themes of
WANDMAKER is family. Henry and Brianna start the story
completely at odds, having a typical love-hate sibling
relationships. Yet, as they embark on the adventure to save
the world, their relationship takes some very sweet turns as
they both learn to mature and accept each other. Their
relationship is nicely contrasted with Coralis's
relationship with his estranged adopted son.
WANDMAKER is an excellent pick for young reluctant readers
with the quickness and humor of a James Patterson novel and
the magic of an Angie Sage.
Magic is real -- and it runs in the family -- in this
charming fantasy adventure about a boy who must balance his
magical education with the demands of big-brotherhood,
perfect for fans of Jenny Nimmo and Angie Sage.
Henry Leach the Eighth doesn't know it yet, but he's
descended from a long line of wandmakers. That means he has
inherited mysterious powers, a trunk full of strange
artifacts... and a whole host of problems.
His biggest problem at the moment, however, is his little
sister, Brianna. She's always had a special talent for
getting in his way. And she takes trouble making to new
heights when she's caught in the crossfire of Henry's first
major spell!
Heartfelt, funny, and imaginative, Wandmaker is sure to
leave young readers spellbound.