The Marvellers

Ella Durand becomes the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a floating school in the clouds where students from across the world learn different types of marvel magic. As she navigates this new environment, she must deal with prejudice against Conjurors while trying to prove herself and find her place. The school operates on its own set of rules and customs, with students grouped into different Houses based on their magical traditions. Ella works to master new forms of marvel magic while holding onto her Louisiana Conjure heritage, making both friends and rivals along the way. When a series of mysterious events threatens the school, Ella becomes involved in uncovering what's really happening at the Arcarium. Her investigation forces her to question who she can trust and what it means to belong. The story explores themes of identity, prejudice, and the challenge of maintaining cultural traditions while adapting to new environments. Through Ella's experiences, the book examines how communities either embrace or resist change.

Readers praise the magical school setting, diverse representation, and creative world-building. Many highlight the flying trains, magical creatures, and unique cultural elements integrated into the magic system. Parents note it works well for middle-grade readers who enjoyed Harry Potter but want something different. Common criticisms include a slow start, too many characters introduced quickly, and worldbuilding that sometimes overshadows plot development. Some readers mention confusion about magical terminology and rules. Specific feedback: "The food descriptions and cultural magic were my favorite parts" - Goodreads reviewer "Takes 100+ pages to really get going" - Amazon reviewer "My students love seeing themselves represented in a magic school story" - Teacher review Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (500+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.5/5 (100+ ratings) The book ranks high in Middle Grade Fantasy bestseller lists and received positive reviews from School Library Journal and Kirkus.

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✨ The Marvellers is the first middle-grade fantasy book written by Dhonielle Clayton, who previously wrote young adult novels including The Belles series 🌟 The magical school in the story, the Arcanum Institute, floats in the sky above New York City and is only accessible via special flying vehicles called Starliners 🎨 The author drew inspiration from various cultural traditions of magic from around the world, incorporating elements from African, Asian, and Caribbean folklore 🌍 Students at the Arcanum Institute are sorted into different houses based on the type of magic they practice, such as Mystical Arts, Divination, and Natural Arts ⚡ The main character, Ella Durand, is the first Conjuror to attend the school, breaking a long-standing barrier between Marveller and Conjuror magic users