Miss Ellicott's School for the Magically Minded

Miss Ellicott's School trains young women in magic, deportment, and obedience in the walled city of Lightning Pass. Thirteen-year-old Chantel attends the school as a promising student, practicing her magic while following strict rules about proper behavior. When Miss Ellicott and the other sorceresses disappear, Chantel and her fellow students must figure out how to protect their city without adult guidance. They soon discover that Lightning Pass faces threats from both outside invaders and internal political tensions. With her familiar - a snake named Lightning - and unlikely new allies, Chantel seeks answers about the missing sorceresses and her city's true history. Her search leads her to question everything she has been taught about magic, obedience, and power. This middle-grade fantasy explores themes of questioning authority, finding one's own voice, and the relationship between rules and true strength. The story challenges traditional ideas about proper behavior and what makes someone worthy of wielding power.

Readers report this middle-grade fantasy offers strong messages about questioning authority and fighting against oppression. The main character Chantel receives praise for her determination and intelligence, though some note she can come across as arrogant. Likes: - Complex female characters who challenge societal rules - Integration of math and logic puzzles into the magic system - Unexpected plot developments - Themes of friendship and found family Dislikes: - Pacing drags in middle sections - Some character motivations lack explanation - World-building leaves questions unanswered - Magic system rules need more clarity One reader noted: "The story takes familiar boarding school tropes but subverts them in creative ways." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (85+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 Multiple reviews mention the book works well as a standalone but leaves room for more stories in this world.

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🔮 Similar to Miss Ellicott's School, many Victorian-era girls' schools had strict rules about posture and deportment, believing good posture reflected moral character. 📚 The book's treatment of magical education follows a literary tradition established by works like "A Wizard of Earthsea" (1968), which portrayed magic as a disciplined craft requiring formal study. 🏰 The setting draws inspiration from walled cities throughout history, such as York, England, which maintained its medieval walls and uses them as a tourist attraction today. 🐍 The snake familiar in the story connects to numerous mythological traditions, including the Ancient Egyptian goddess Wadjet, who appeared as a cobra and served as a guardian. ✨ Author Sage Blackwood also writes under the name Karen Schwabach and has published several historical fiction novels for young readers.