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    Middle readers will enjoy MarcyKate Connolly’s Breath of Mischief

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    By Jessica on April 18, 2023 ages 8-12, Middle Grade
    A BREATH OF MISCHIEF, by MarcyKate Connolly, Sourcebooks Young Readers, April 4, 2023, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)

    A young windling sets out to save the Wind in A Breath of Mischief, MarcyKate Connolly’s new fantasy adventure for middle readers.

    Aria is raised by the Wind. She grew up in a castle, floating among the clouds with creatures of the air. She spends her days racing and soaring through the sky with her best friend, Gwyn, a young gryphling. At night, she falls asleep to the music of the Wind.

    One morning, Aria is woken by a frantic Gwyn. The chimes are silent, there is not a breath of breeze, and their castle has settled on the ground. The Wind has vanished.

    Aria and Gwyn go on a desperate search only to discover the Wind is being held captive by a sinister alchemist named Worton. To free the Wind, Aria and Gwyn must complete a series of trials to find and retrieve three magical talismans for Worton. 

    Nothing will keep Aria from rescuing the element who raised her ― not a riddle, not a quest, not a race against time. Except Worton can’t be trusted, and it’s not just the Wind that needs saving… —Synopsis provided by Sourcebooks Young Readers

    There are two kinds of middle-grade magic — books that are so magical, that even adults can’t put them down, and books that are magical for young readers, even if adults don’t love them. A Breath of Mischief falls into the latter category.

    For example, some of the tasks Aria undertakes are fairly straightforward. As an adult, I would probably like some more twists. Kids, though, especially those who are just advancing into true novels, like some tasks to be clear. It doesn’t make the author’s approach wrong; it just means she knows her audience.

    And MarcyKate Connolly does know her audience. She’s created a strong framework in which children’s imaginations are allowed to go wild.

    In Aria, readers find a flawed but likeable protagonist who discovers more about her world and friendships than she ever thought possible.

    A Breath of Mischief reads like a breath of fresh air. It’s a fast-moving fantasy that will likely appeal to a wide cross-section of middle readers, particularly those who are new to the fantasy genre.

     

    Copyright © 2023 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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    Jessica
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    Jessica Harrison is the main reviewer behind Cracking the Cover. Prior to creating Cracking the Cover, Jessica worked as the in-house book critic for the Deseret News, a daily newspaper in Salt Lake City. Jessica also worked as a copy editor and general features writer for the paper. Following that, Jessica spent two years with an international company as a social media specialist. She is currently a freelance writer/editor. She is passionate about reading and giving people the tools to make informed decisions in their own book choices.

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