Ivy Newt and the Time Thief (Ivy Newt in Miracula 2) by Derek Keilty

What worked:

The witchcraft in this book is stereotypical without any spooky evilness. Ivy is a kind-hearted character who is still learning to become a Sand Witch. Witches are often accompanied by familiars, and Ivy’s familiar is a grey wolf named Tom Wolf. However, Tom is transformed into a boy for most of the book. Ivy flies a broomstick and performs spells she’s learned in witch school. The sorcerer in the story casts an awful spell, trapping another witch inside a haunted house for ten years. The author resolves the plot peacefully, leaving everyone living happily ever after.

The vocabulary and sentence structure are appropriate for emerging or reluctant young readers. Black-and-white illustrations add rough images of the characters with additional details in the setting and help make the narrative approachable. Ivy shares a lesson in kindness by helping someone in need. The resolution also shows the importance of clear communication and the danger of drawing assumptions about others.

What didn’t work as well:

The plot probably isn’t for most middle-grade readers. Its simplicity and innocence are a stark contrast to most of the other literature written for this age group. However, it’s perfect for those middle-grade readers still learning to master the skills needed to attempt more developed and thought-provoking texts.

The final verdict:

This book is for emerging or younger middle-grade readers. The story makes references to the first book, but this one can still be read independently. Overall, this book is wonderful for its target audience.