This heartening short novel from Jensen (the Three Brothers Trilogy) follows the journey of a uniquely gifted ten-year-old, Sabine, through her first year at a magical academy. All the students have magical gifts, but most are in relation to elemental magic, such as fire or water. Sabine’s, though, is shapeshifting, a skill sufficiently rare that not only is she the only student with it, but other students (and even a teacher) are threatened by it. Their fear quickly manifests as bullying, and Sabine must trust in her other teachers, her two new friends, and her loving family, especially her grandfather “Wolfie,” to help put an end to the bullying while staying true to herself.While young readers are captivated by interesting teachers with different abilities, the daily life of living at the academy, and challenges like creating balls of magic, Jensen also weaves in valuable lessons about the best ways to handle bullying—and a reminder that it’s normal to feel hurt when faced with it. Sabine develops supportive new friends she can talk to, but also goes to several adults that make sure she feels heard, with the story reminding readers that it’s best to resolve such issues quickly, and that it’s okay to defend herself if she’s in danger. She also has a family that’s there immediately when needed and gives her healthy advice rather than making things worse or using their powerful family name to be bullies themselves.
Each chapter opens with an attention-grabbing illustration, created by Melissa Stevens, that hints engagingly at what’s to come, giving away just enough to drive readers to keep turning pages. Jensen creates a unique environment of a story that middle-grade readers will be drawn into and not want to put down, while parents and teachers will be equally thrilled about the important lessons they’re learning.
Takeaway: A perfect blend of magic-school adventure and lessons about bullying.
Comparable Titles: Dhonielle Clayton’s The Marvellers, Tamora Pierce’s Sandry’s Book.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
5-Star Review, Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers’ Favorite
Elizabeth R. Jensen’s Fire and Wolves: A Tale of Etria asks if readers know that even mages, people with rare magical gifts, can be bullied. When ten-year-old Sabine learned of her gift as a shapeshifter, she was thrilled to be able to attend the Onaxx Academy of Mages. She instantly made some good friends, but she also made enemies: one a teacher and the other a fellow student. Singled out and tormented by another student with the power to create balls of fire, Sabine tries to negotiate a truce but ends up being burnt. Targeted and threatened, she shifts to the shape of a wolf and is barely able to contain her rage and inherent desire to lash out at the bully who targeted her. Can she control her powers? Can she reason with this threatening fellow student? All Sabine wants to do is study, learn more about her gift, and make friends and good memories.
Elizabeth R. Jensen’s Fire and Wolves is full of magic and suspense. Told in the third person narrative, the plot follows Sabine on her journey to and within the Onaxx Academy of Mages. It’s a journey of self-discovery as the young girl learns to control her emotions, particularly the dangerous emotion of anger. The settings are well crafted and young readers will instantly feel part of the story. The characters are typical pre-teens and Sabine and her friends will certainly warm the hearts of readers and make them smile at some of their antics. Dialogue is used effectively and helps move the story along. This is a great read, full of adventure.
