Vanya and the Wild Hunt

After she accidentally defeats an ancient supernatural monster attacking her bookstore-owning parents, British Indian 11-year-old Vanya Vallen, who has ADHD and the ability to speak to rare self-aware books, discovers her family is part of a secret magical world. For her own safety, Vanya is sent to study at the hidden magical library known as Auramere, Archive of the Arcane, under the protection of Jasper Blackthorn, a family friend and a powerful archwitch. For Vanya, who because of her brown skin and excitable nature has never felt like she fits in, being at Auramere presents the opportunity to lose herself in novelty and information, and to make new friends. But Auramere has secrets and dangers, such as the threat of the unstoppable Wild Hunt, and immortal entities that prey on humankind. The somewhat rushed and predictable plot of this jovial series opener by Mandanna (Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic) features all the hallmarks of an exciting magical school tale, including an enchanting setting, fantastical monsters, and intriguing magic systems. Nuanced depictions of neurodivergent characters and how they move within a magical society add further depth. Ages 8–12. Agent: Penny Moore, Aevitas Creative Management. (Mar.)