Magicalia - by Jennifer Bell

About the Book

"Bitsy and her best friend, Kosh, are spending a normal evening playing video games-until a purple hamster the size of a bathtub barges in and eats Bitsy's gym clothes. Now it's a race against time to rescue Bitsy's dad from a mysterious kidnapper, which starts with learning the truth-that he, Bitsy, and Kosh can conjure magicores, creatures made from the energy of emotions. From magic-carpet-like huffluffs to shape-changing (and purring) copycats and big, stinky lubberwharls, countless magicores exist hidden in plain sight, as do the schools that teach young conjurers to wield their powers. But the world of conjurers also features conflicts between guilds, and Bitsy's dad may have been caught up in one. With minimal training, it's up to Bitsy and Kosh to win an international race to find a long-lost magical object. The two friends must decide who to trust as they solve riddles, fight imaginative magical battles, and get to know the wide, wonderful world of magicores-before a shadowy archvillain destroys everything"--

Book Synopsis

To rescue her scientist dad, Bitsy learns to conjure magicores--extraordinary creatures of all shapes, sizes, and magical abilities. This new fantasy series by an internationally best-selling author will appeal to Pokémon collectors, fans of creature-filled video games, and anyone who dreams of attending magic school.

Bitsy and her best friend, Kosh, are spending a normal evening playing video games--until a purple hamster the size of a bathtub barges in and eats Bitsy's gym clothes. Now it's a race against time to rescue Bitsy's dad from a mysterious kidnapper, which starts with learning the truth--that he, Bitsy, and Kosh can conjure magicores, creatures made from the energy of emotions. From magic-carpet-like huffluffs to shape-changing (and purring) copycats and big, stinky lubberwharls, countless magicores exist hidden in plain sight, as do the schools that teach young conjurers to wield their powers. But the world of conjurers also features conflicts between guilds, and Bitsy's dad may have been caught up in one. With minimal training, it's up to Bitsy and Kosh to win an international race to find a long-lost magical object. The two friends must decide who to trust as they solve riddles, fight imaginative magical battles, and get to know the wide, wonderful world of magicores--before a shadowy archvillain destroys everything.

Review Quotes

Wyatt's whimsical, detailed spot illustrations open each chapter, highlighting a charming array of magicores. Adventures aplenty, with oodles of scene-stealing monsters both mega and mini.
--Kirkus Reviews

Expertly paced with detailed and vivid descriptions, this is a perfect introduction for readers who are just beginning to explore the world of fantasy and adventure. . . .It's an excellent choice for bedtime ­reading for the whole family. An ­absolute winner and new classic.
--School Library Journal

About the Author

Jennifer Bell worked as a children's bookseller at a world-famous bookshop before becoming an author. Her debut novel, The Uncommoners: The Crooked Sixpence, was an international bestseller. She is also the author of the Agents of the Wild adventure series for younger readers; Wonderscape, a Waterstones Children's Book of the Month that was inspired by some of her favorite heroes from history and her love of gaming; and Legendarium, which celebrates incredible legends from around the world. Jennifer Bell lives in London.