Ms. Thomas hits all the right notes in this middle grade fantasy. The books starts out echoing a certain Boy Wizard’s story, but rather than feeling like an imitation, it feels like a tipping of the hat to that author and series. From there it takes a turn into the quest and action flow with spot-on pacing, humor, and plot that is just right for middle grade readers.

There are three young characters and each is uniquely voiced. The protagonist, Nic, is pitch-perfect with just the right amount of spunk and heart. The novel is in first person so the reader gets to know her up close and personal.

Ms. Thomas also deftly wove in references to African-American history and some cultural realities (unfortunately) that African-Americans still have to deal with. This was all authentically done and was appreciated.

Young readers who like the Harry Potter Series and the Percy Jackson Series will thoroughly enjoy this first installment in a planned trilogy. Oh, and hot tip – the audiobook version of The Manifestor Prophecy is fabulous!

Review of the unabridged audiobook

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: 6 religious exclamations.

Violence/Gore: Characters knocked unconscious with magic and bound; property destroyed; characters pursued; character threatens to eat some people (not idle threat, literal); scenes and references to haints (supernatural); battle with a magical creature using magic and resulting in dissolving of the creature, a little description; brief explanation of how a magical creature takes over someone’s skin; animals attempt to eat a character and the ultimate fate of that character is unclear; character uses powers to bind another; destruction of property; peril; character shoves another; destruction of property by fire; character threatens other characters and then uses magic to try and harm them; young characters are captured by a group of adults who bind them, magically brand them; character uses magic to incapacitate others; several scenes that are scary or spooky and intense; character threatens another and chases them; characters use magic to tie up other characters; adult character attacks a 12-year-old character using magic with intent to destroy; character shoots lightning and fireballs at a magical creature and injure it; character shows memories to someone in which they are hurt/injured while battling with magic; adult character attempts to destroy/kill a 12-year-old character with magic.

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

Racial Discrimination, kidnapping, family separation.

Alcohol/Drug Use:

None