Release: May 5, 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: Netgalley
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N
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When three kids discover a book of magic spells that can only be cast during a few short minutes a day, they’ll need all the time they can get to save a dying magical world, its last dragon, and themselves.
A twelve-year-old Cal witnesses his neighbor Modesty summon a slew of lost coins without lifting a finger. It turns out that she has a secret manual of magic spells, but they only work sometimes. And they’re the most boring spells ever: To Change the Color of a Room, To Repair a Chimney, To Walk With Stilts, To Untangle Yarn. Useless!
But Cal, his friend Drew, and Modesty are suddenly transported to the world the spells come from . This world is about to lose its last dragon. Now they’ll have to find a way to use the oddly specific incantations to save the day. However they need to figure out when magic works.
From the inventive mind of Henry Clark comes a hilariously wacky adventure about magic, friendship. Besides things like a lookout tower coming to life, a maze in the shape of a dragon, an actual dragon named Phlogiston, and lots and lots of popcorn make it more interesting.
About the Author:
Henry Clark’s mother was a dadaist and his father worked for La Mama, New York’s famed experimental theater, and neither of these statements is true, but they’re the sort of thing Henry is prone to saying. However, his chief regret in life is never having had the opportunity to introduce Will I. Am to I. M. Pei. Those two would have had so much to talk about!
He began writing stories in fourth grade, stopped in eighth, and resumed forty years later, using the same cast of characters he had abandoned when he began high school. He hopes they have forgiven him. You can visit Henry at http://www.indorsia.com
What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon Review:
“What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon” turned out to be quite an adventurous middle-grade novel of magic, farms, and even a dragon, and I liked reading it!
I adore reading middle-grade novels because it provides a form of escapism without making it too serious. This book turned out to be the perfect blend of fantasy and magic set for the target audience. I liked how creative the author made the plot in terms of the Magic Minute and the world of Congroo. The way the author merged our world with the world of magic was interesting, and I also enjoyed the various Harry Potter references mentioned.
Moreover, the author paces the story where you feel like something new happens in each chapter. There are also some exciting moments, like when they find themselves walking into high voltage electricity or realizing that someone is an imposter. The story has a few twists and turns that I did not expect and made the book entertaining to read.
Similarly, the main characters are also friendly and blend well with the plot. I particularly like Cal and Modesty, and even Preffy. However, I sometimes felt like the story was plot-driven, and we didn’t see much connection between the characters. For instance, Cal and Modesty pretty much remain the same throughout the story, and Drew doesn’t appear for a significant portion. It would have been nice if the author also focused on the characters and expressed their emotions.
Nevertheless, the book is still unique, fun, and creative. Overall, “What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon” is a delightful middle-grade fantasy that you would love to read if you are a fan of the genre.
