About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing a major transition, particularly the daunting leap to middle school or a new environment where they feel out of place. It is especially helpful for children struggling with a 'frenemy' or a social rival, as it mirrors the complicated feelings of forced proximity and past baggage. Heidi Heckelbeck is leaving her familiar elementary school for Broomsfield Academy, a boarding school where she can finally study magic. However, the excitement fades when she is assigned a roommate who happens to be her long-time nemesis. The story explores themes of accountability and the consequences of lashing out through a lens of magical pranks and mishaps. Parents will appreciate how it validates the anxiety of growing up while modeling that even deep-seated rivalries can evolve through communication and shared experiences. It is a lighthearted yet emotionally resonant choice for the 8 to 12 age group.
