The Ghost in the Crystal

School of Ages #1

by Matt Posner

Ghosts, elementals, time travel, magic duels, teen romance, sacrifice, and ultimate loss... Simon, thirteen, is drawn by surprise into America's greatest magic New York City's School of the Ages. When the evil spirit of a bitter and scheming heretic from ancient Alexandria attacks, he must risk everything in order to save his soul. Kids and adults won't stop reading -- The Ghost in the Crystal. This is the first book of a multi-volume series. Three more novels and two short collections are available, with more to come. Revised and expanded second edition issued 2/28/16 features a new cover, various editorial corrections, and several pages of new content, including new characters and new scenes. This edition was released in paperback September 2016. Editorial "There is a strong Jewish and biblical current, but it's about magic rather than religion, and the magic is impressive. I got the feeling I was attending the school by correspondence, and that the magic was authentic. A seemingly dull curriculum turns out to be otherwise. Simon has friends and enemies and aspires to romance as he struggles to make his way. This is good reading." -- Piers Anthony, world-famous fantasy author Keep up with news and updates about School of the schooloftheages.webs.com facebook dot com backslash schooloftheages twitter @schoolofthages Matt Posner is the author of School of the Ages series, of How to Write Dialogue (a fun manual for writers) and, with Jess C. Scott, co-author of Teen Guide to Sex and Relationships. Matt is a reader-friendly author who is glad to hear from you anytime about your thoughts.

Genres: Fantasy, Time Travel, Young Adult

336 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2010

About the author

I am a former novelist, no longer active in publishing. I continue to write when I can, but trying to sell writing is a tough gig -- maybe too tough for me.

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread started 8/7/2013. Previously read April, 2012
Series Information: School of the Ages series
Book 1: The Ghost in the Crystal, review linked here
Book 2: Level Three's Dream, review linked here
Book 2.5: Sara Ghost, review linked here
Anthology: Tales of Christmas Magic, review linked here
Book 3: The War Against Love, review linked here
Book 4: Simon Myth, to be read
Please note that reviews linked are my original reviews done after my first reading and subject to minor change after re-reading. For latest review, see Goodreads
See also: Author interview linked here

Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Magic
Reading Level: Young Adult
Trigger Warning: violence, fighting, references to 9/11

My Thoughts: I imagine a lot of reviewers have referenced Harry Potter, but this is not Harry Potter. The Harry Potter books had an initial kind of innocence to them; this book has an almost-immediately darker feel. Simon Magus is 13-going-on-14 when he learns about the School of the Ages, and his parents are involved in the decision for him to go there. There are no “houses,” no familiars, no robes required for the students, no institutionalized rivalry like that created by the contests between the houses in HP, no flying on broomsticks, no magical creatures... basically, this is a completely different type of story, more in line with a realistic world, and one I found very appealing.

I must say that, overall, I really loved this book. It was very engaging, the characters changed and grew through the series, and Posner left lots of room for development of their characters as they age. Robbie Ravitz is the one who most acted his age – Simon and Goldberry were almost preternaturally mature for their ages. I enjoyed the character dynamics, and liked most of the characters. I hope we continue to learn more about them, including the enigmatic Rambal, and why Chatterjee and Bannerjee look so much alike.

I noticed a few inconsistencies. For instance, when Simon first goes to the school, he is shown the seven arches. Later the arches are mentioned again, and seven names are given, but the person talking says – twice – that there are six arches. This is done again toward the end of the book: I paused for a moment to look at the six pillars: faith, perception, balance, wisdom, receptiveness, judgment, and discipline. That is, by my count, seven pillars, not six, as said during the initial visit to the school. Edit: The author tells me he is fixing this in the next edition. End Edit

I should point out that while Matt Posner has put in the Chasidic Jewish family and students, my husband used to live in Israel and told me that this would not happen. The Chasidics would refuse to have anything to do with anyone else – it is not possible that a Cabala school would be integrated with any other school, nor is it possible that they would have anything to do with any Gentile. In fact, being in the presence of a Gentile causes them to become unclean and they need to go through special cleansing rituals before they can be reintegrated with their families. Chasidics would therefore require that they be in a separate school, with nothing to do with anyone else, and only Chasidics to be allowed in. I’ll admit that I asked him this because I honestly expected, based upon the hostility between them, that Yakov and Simon would be teamed up somehow – boy did I get an earful! He says that, in Israel, they have separated themselves to the point where they have their own towns, put up walls around them, and don’t allow anyone else inside. These are not people I see accepting the authority of the School of the Ages. However, that is in Israel and I have to admit that it is likely they aren’t quite so segregated here in the States. This is a side issue, anyway...

It is strange to me also that the only devotionals are run by a rabbi (and listed on the schedule for Simon and Goldberry, when they are not Jewish); it is also strange that the only religion that is allowed for (by leaving the Sabbat clear, except for a basic class in Hebrew) is Judaism. While it is, of course, unlikely that any people from other Judeo-Christian-Islamic religions would be enrolled in the school (it is, in fact, unlikely that the Jewish students would be enrolled there – usually a Cabala school would be separate and exclusively Jewish, as I mentioned before), it is strange that these traditions aren’t kept to a certain degree. There is a certain degree of magic in the history of both the Catholic and Protestant churches, after all, even if they don’t admit it readily. However, although this is a school of magic with simply a connection to the Cabala school, there are several Rabbis teaching and they often discuss their religious beliefs. It’s something that sort of confused me. Of course, students are allowed days off from school for religious observances, and Hinduism is brought up during Asian History class, but there are no pujas during the school year at the school, and meditation is areligious. It didn’t bother me, as I’m not a religious person, I just found the dynamic a bit strange. I guess it challenged my perceptions of the world and my ideas of how things “should be”.

Well, I have certainly digressed a lot in this review – but I must say I enjoy a book that makes me think, makes me question and, most importantly, makes me challenge my boundaries and ideas. For those of you who want a lot of magical twiddle-twaddle (not that there is anything wrong with that; I enjoy that sort of thing, myself), this is not that kind of book. This kind of magic is, for the most part, subtle and quite realistic. I think those of us who know a bit about magic will be the sorts who will particularly enjoy this book, although anyone who enjoys YA fantasy will also likely enjoy this book. I definitely want to talk to the author about some of the ideas he came up with and the sorts of research he did. Maybe, if you’re lucky, I’ll turn it into a Q&A and post it on my blog – would you like that? I have an interview with the author posted here on my blog. I highly recommend this book, and I will now try to get the next book in the series read tonight (Level Three's Dream, book 2, review posted here) so I can review it before I get started on what looks to be a long week of editing. Check this book out – enjoy!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. Edit book read and reviewed in April, 2012 - making some edits to my review.

Synopsis: Your NEW favorite magic school is New York City's School of the Ages. I am a mixed-race teen from Queens, New York, and when I answer an advertisement in a magazine, the South Wind shows up at my door to introduce me to a world of adventure, power, and tragedy that feels both strange and right: ghosts, elementals, time travel, magic duels, clashes of culture, teen romance, sacrifice, and ultimate loss. The evil spirit of a bitter and scheming heretic from ancient Alexandria attacks me and forces me to risk everything in order to save his soul. Kids and adults won't stop reading -- The Ghost in the Crystal. I am Simon Magus, and I approve this message.

[Hallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those frustrating books that is so enjoyable in bits that you feel like shaking someone for the other parts that simply don't work.

To get the whole HP thing out of the way first (which is unavoidable, really, given the "your NEW favourite magic school" opener of the blurb): I'm not enough of a fan to care much, but of the books I read, I found the magic lessons in The Ghost in the Crystal more fun, the school itself even less likely than Hogwarts, but the time-travel field trips were utter win. Every magical boarding school should obviously go on field trips to the past!

The not-so-good included very poor editing, for a start. Also too many things just threw me right out of the book, as for example, Simon's study-partner Goldberry's supposed English speech. At one point she calls Simon, with "coo-ee", no less, and then says "You didn't half notice me, you prat." Which is just stupid. And her father, who was supposedly a bit of a bully, but very powerful and suave, called the headmaster of another school "a wanker", which is very rude for him to have said in front of the two 13-year-olds and Simon's parents. And then there was Simon's voice, which was often really hard to accept as any kind of 'real' 13-year-old boy. After meeting Goldberry he wants to ask his mother what she thinks of her, musing that "falling in love is worth doing, but Goldberry was too interesting to fall in love with. She was smarter than anyone my age I'd met before, and very different in ways that meant putting her on the potential girlfriend list wouldn't be doing her justice." Just - what?? Also noted was his saying that his roommate Robbie, "big, round and brash as he was, was going to get nowhere with Goldberry's shy and diminutive roommate..." Ugh. I never once believed what Simon said about his being in love with another student, and its being a love that would last his whole life. Another thing that really bothered me was the implication of Simon's being the 7th son of a 7th son, despite being his parents' only child. It's brushed over but has to mean his dad had six boys prior to marrying his mother, all of them -- abandoned? Not cool, no matter what the Village was like in the 70s.

Finally, and it's a pretty big problem, I never got why the school taught Hebrew to all the students. Yes, there was a mention of the fact that School of the Ages had merged with "some kind of Cabala school", but otherwise it's just dropped. I mean, it's as if all the kids in Hogwarts had to learn their catechism, had a lot of (R.C.) priests teaching in the school, but yet recruited Jewish and Muslim kids. Oh, all that *and* there were other magic schools around too. Many of the other kids seem to have some kind of faith, though they're not only Jewish, but very late in the book Simon says: "Pray? I thought. I can meditate, but how do I pray? I had never done that. I believed in God, because of studying magic, but I never thought of God as someone in space who listened to prayers and granted them." Er, "answered them", is possibly what he means! Anyway, "because of studying magic..." again, is senseless, given the lack of rationale given in the book. I've no idea how accurate anything was about the Judaism, or the Orthodox or Chasidic kids in the school, but the rest just seemed weak.

I'm likely to read the second at some point despite my griping, as I did enjoy many things about the book. Especially the fact that the field trip was to see the Lighthouse of Alexandria. (Though it would be extremely sucky to go on that trip and be stuck inside the school, as the first year students were supposed to be!)

[Sharon Tillotson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. School of the Ages – The Ghost in the Crystal is a fine book for a young mind to read.

Like all great books, it tells an engaging story while presenting life lessons and wisdom in subtle ways that would stick in a mind to which the book is canted.

The writing is solid. The reader is skillfully taken on a journey into the kind of magic that implies accountability and a sense of possibility. The characters are fabulous, not only for their variety (both in personality and racially), but for their humanness. They are normal kids, except for the magic, with normal angsts, fears and anger. They make poor choices and brilliant ones, just as we all do. I liked that there is a Jewish Cabalah element which adds to the mystery, and that the hero is of mixed race (Indian, Jewish, Italian, Anglo).

There is humor and plenty of adventure for the reader. At one point a group of students visit Lake Okanagan in BC Canada to conjure Ogopogo, a lake monster similar to Loch Ness. Lucky them. I lived in the Okanagan for many years and he never showed himself to me. But then this is the fun of magic. Dialogue is well written, with many different, unique voices; description is just right.

I enjoyed and share much of the philosophy put forward in the story and appreciated the depth of wisdom shared in a book for middle school children. Would that I had this book when my children were of an age to read such a book; perhaps they would have understood at a much younger age that magic is what we all do all the time. There is much value in that.

I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series, to see where the author takes Simon and his friends...

Recommended for all ages.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in deliberate search of indie urban fantasy on Google and Amazon, and found a number of possibilities. This was the first one I tried, and it was excellent.

Any book about a magic school will inevitably be compared to Harry Potter, so let's get that out of the way first. The difference between the two is that Harry Potter is built on the basis of whimsy. Apart from about half the magical creatures, it doesn't draw on much prior art from myth, legend, history, literature or historical people who believed they were practicing magic. It makes it all up out of whimsical whole cloth. This is a strength as well as a weakness, and probably helped its widespread appeal, but it introduces a note of silliness that's hard to ignore, even among the very dark material.

School of the Ages is not whimsical. The magic is based on medieval and renaissance beliefs about magic, including the Jewish practice of cabala. The school is in New York, and is combined with a Jewish cabala school, and the initial antagonist, the Malfoy character, if you like, is a Chasidic Jew with the wonderful name of Mermelstein.

The tone is serious, and so are the characters. The quarter-Indian, quarter-Jewish, quarter-Italian, quarter-English first-person protagonist is a very serious young man. He's a young man who wants to fight his own battles, even when he probably shouldn't, and his mentor, while annoyed at this, puts up with it. I think this is because he has enough experience teaching young people to know when they won't be talked out of something. Of course, that leads to problems, which the main character confronts with the help of his friends, well-drawn characters with their own quirks and motivations.

It doesn't all go well. In fact, it goes tragically. That's all I'll say, because more would be a spoiler. There's hope amid the tragedy, though, and it's the kind of tragedy that matures the people who go through it.

Early on, one of the teachers says, "To master the skills we teach here requires great mental and emotional stability." This is something that's missing from a lot of "young wizards" stories, including Harry Potter, who never did concentrate properly on his occlumency. In far too many fantasy stories, kids develop powers not by practice and training and mental discipline, but suddenly and spontaneously in a crisis (because they're the Chosen One, usually). This leaves them free to be angsty, erratic and explosive all the rest of the time. This isn't how you gain skills in real life. Training and mental discipline, and emotional stability, are also a big emphasis in traditions like cabala, so this gives the magic an authentic feel that's often missing in this kind of story. It also means that, while the main character certainly feels powerful emotion, he's not an emotional loose cannon like so many young heroes. He can't afford to be.

The writing is competent. I found eleven errors in the whole book, and all of them were the kind that I would have blamed on the typesetter back in my professional editing days, when typesetters still roamed the earth. Someone's done a find-and-replace and messed it up, resulting in quotations that end like this:

,". Tinker

instead of:

," said Tinker

That accounts for five out of the eleven typos I found, and the remainder were even more minor.

I did spot one other error. The South Wind, who turns up as a character early on, mentions having George MacDonald at his back, but MacDonald's book is, of course, At the Back of the North Wind.

When I finished this book, somewhat shocked by the emotional power of the ending, I immediately bought the next one, and even though I have other books I've committed to review, I'm reading it because I really want to know what happens next.

[Jess Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

===A cool and nuanced YA book===

I've always been a fan of philosophy, ancient history, culture, and magic/the fantasy genre -- all of these elements were very well mixed in "The Ghost in the Crystal." I was pleasantly surprised to come across mentions of "Alexander the Great" (one of my favorite historical figures; more familiar with non-fiction, than fiction works that make a reference to the famous conqueror)!

What I really enjoyed and appreciated as a reader, was the historical accuracy of the traditions and cultural components mentioned in the book. I've rolled my eyes at TV shows before when such facts are inaccurate ["...it doesn't matter if you don't know that Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Indonesia" -- heard that one from an old episode of "The OC", LOL (KL is the capital of Malaysia)]...but Mr. Posner is certainly a lot more careful, educated, and discerning.

While aspects of the book reminded me of the Harry Potter series, I thought that setting the story in NYC was cool and refreshing. The writing style is concise too (I'm always thankful when an author doesn't take an unnecessary 100 pages to get from one plot point to another!).

[Jeremy Rodden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I Think Boys May Enjoy This

Let’s just get the obvious comparison to Harry Potter out of the way from the beginning (as even the author draws that comparison). This story is about a school for magic-using kids but in New York City. However, other than that over-arching comparison, the School of the Ages series is hardly a Potter clone with American kids slapped into a magical school instead of British ones. First and foremost, the serious tone of these books is struck early and often and definitely hits home more than the fun and whimsical nature of the early Potter books (sure, Voldemort is scary but he’s just a hypothetical scary for the beginning of the Potter series). All else I’ll say in comparison to Potter is this: if you want to compare them, remember that the first Harry Potter begins when Harry is just turning 11. Simon, our protagonist in this book, is nearly 14 when the series starts. So comparison wise, think about the Potter series beginning at Goblet of Fire and the level of seriousness (and romantic interests) by the time Harry hit that series.

Okay, let’s discuss the uniqueness of the series now that that comparison is out of the way. The part that stood out most for me (and will appeal to anyone who loves learning about other cultures) is how well Posner incorporates Chasidic Judaism as an important part of this world. At the school itself, there are many Jewish kids of varying degrees of commitment to the religion (ranging from ultra-orthodox to simple cultural connections) and Cabala (Jewish Mysticism) is integral to the teachings of the school. The author does a great job using Simon’s experiences to educate the reader on a culture that may be otherwise unfamiliar to most people (myself included). At the same time, it’s not a primer or an attempt to indoctrinate. As someone who loves to learn about other cultures, this well-written exposure to the Chasidic world through Simon’s eyes was enlightening. In one chapter, he handles exposure to a Hindu family ritual with the same level of respect and deft description that is also very cool.

As for the actual plot, the story gets you hooked right away. Starting with a simple premise that gets demonstrated very early–magic is real and is no joke–Ghost in the Crystal hooks you. A young boy reading the book can easily see themselves in Simon’s shoes. Even the realization that his study partner (Goldberry) is a girl sets Simon down the “omg, it’s a girl and I wonder if we’ll like each other” line of thought that would be very logical for any 13 year old boy to experience upon finding out that someone he has to spend a lot of time with in the coming months is a girl. Simon felt very real to me. Very believable as a 13 year old boy and not just an older writer’s version of what they think a 13 year old would be.

Content/Appropriateness

As I said before, this book gets serious very early on. It is made quite clear to the reader, through Simon, that there are real consequences for magic and real issues to be dealt with. Sure, there are still humorous moments in the book and the entertaining sidekick (Simon’s roommate Robbie), but in his first real magical interaction (with his study partner’s father), Simon enters a magically binding agreement to exchange favors.

What is also great is that the teachers and faculty of the school hold the children to adult-like levels of responsibility, even to the degree that the kids are allowed to battle each other and even cause harm (unless one person submits). This leads to some bloody situations and adult-level conflicts (even if they are just teenagers). There is no major violence or gore or anything, though, so it’s still more than age-appropriate for the middle grade and up crowd.

There are no language or sexual content concerns in this first book to make parents or educators shy away either. But, as I said, this book, even as the first in a series, makes sure the reader knows that magic is no joke and everything will not simply be solved with a magical wave of the wand by the end of it. The gravitas of the first book in the series is somewhat refreshing for a YA fantasy and adds to the realism of the story that really drives home the urban fantasy aspect (this could be real and take place in New York City to this day).

Rating

4/5 Giant Cartoon Mallets from Toonopolis, The Blog's Books for Boys review on 6/12/17.

http://www.toonopolis.com/2017/06/12/...

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture
Storyline: A Ghost in the Crystal beats two Harry Potters in the bush…? I might be incorrectly quoting that old adage, but I’d say that Matt Posner is definitely on to something with his new magic school series.

Simon Magus is starting his freshman year at New York City’s School of the Ages. Of course, this isn't your typical school – it’s a school for magic – and Simon isn’t your typical teenager. Even before the school year starts, Simon finds himself caught up in mysteries, intrigue and even a personal haunting.

With the help of his clever study partner, Goldberry, and his roommate, Robbie and some other friends and even the help of an enemy, he must unravel the mystery of the spirit that is haunting him and, all the while, keep up grades in his classes.

Grammar/Spelling: I noticed several punctuation errors throughout – mostly with the usage of the quotation marks. The only grammatical error of note was at the beginning of the story: “…the cats are all asleep in their special hiding places and don’t like being waked up.” A very easy fix.

Character Development: Since I have had the pleasure of interviewing Miss Goldberry Tinker prior, I had assumed that she would be one of my favorite characters throughout and I was not disappointed! Goldberry is very talented, whip-smart and so very posh. I am looking forward to watching as she develops her power and skills. I believe that she will be the one to keep Simon grounded and, through her, Simon will definitely hone his own abilities.

Writing Style: Mr. Posner’s style carries the reader along swiftly and smoothly with his apparent wealth of knowledge of the more esoteric aspects of magic and religion. I truly enjoyed the mixture of Cabala, the more well-known “traditional” beliefs and the fresh spin on the religions of the Indian continent.

Continuity: No issues at all with continuity. Even with the element of time travel.

Overall Rating: 4+

School of the Ages: The Ghost in the Crystal written by Matt Posner is a fantastic start to a series about a school for magic that is surely to give that other series a run for it’s money. Not only was the story great, it was also fascinating seeing how almost all religions, faiths and beliefs can be intertwined. For my personal take-away from the story, I am definitely interested to learn a bit more about Cabala and Jewish beliefs. Absolutely intriguing!

Great job, Matt! I hope you’ll continue on in this vein and look forward to many more books in this wonderful series!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastical...... Any book that can make you sit up, take notice, talk and debate, is a great book! Kiki and I did just that, and we are still processing all that this book has to offer.


School of the Ages has a new fresh take on young wizards in training. Posner has taken this much loved topic of young wizards, and has intertwined magic with the aspects of religion and our ability to believe in something more. News Flash this is not Harry Potter, nor does it resemble those shows on a channel with a famous mouse. This is a book that takes magic and makes it feel real, like if we were to believe a little bit more we would see it. As one would say "seeing is believing", but in this case "believing is seeing". This book is so well written, you feel everything the characters are feeling. We felt the darkness with only candles to light the way. We felt the cold that no amount of clothes to heat. To put it lightly, we felt as if we were Simon. This is the type of book that pulls you in, and you will not be able to put it down.




When Simon gets accepted to the School of the Ages, he didn't know he would have one of the hardest challenges of his young life. Beyond training to be a wizard, being possessed by an ancient spirit, making friends and enemies, and time travelling to ancient Alexandria, Simon struggles with what it takes to be ....Simon. Magic was something in Simon's blood, but not something he was accusomed to on a daily basis. His idea of magic was that much like our own, a wand, a spell, maybe lighting some engraved candles. What Simon finds out, the hard way, is that magic is not like what you see in the movies. It hides in the realm of belief and lives off our emotions. With a vast cast of unforgetable characters like Goldberry, Robbie, the nasty Yakov, and the ever elusive Leah, Posener takes Simon and us through the first year of magic.


After much debate and some LONG converstaions, Kiki and I have decided to not tell you any more about the plot of this book. We feel deeply that no matter your genre, this book is a must read!


Kiki & Jules


PS - We are on pins and needles in antisipation of the next installment of this fantastical series!!!

[Mysti Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you read the blurb of Matt Posner's first installment in the School of the Ages series, you'll automatically think it's another take on J.K. Rowling's franchise. I must admit, I've never actually read any of those books. Yes, yes, I know. Send me your outraged e-mails. I've seen some of the movies and have heard enough from HP fans to know that I had my doubts that "The Ghost in the Crystal" wouldn't be a copycat. I mean, you've got Leicester (aka Simon Magus), a teen boy, who's approached by a hidden school's recruiter, goes to said school, and promptly gets into more than his share of conflict. How is that NOT different than Daniel Radcliffe's portrayal?

Trust me when I say that Matt Posner's take on this NYC-based school of magic and its teenage occupants was refreshingly different. What I found most interesting and educational, actually, were the many references to other cultures, primarily Judaism in its various forms. The school itself is heavily influenced by its Jewish culture, with Rabbis, training in Cabala, and even a Kosher dining room. Other things I enjoyed learning about were Hindi culture, astrology, and other mystical arts like tea leaf and tarot card reading. Simon's use of magic was described well and easy to visualize. I felt like I was there learning with him.

A few places, I felt a bit lost, wishing there was a little more explanation of events. I did love the dialogue, though it verged on too philosophic at times, but the tone fit the story well. While it did take a few chapters to catch and hold me, I found myself eagerly awaiting the next chapter, wishing I could actually read it straight through in a day or two while on vacation (with three kids in tow, that wasn't possible). However, I ate up the final chapters on our drive home. Simon, his allies, enemies, and their struggles, grew on me, leaving me wanting to dive into the second book in the series. I give kudos to the author for writing a well-researched, intellectual, and fun tale that I'd recommend for middle grade students and beyond. Go grab your copy today and be sure to check out Book Two, "Level Three's Dream", which I hope to read in the near future.

[Danica is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimers: I received an electronic copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I originally compared this book to Harry Potter. When somebody is writing about a school of magic, that seems almost instinctive. There are some similarities; however, they were very minor ones.

However, this book is very different than Harry Potter. It immediately had a darker feel. Harry Potter came across innocent; this book was dark at times and left me incredibly sad at times.

What I loved about this book was Posner's ability to create a world that sucked me in so absolutely. Posner brilliantly combined history, philosophy,a and the Jewish culture to create a intriguing fantastical tale that readers will love.

I loved reading from Simon's perspective and watching as he learned more about this world that he is suddenly thrown into. I enjoyed watching him progress as the novel carried on and was beyond curious as I tagged along for his adventures and journey of self-discovery.

I also loved the other characters. I especially liked Leah and loved watching Simon and Leah interact.

This is a story that I think fantasy loves will absolutely adore. Definitely recommend this novel and this series. This book combined very complex plots together into one amazing read.

In Summary: An enjoyable fantasy novel that readers of all ages will eat up.

The Wrap-up: This book was just so intriguing. I haven't read a ton of books that left me this compelled by the world presented within the pages of the text. This one was spell-binding.

Love,

Danica Page

[K.C. Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went through this book really enjoying it, learning all sorts of new things, being immersed in this fabulous word and thinking to myself: Yeah, this is a strong 4 star read.
And then I got to THAT ending.
My God Matt Posner you kept that impact so well hidden! A superb story with excellent characters rounded off with a stunning ending that leaves you totally broken but also breathing a huge sigh of relief. It is one thing for a book to make you smile, laugh, scratch your head in ponderment, but it is quite another for your heart to leap against your ribs and pound for freedom.
There are plenty of reasons to read and enjoy this first instalment in the School of the Ages series, but really I'm sure you can guess the usual suspects based on the genre and style of the book itself. So the real piece of advice I can give to you is: if you have this book on your want to read, your Kindle shelf, if you've been eyeing it online for a while - READ IT. Nobody can explain the emotional ride you will take until you experience it for yourself, so just trust me, and trust the other reviewers who have felt this same way. Read this book.
And to the author, had I been wearing a hat I would take it off to you sir.
Bravo.

[Rachel "Rai29" · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ghost In The Crystal (which is the first book in the School Of Ages series) is about Simon Magus. Simon discovered his magic by accident when he saw an advert in the paper and he applied for a place at STA (a magic school). Whilst at STA Simon is haunted by an ancient spirit seeking his help.

It took me a while to read through this book as to be quite honest I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I found The Ghost In The Crystal was written quite formally and at some points the story seemed unfinished as parts were written from the author's viewpoint rather than a character within the plot line which in my opinion, didn't fit in at all. Some aspects of the story were quite inconsistent as well, at the start it was mentioned that Simon Magus was a name that the character had given himself for magic school and that it would be explained later on in the book why he chose that name, which unfortunately didn't happen or was so subtle that I missed it. However, I like the cover as it suits the theme within the book.

[Kate Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can see this review and more like it at my site www.ufreviews.com

Today is YA day on UFR, two YA reviews in one day. I am not an everyday YA reader, I normally need to be in the right mood for me to read them, and today's earlier review got me in the mood, so I added this book to the mix. I got the distinct feeling early on in this book it was going to have a similar like flare to Harry Potter, which it did.


Now just people you can easily draw similarities between this book and Harry Potter, does not mean this book is is not unique. Religion plays a huge role in this book, as the school the young magicians attend is merged with a school for Jewish studies as well. Due to this there is a lot of Jewish references within the book, that I am not sure I understood completely, but it definitely added for a different flare and feeling for the book.


The book follows Simon, and his group of friends through their first year at the School of the Ages. Simon from very early on in the book is being haunted by a spirit and has no idea what to do about it. To make matters worse every time he tries to talk to anyone about it the spirit prevents him from doing so. Simon gets the feeling this spirit is never going to leave him alone and worse that this spirit is not a friendly spirit.


As will any young 13 year old at a new school, a lot of the children find conflict with each other, so there is a lot of the young drama within this book, although with a magical flare. You spend a lot of the time in this book getting to know the characters in the book, and not just the haunting spirit problem. You learn that Goldberry has a sick mother she cares about and an overbearing father who makes life interesting both at school and at home, and not just for her but also for Simon. One of Simon friends has a crush on another that seemingly is going nowhere, and that creates some interesting situations for the group of friends.


All in all the book was an entertaining read for YA readers, which leads me to the end. I of course do not want to tell you what happened in the ending of the book (it would be too spoilery and serve no review purpose), but I feel like it can't go unmentioned. I have a feeling, especially if you are an adult reading this, you are going to have some kind of reaction to the end of the book. And I do admit to wondering if this ending was even needed or if it is too much. I can honestly say I don't know how I feel about the ending, but you will understand what I mean when you read the ending of the book. I think the ending could make or break this book for certain people.


That being said, I'm going to give this book a good rating. I think it's an interesting way to write a fantasy YA book, and the use of religion within it makes it truly interesting. It also does not force religion on the characters or the reader, some of the characters aren't Jewish and while there is some conflict between the Jewish population and the non-Jewish population, I think the thing to take away from the book is finding a way to accept people who are different than you are. I think this is a good YA read in my opinion.

[Red Lace Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Magus has no idea how much his life is going to change as he replies to an advertisement in a magazine regarding STA – School of the Ages. After a surprise visit from a very odd chap known as the ‘South Wind’, Simons first year of wizardry begins. Friends are made, enemies are gained, and magic never ceases to amaze, however danger also follows Simon; a haunting spirit seeking his aid. Can Simon juggle his new studies whilst keeping control of the persistent ghost?

(I received this e-book from the author in exchange for my honest review. Please be aware that this review may contain spoilers before reading further.)

At first glance, indeed it does seem to scream ‘Harry Potter’ to almost everyone, but that shouldn’t put anyone off, on the contrary in fact. Personally I’m not fond of J.K. Rowling’s franchise and I believe that to be pretty obvious as I rated this book higher than the first H.P book. Whilst it’s still a young adult book, it’s much more mature and offers a lot more. For one, it’s much more realistic in regards to magic, however it’s understandable, in this genre, realism is rarely what readers seek, but I found it refreshing. Magic is less silly and more to do with the mind, body and soul of the caster, requiring high concentration and constant practice; meaning it just won’t happen willy-nilly.

The fantasy element only goes so far. Don’t expect a land full of magical creatures and flying broomsticks, because you’ll be very disappointed.

The characters I found likeable, but they were generally extremely grown up for their age, barring one or two. Simon and the main female, Goldberry, especially seemed to have a much higher mental age. This of course made them more tolerable than the typical childish teens that you feel like punting (or at least I do).

Of course there is a lot of drama nonetheless; this is still a school full of hormonal teenagers after all. It touches on romance and rivalry, as well as self-realisation. Character development is done nicely; seeing characters change and grow as individuals is always a treat, especially when you feel you get to know them.

I’m not a religious person and I never will be, so I must admit the religion aspect, which played a big part within the story, was slightly off-putting. Usually I don’t like religion in my fantasy as it becomes less enjoyable for me personally. Though I did find it slightly odd that Chasidic Judaism seemed to be the main focus overall and others weren’t included with such enthusiasm.

The book was well written and the pace was enough to keep me entertained. At times I did get a tad confused with characters, but I believe that fault was my own, trying to juggle too many things at once. I did notice a few mistakes along the way; little things that could be easily overlooked.

I would easily recommend this to anyone who fancies a bit of a different take on the genre. Matt Posner did a fine job and should be recognised for such.

© Red Lace 2012

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastical...... Any book that can make you sit up, take notice, talk and debate, is a great book! Kiki and I did just that, and we are still processing all that this book has to offer.


School of the Ages has a new fresh take on young wizards in training. Posner has taken this much loved topic of young wizards, and has intertwined magic with the aspects of religion and our ability to believe in something more. News Flash this is not Harry Potter, nor does it resemble those shows on a channel with a famous mouse. This is a book that takes magic and makes it feel real, like if we were to believe a little bit more we would see it. As one would say "seeing is believing", but in this case "believing is seeing". This book is so well written, you feel everything the characters are feeling. We felt the darkness with only candles to light the way. We felt the cold that no amount of clothes to heat. To put it lightly, we felt as if we were Simon. This is the type of book that pulls you in, and you will not be able to put it down.


When Simon gets accepted to the School of the Ages, he didn't know he would have one of the hardest challenges of his young life. Beyond training to be a wizard, being possessed by an ancient spirit, making friends and enemies, and time travelling to ancient Alexandria, Simon struggles with what it takes to be ....Simon. Magic was something in Simon's blood, but not something he was accusomed to on a daily basis. His idea of magic was that much like our own, a wand, a spell, maybe lighting some engraved candles. What Simon finds out, the hard way, is that magic is not like what you see in the movies. It hides in the realm of belief and lives off our emotions. With a vast cast of unforgetable characters like Goldberry, Robbie, the nasty Yakov, and the ever elusive Leah, Posener takes Simon and us through the first year of magic.


After much debate and some LONG converstaions, Kiki and I have decided to not tell you any more about the plot of this book. We feel deeply that no matter your genre, this book is a must read!


Kiki & Jules


PS - We are on pins and needles in antisipation of the next installment of this fantastical series!!!

[Cana Elene (http://placeofreeds.blogspot.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Magus is a young magician at the School of the Ages in New York. But magic school is not what he was expecting. After being haunted by a spirit at the school, he must travel to Ancient Alexandria to help the spirit and himself.

If you enjoyed Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and other YA books based on reality and fantasy in the real world, then this book might interest you.

I will admit it. When I first started reading this book, I kept expecting HP to pop around the corner or Percy to come running through. I mean there were things about the book that were very HP-like and PJ- like. Thankfully, there were enough differences that it didn’t take long before I forgot to compare this to HP or PJ. The few things that do match up with HP and PJ is the realistic feel of the magic being used/seen through the novel, though I enjoyed how Mr. Posner changed how magic could happen. It isn’t just with a spell and a wand, many times it can happen so much more easily and unplanned. It is similar to PJ, in that most of the novel takes place in NY, but it isn’t so similar that I was really bothered by it.

This book does have a great storyline and a good flow to it, though there are occasional lagging parts that make you want to skip ahead without pushing through the writing. It is an overall easy read, though the occasional grammatical errors, punctuation issues, and wording of the novel can bog down the overly critical.

Some people might have a problem with this book and how religion plays a role in the book. Even the rivalry between Simon and Yakov seems based a bit on religion, and that can make some people uncomfortable. Some people just can’t imagine magic and God being in the same book, but just remember other great novels like the Chronicles of Narnia and the Dragon Keeper Chronicles include God and magic. So on that part, I do encourage readers to keep an open mind about that.

Overall, this is a good book, and I do recommend it for a magical read.

[Patricia (Night Readings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review can also be found on my book review blog Night Readings.

I was cautious when I first started reading The Ghost in the Crystal, mainly because of the mentions of religion in the summary. It's not that I don't like religion, I actually find religion and culture very fascinating, but I usually avoid it as much as I can in literature, because I don't want to read a book where the author is constantly trying to force his or hers beliefs onto me. This was fortunately not the case here; I think Matt handled the religious aspects extremely well and I enjoyed reading about it, even though I had to do my fair share of research when the names and references went over my head.

Magic in The Ghost in the Crystal is based on a "if you believe you can do something, you can" type of thinking. Throughout the story, and particularly in the lessons he attends at School of Ages, Simon learns about will, concentration and resolve, which is basically what determines how powerful your magic is. It bothered me that the Chasidic students apparently had an advantage though, because their magic comes from God.

Simon is a very likable character, though he seems much older than his thirteen years of age. Even though he is tempted by power, he decides not to take the easy path and instead relies on his own strength.

The plot of the story is well thought out and has a lot of potential, but the pacing is a bit jagged, and there is a particular scene at the ending which seems misplaced and doesn't really affect the plot of the story at all

The novel is also in need of a bit of editing. I found several grammatical errors, and while it is easy to overlook, it happened too many times for me not to be bothered by it. Despite its faults, I found myself wanting keep reading and see how Simon would face his challenges and how it would all turn out in the end.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sceptical about this book when I first got it. Is this going to be another Harry Potter rip-off? In parts yes, in others no. Smart female friend? Check. Vicious rival for no apparent reason? Check. Slightly dumb, red headed friend? Check. Amazingly talented? Magic robe? Castle with shifting rooms? Check, check, check.



But for all that I didn't really get much of a HP vibe from it, which was for the better. I liked the storyline for the most part and liked the characters. The book felt very rushed though and the editing needs another going over. Numerous grammatical errors abounded. Some were simple and easily overlooked while others were larger and I had to reread a couple lines to try and make sense of them. Words seemed to be missing completely.



My other big issue with this book was the religion. I liked the HP books because they never mentioned religion. In this book you can't go half a page without it. All the magic comes from "God". I really felt this lessened the book in my eyes and contributed to stars being removed.



The ending was also a bit of a let down. It felt like it was tacked on as something extra and seems a bit inappropriate.



In all it was an ok read. If it wasn't for the religious aspect I would read the sequel but for now I think I'll give it a miss.

[Jack Massa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like other reviewers, I read the blurb and thought, “Oh, like a New York City version of Harry Potter. I’ll bite.” In many ways the comparison is valid:

• a secret magic school in the midst of the real world
• intriguing, quirky, multi-ethnic, convincing teenage characters,
• a varied set of adults, magical and non-magical, with interesting perspectives and sometimes murky motives.
• a many-layered plot that keeps cooking with twists and surprises.

What I find unique here is the quality of the magic. Harry Potter magic is fun, a combination of pure invention and recycled pop culture tropes. School of Ages magic is serious—rooted in mystical traditions (primarily Hebrew) and concocted with plenty of mental horsepower. At times I wasn’t sure if I was reading YA fantasy or being taught occult metaphysics:

“They say time is a like a river, always flowing forward, ever changing. Not true. Time is a wind. It goes in all directions, this way and that, moves many things, leaves others in place.”

“The good of magic,” Dr. Archer said, “is not principally in doing, but in knowing what ought to be done.”

Yikes! If, like me, you favor serious magic in your fiction, it doesn’t get any better than this.

[Georgina Young-ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though it's inevitable that one would want to compare a book about a school of magic to Harry Potter, stop right there. This book would have a place of honor in YA literature even if J.K. Rowling had never existed. As a matter of fact, this book truly crosses over the YA genre. It's an intelligent, fascinating book for readers of any age over 12. There's no broomsticks or butterbeer here, my friend, eventhough the main character is a young magician (not a sorcerer, not a witch or warlock) who finds out rather by chance that he has some magical abilities, and he is invited to attend The School of the Ages. We soon learn that the magic learned there is based on the Cabala and Eastern mysticism, and is much more centered in meditation than waving wands and uttering incantations. It's a kind of magic most of us could imagine being able to do ourselves if we had the correct focus. It's a dark story, even disturbing in parts, with a very well done time-travel segment. In short, it's a brilliantly written piece of fiction that deserves it's own accolades without comparison to anything else. I believe book #2 in the series is out, and I can't wait to read it!

[Roxanne Daveney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I thought that The Ghost in the Crystal, was a very unique story. If you are looking for a book about vampires and werewolves, you might not enjoy this book. There are none in it, but if you are looking for a book that's about ancient magic, sorcery, and crazy ghosts that possess people, then this is the book for you!

Meet Simon, Goldberry, Robbie, Leah and Mermelstein as they embark on an adventure of a lifetime when the first arrive at The School of the Ages. The pace of the book is very good, although there were certain parts that I felt were a little bit rushed, but over all, I really enjoyed the story. It was nice to read something different aside from a vampire or werewolf book for a change. I did notice quite a few grammatical and spelling errors throughout, but those can be easily fixed with some more editing.

All in all, this definitely has the potential to be the next Harry Potter.

***I was given an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Joseph Seegitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well-written book takes place at a magical school set in New York City and is filled with lots of interesting twists and surprises. Time travel, ghosts, and confrontation are all to be found is the excellent debut. The book is paced perfectly, allowing you to sink into the world that Matt Posner has hand-crafted. True, there is a Harry Potter influence, but that is not a bad thing, as Mr. Posner gives Mrs. Rowling a veritable run for her money.

Although I would definitely recommend this book, the only nitpick I have about the book is that the main character sounds and acts older than he really is and that some readers may not be on board with the whole Judaism thing (although it didn't bother me at all). Other than that, the writing is flawless, and the story is captivating. If the series continues at this quality, School of the Ages will become a story for the ages. Get it?

Joseph Seegitz
Author of the Hue Series

[T.M. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough good things about this book! Leicester (pronounced lester) or Simon spots an advertisement in a local mag that changes his life, literally. He is thrown into this world of magic but, the way the author weaves this wonderful world is unlike any you could imagine. There is love, loss, battles, magic, enemies (or are they), friends (again, are they) and time travel. I really like the way Matt presented his theory, the magic isn't really done with wands and spells... your defensives are your mind... very mind/body/soul... and the religous aspect is a welcome surprise; how Matt incorporates it into the story not using it or viewing it as a negative as some author's have. It is difficult for me to delve to deep into explaining this book to everyone without giving too much away. And, the author has specifically asked me NOT to give certain things away.

[S.L. Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Potter and Percy Jackson fans will love this series!

Matt Posner has created a believable world and down-to-earth characters within the realm of magic. After American teen, Simon, responds to an ad in the back of a magazine, the south wind shows up at his front door to see if he has what it takes to register at School of the Ages, a magic school in New York City.

What makes School of the Ages:The Ghost in the Crystal unique is the characters. Anyone who is familiar with typical teenagers understands their angst. They want to find their place in their world. They worry about what others think of them. While developing their strengths, they feel invincible and often try to take on more than they can handle. These are the years of trial and error, success and failure. Posner never loses sight of his characters, and they are truly the heart of this novel.

[Andrea Lamoureux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and found it to be very unique.

The overall writing of this book is excellent. I didn't find any spelling or grammatical errors. The author is very creative in the way he blends different cultures and religions with magic.
The story takes place in both the real world and a created world. With students learning about magic, it reminded me a little of Harry Potter except more diverse.
I would recommend this book to almost any age group. I think preteens and teens would enjoy it due to the fact that the main character is their age, but I believe adults would also find it a good read because it is packed with action and adventure.

[Wendy Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately sucked into this book's rich, magical environment, filled with history and philosophy. This book challenged my ideas about the roles of religion and magic by wrapping them up together. The author mixes in Jewish history, Cabala and fortune telling devices such as tarot card and tea leaf reading, and it works! At times I felt a little bewildered by the many references to Jewish customs, but I enjoyed learning about them regardless. Anyone who enjoys YA fantasy and magic, will love this book.

[Neha Thakur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never been inclined towards reading fiction. So when I first caught hold of a copy of School of the Ages series, I was secretly hoping that it does talk of 'real occurrences' in history as claimed by many reviews. Boy!!! Did I just read a modern myth :O

Matt Posner has not only created a modern myth, he has succeeded in creating a global modern myth. He has sewed magic onto reality and facts onto fiction so skilfully that at certain places you might want to research if this kind of magic really exists.

<3 Loved it!

[Cana Elene (http://placeofreeds.blogspot.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book.