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School for Unusual Magic #2
The Winter Frost
Three friends discover magic and mayhem around every corner of their school in this illustrated series from New Yorkercartoonist and NAACP Image Award nominee Liz Montague that's perfect for fans of Witchlings and The Wizards of Waverly Place.
After a chaotic semester of Elementary Magic, Rose, Amethyst, and Lav have found themselves with new magical skills up their sleeves which will come in handy when they begin Middle Magic next year. But school is last thing on their minds over winter break. Tensions are high between the Land Walkers and the Merfolk's mysterious leader Frost. Worse, Amethyst's mom has gone missing with an extremely illegal wand, and everyone--their classmates, Principal Ivy, the Committee--thinks she's somehow involved in the disappearance of Rose's cousin Heather. But Amethyst is determined to find her mother and set everything right. Her mom just has to be innocent!
When a secret about Amethyst's identity is revealed, her whole world comes crashing down. She doesn't understand how her mom could keep something so important from her. Is her mom actually the villain or is something even darker at work here? She'll have to trust that Rose and Lav can keep the peace above ground while she ventures underwater for answers...
After a chaotic semester of Elementary Magic, Rose, Amethyst, and Lav have found themselves with new magical skills up their sleeves which will come in handy when they begin Middle Magic next year. But school is last thing on their minds over winter break. Tensions are high between the Land Walkers and the Merfolk's mysterious leader Frost. Worse, Amethyst's mom has gone missing with an extremely illegal wand, and everyone--their classmates, Principal Ivy, the Committee--thinks she's somehow involved in the disappearance of Rose's cousin Heather. But Amethyst is determined to find her mother and set everything right. Her mom just has to be innocent!
When a secret about Amethyst's identity is revealed, her whole world comes crashing down. She doesn't understand how her mom could keep something so important from her. Is her mom actually the villain or is something even darker at work here? She'll have to trust that Rose and Lav can keep the peace above ground while she ventures underwater for answers...
- GenresMiddle Grade
240 pages, Hardcover
Published November 12, 2024
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 5, 2024
I received a free copy of, The Winter Frost (School for Unusual Magic #2), by Liz Montague, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Amethyst, Rose, and Lav, go to elementary school together, but its not your typical school. Amethyst has a lot going on over winter break, her mom has kept secrets from her. This was a very good read. I really liked Amethyst.
October 30, 2025
School for Unusual Magic is back! This time it's winter break but these elementary school students are still busy as ever. Between family troubles and a magical civil war brewing there's no dull moments in The Winter Frost!
Review below
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.substack....
Review below
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.substack....
March 16, 2025
Read aloud with my 7 year old. This is the 2nd in the series and has longer chapters but kept the same format of rotating between the 3 main characters. This had a little more scariness and heavier themes but nothing that was too much or age inappropriate. It does touch on somewhat tougher subject matter than the first but doesn’t dwell.
To me the overly simplistic cartoons that pepper the text sometimes don’t seem in synch with the well written story, but I think they did add some levity that may have helped my sensitive kid through any of the more tense scenes in the plot. This is a great HP alternative if you’re looking for a “magic school” book sans that authors many issues. There’s diversity, 2 female main characters that aren’t relegated to second fiddle, positive family relationships. It’s for a much younger audience than the later HP books but it kept me as engaged as my child, and so that’s a real win all around. We’re hoping for more in this series!
To me the overly simplistic cartoons that pepper the text sometimes don’t seem in synch with the well written story, but I think they did add some levity that may have helped my sensitive kid through any of the more tense scenes in the plot. This is a great HP alternative if you’re looking for a “magic school” book sans that authors many issues. There’s diversity, 2 female main characters that aren’t relegated to second fiddle, positive family relationships. It’s for a much younger audience than the later HP books but it kept me as engaged as my child, and so that’s a real win all around. We’re hoping for more in this series!
January 25, 2025
What worked:
The story is told from various viewpoints which helps the author change between settings. Amethyst and Rose are best friends and they form a closer connection through a Heart Lead spell. Amethyst’s plot heads to the Under Land where she thinks her mother is being held by Frost. Rose promises she’ll watch over Amethyst’s little sisters so she travels to Chicago with her parents. Lav is a friend of the girls and he mostly supports Rose in the story. Different chapters focus on Amethyst, Rose, or Lav allowing readers to know what’s happening in the different worlds.
Amethyst is the main focus of the plot as she tries to locate her missing mother. She’s certain her mom wouldn’t steal the powerful wand so she figures Frost must be behind everything. The story is a bit of a mystery as Amethyst tries to collect information to understand what’s happening. The Land Walkers are in conflict with the Mer people although Amethyst isn’t sure why. To complicate Amethyst’s life, she uncovers a secret early in the book that seems to indicate she has a connection to the Mer world. As a Land Walker, Amethyst doesn’t understand how that’s possible and she becomes angry that her mother has been keeping secrets from her. Readers can follow Amethyst’s myriads of emotions in the chapters that focus on her character.
The conflict between the Saltwater Mer, Freshwater Mer, and the Land Walkers shows there are problems bigger than just Amethyst finding her mother. Her mother isn’t the first Land Walker to go missing but no one knows what’s happened to them. There are stories that Frost is stirring up trouble between the two groups and there’s speculation about why he’s doing it. Adult characters have been secretly trying to deal with the emerging problems but the author keeps readers guessing about what’s going on. Allowing readers to wonder, guess, and make predictions helps to keep them mentally engaged.
What didn’t work as well:
Lav’s relationship with the girls is uncertain as he tries to support Rose and Amethyst while they seem to have issues with him. Readers can read the first book in the series if they need to know more about the disappearance of Amethyst’s mom, the wand, and the headmaster’s daughter. Also, it’s unclear how humans fit into this magical story since they’re not mentioned. Is everyone in the world supposed to be magical? Perhaps I missed a mention of it somewhere but readers may have questions.
The final verdict:
The magic isn’t all that unusual but the civil war between the different factions is interesting. Frost is the obvious antagonist but Amethyst’s internal battle after uncovering the secret is the main conflict. Young readers who enjoy spells and magic will love this book and I recommend you give it a shot.
The story is told from various viewpoints which helps the author change between settings. Amethyst and Rose are best friends and they form a closer connection through a Heart Lead spell. Amethyst’s plot heads to the Under Land where she thinks her mother is being held by Frost. Rose promises she’ll watch over Amethyst’s little sisters so she travels to Chicago with her parents. Lav is a friend of the girls and he mostly supports Rose in the story. Different chapters focus on Amethyst, Rose, or Lav allowing readers to know what’s happening in the different worlds.
Amethyst is the main focus of the plot as she tries to locate her missing mother. She’s certain her mom wouldn’t steal the powerful wand so she figures Frost must be behind everything. The story is a bit of a mystery as Amethyst tries to collect information to understand what’s happening. The Land Walkers are in conflict with the Mer people although Amethyst isn’t sure why. To complicate Amethyst’s life, she uncovers a secret early in the book that seems to indicate she has a connection to the Mer world. As a Land Walker, Amethyst doesn’t understand how that’s possible and she becomes angry that her mother has been keeping secrets from her. Readers can follow Amethyst’s myriads of emotions in the chapters that focus on her character.
The conflict between the Saltwater Mer, Freshwater Mer, and the Land Walkers shows there are problems bigger than just Amethyst finding her mother. Her mother isn’t the first Land Walker to go missing but no one knows what’s happened to them. There are stories that Frost is stirring up trouble between the two groups and there’s speculation about why he’s doing it. Adult characters have been secretly trying to deal with the emerging problems but the author keeps readers guessing about what’s going on. Allowing readers to wonder, guess, and make predictions helps to keep them mentally engaged.
What didn’t work as well:
Lav’s relationship with the girls is uncertain as he tries to support Rose and Amethyst while they seem to have issues with him. Readers can read the first book in the series if they need to know more about the disappearance of Amethyst’s mom, the wand, and the headmaster’s daughter. Also, it’s unclear how humans fit into this magical story since they’re not mentioned. Is everyone in the world supposed to be magical? Perhaps I missed a mention of it somewhere but readers may have questions.
The final verdict:
The magic isn’t all that unusual but the civil war between the different factions is interesting. Frost is the obvious antagonist but Amethyst’s internal battle after uncovering the secret is the main conflict. Young readers who enjoy spells and magic will love this book and I recommend you give it a shot.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews