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Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic
A new Latinx middle grade fantasy debut where a secret magical academy, an evil sorcerer, and a powerful, coveted gem awaits one girl in her quest to reunite her family. Perfect for fans of Claribel A. Ortega and B. B. Alston!
Twelve-year-old Chloe Vega’s biggest fear is that her undocumented parents will be detained by immigration. That is, until she learns that her parents are actually part of a secret magical society…and that the suspicious looking police officers who have been hanging around their block are henchmen for an evil sorcerer determined to settle a decades-old score.
Just when Chloe discovers that she has powers, too, her parents are kidnapped. In order to rescue them, she’ll need to harness her abilities at an elite academy, run by the very agency who exiled her parents from the magical world.
Finding herself in the center of a magical war that might destroy everything she has ever known, Chloe can’t shake the feeling that the Agents of Magic are hiding secrets. With her parents’ lives hanging in the balance, she must uncover who is truly on her side and fast to save her family—and the world itself.
Twelve-year-old Chloe Vega’s biggest fear is that her undocumented parents will be detained by immigration. That is, until she learns that her parents are actually part of a secret magical society…and that the suspicious looking police officers who have been hanging around their block are henchmen for an evil sorcerer determined to settle a decades-old score.
Just when Chloe discovers that she has powers, too, her parents are kidnapped. In order to rescue them, she’ll need to harness her abilities at an elite academy, run by the very agency who exiled her parents from the magical world.
Finding herself in the center of a magical war that might destroy everything she has ever known, Chloe can’t shake the feeling that the Agents of Magic are hiding secrets. With her parents’ lives hanging in the balance, she must uncover who is truly on her side and fast to save her family—and the world itself.
Hardcover
Published September 16, 2025
8 people are currently reading
3627 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Adame
1 book27 followersLeslie Adame is a first-generation Mexican American and graduate of UCLA with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Film, Television, and Digital Media. She’s always enjoyed giving back and telling stories about characters not often found in books or films. Leslie grew up in the Inland Empire, specifically Ontario, California.
When she’s not writing, you can find Leslie scanning the aisles of your local bookstore, lovingly pestering her family, and catching a flight to explore a new place. She loves watching rom-coms, Disney movies, and trashy reality TV in her spare time, especially while cuddling with her cat.
When she’s not writing, you can find Leslie scanning the aisles of your local bookstore, lovingly pestering her family, and catching a flight to explore a new place. She loves watching rom-coms, Disney movies, and trashy reality TV in her spare time, especially while cuddling with her cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 18, 2025
I can’t believe that this a latinx middle grade fantasy debut! The story is very well crafted. We follow Chloe who is anxious about living in the US with the worry about ICE coming in and taking her undocumented parents away. The anxiety, worry, and stress was very well done. As the story progressed, we saw more characters and learned more about the parents' talents and I was hooked! A magical academy! Sign me up! I had my bags ready to go train alongside Chloe and the newbies.
Chloe is a character that you can’t help but love and cheer on. Her family struggles are very similar if not exactly to every immigrant coming to the states and that’s something that I was able to resonate with. The author writes many important themes into the story and this would make for a wonderful discussion with children. Aside from very important themes the story is moving and it’s filled with Chloe having to deal with magical kids at the academy and not all of them are welcoming to Chloe. I found the magic system interesting and I hope to learn more about it in the next book. The twist was so good, that I didn’t even see it coming! I should’ve but like Chloe I was shocked. I really loved many of Chloe’s friends, Nicholas, Lucas, and Teeny. They were a hoot and they’re “save me” attitude was just hilarious.
The narrator, Victoria Villarreal, is new to me and I really enjoyed her narration. The tones and inflections used were spot on and I was able to easily distinguish who was speaking. She really brought the characters to life. The spanish was spot on and it really made an impact that this is a latinx fantasy book. I appreciate when authors and publishers go out of their way to find someone who speaks the language and in this one it shows beautifully. Don’t worry, it’s words sprinkled throughout but it really gave me the latinx vibe that I was craving.
What you’ll find in CVaTAoM:
-Magical Academy
-Hidden Identity
-Middle Grade Fantasy
-Evil Sorcerer
-Chosen One
-Good vs. Evil
-Latinx Culture
A very special thanks to @hearourvoicestours + HarperCollins for the gifted audiobook. Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic by @leslieadame is out now!
Hear Our Voices is partnering with @tumasbooks . Use code “HearOurVoices” for 15% off Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic!
Chloe is a character that you can’t help but love and cheer on. Her family struggles are very similar if not exactly to every immigrant coming to the states and that’s something that I was able to resonate with. The author writes many important themes into the story and this would make for a wonderful discussion with children. Aside from very important themes the story is moving and it’s filled with Chloe having to deal with magical kids at the academy and not all of them are welcoming to Chloe. I found the magic system interesting and I hope to learn more about it in the next book. The twist was so good, that I didn’t even see it coming! I should’ve but like Chloe I was shocked. I really loved many of Chloe’s friends, Nicholas, Lucas, and Teeny. They were a hoot and they’re “save me” attitude was just hilarious.
The narrator, Victoria Villarreal, is new to me and I really enjoyed her narration. The tones and inflections used were spot on and I was able to easily distinguish who was speaking. She really brought the characters to life. The spanish was spot on and it really made an impact that this is a latinx fantasy book. I appreciate when authors and publishers go out of their way to find someone who speaks the language and in this one it shows beautifully. Don’t worry, it’s words sprinkled throughout but it really gave me the latinx vibe that I was craving.
What you’ll find in CVaTAoM:
-Magical Academy
-Hidden Identity
-Middle Grade Fantasy
-Evil Sorcerer
-Chosen One
-Good vs. Evil
-Latinx Culture
A very special thanks to @hearourvoicestours + HarperCollins for the gifted audiobook. Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic by @leslieadame is out now!
Hear Our Voices is partnering with @tumasbooks . Use code “HearOurVoices” for 15% off Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic!
November 7, 2025
I'm going to make the unavoidable comparison (as much as I hate to) to Harry Potter for this timely, magical Mexican-American adventure, but with a great deal more humanity.
September 10, 2025
Thank you to HearOurVoices Book Tours and HarperCollins for the ALC!
Never underestimate the ability of middle grade fiction to make a deep impact. At a glance, Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic looks like a magic filled, action packed, high stakes story. And it is, but it's also so much more. Themes of immigration, family separation, policing, and cultural barriers also play a huge part in the story. Why do people migrate? What challenges do they face? What risks do they undertake? How do might attitudes change once immigration status changes? What does this say about assimilation, empathy, or even political alignment? So many questions to reflect upon that make this book engaging for adults as well!
If you've been following the news and struggling with how to discuss the violence and harm being perpetuated against the Latine community to your kids, Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic provides many entry points for conversation in an approachable and relatable manner. Chloe's parents are undocumented migrants from Mexico, but they are also undercover agents of a secret magical society and have been in hiding after crossing paths with an evil sorcerer years ago. As a character, Chloe undertakes significant responsibility when it comes to language brokering and cultural translation in addition to the emotional weight and anxiety of ICE and deportation threats, family separation, and shame. You see how much of a burden it is for this young person to contend with throughout the story. While it is balanced with adventure, friendships, magic, Latine culture, and self-discovery, all of the immigration themes add weight and importance to the story.
Adame also weaves in an exploration of financial insecurity and how this intersects with immigration status. You learn about the Vega family's challenge to make ends meet, constantly scraping by with limited resources and ability to save. Not for lack of trying, because they are all working and contributing financially, but because of the systems in place that exploit and profit from underpaid migrant labor. Again, Adame explores those important key questions within an economic framework (emphasis on it being unpacked at a middle grade reader level!): Why do people migrate? What challenges do they face? This book is doing a lot of work and it does it really, really well!
I want to emphasize how important it is to see all of these themes and emotions communicated thoughtfully and intentionally through the eyes of this 12 year old character. Fiction can serve as a powerful mirror of our reality, and the threat of separation for mixed status families has only increased with the escalating tactics and violence of the current administration.
I loved the intentionality and care that went into this book and have plans to re-read this in its audiobook format with my 5th grader.
Never underestimate the ability of middle grade fiction to make a deep impact. At a glance, Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic looks like a magic filled, action packed, high stakes story. And it is, but it's also so much more. Themes of immigration, family separation, policing, and cultural barriers also play a huge part in the story. Why do people migrate? What challenges do they face? What risks do they undertake? How do might attitudes change once immigration status changes? What does this say about assimilation, empathy, or even political alignment? So many questions to reflect upon that make this book engaging for adults as well!
If you've been following the news and struggling with how to discuss the violence and harm being perpetuated against the Latine community to your kids, Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic provides many entry points for conversation in an approachable and relatable manner. Chloe's parents are undocumented migrants from Mexico, but they are also undercover agents of a secret magical society and have been in hiding after crossing paths with an evil sorcerer years ago. As a character, Chloe undertakes significant responsibility when it comes to language brokering and cultural translation in addition to the emotional weight and anxiety of ICE and deportation threats, family separation, and shame. You see how much of a burden it is for this young person to contend with throughout the story. While it is balanced with adventure, friendships, magic, Latine culture, and self-discovery, all of the immigration themes add weight and importance to the story.
Adame also weaves in an exploration of financial insecurity and how this intersects with immigration status. You learn about the Vega family's challenge to make ends meet, constantly scraping by with limited resources and ability to save. Not for lack of trying, because they are all working and contributing financially, but because of the systems in place that exploit and profit from underpaid migrant labor. Again, Adame explores those important key questions within an economic framework (emphasis on it being unpacked at a middle grade reader level!): Why do people migrate? What challenges do they face? This book is doing a lot of work and it does it really, really well!
I want to emphasize how important it is to see all of these themes and emotions communicated thoughtfully and intentionally through the eyes of this 12 year old character. Fiction can serve as a powerful mirror of our reality, and the threat of separation for mixed status families has only increased with the escalating tactics and violence of the current administration.
I loved the intentionality and care that went into this book and have plans to re-read this in its audiobook format with my 5th grader.
April 11, 2025
What worked:
Chloe’s parents are undocumented immigrants from Mexico, which isn’t a common topic among middle-grade novels. The narrative includes some Spanish words and phrases, but readers should be able to use the context to understand their meanings. The early chapters describe the family’s fear of ICE, and Chloe’s sister is afraid federal agents will grab her parents at any moment. Chloe learns that a new classmate named Tiny is also from an undocumented family, and the author later reveals that a second character’s parents were arrested by ICE agents.
Since there’s a school, there must be bullies, and two characters fill that expectation. Chloe meets Danielle before reaching the academy, and her conflict with Danielle is more personal. Danielle’s father and Chloe’s parents have a contentious history, so Danielle directs that animosity toward Chloe. Jason’s character is pompous and cocky which rubs everyone wrong. He’s overly competitive and isn’t used to losing. An expected aspect of the story concerns how Chloe’s interactions with these two bullies develop over time.
Osthall is the main antagonist, and he wants magic revealed to humans. His anger toward humans comes from their history of persecuting sorcerers, as in the Salem Witch Trials. However, Ora, the head of the Agents of Magic, casts a spell separating the two worlds. Osthall wants to destroy the protective shield, which will let him control humans and make them his slaves. He captures Chloe’s parents to find the location of a powerful gem, and the residual effects of touching Chloe’s arm let him connect with her when she sleeps. These dreams tease her with feelings of hopelessness and have Chloe questioning any trust she might have with the Agents of Magic. The agents also think someone at the academy is passing intel to Osthall, so everyone becomes a suspect.
What didn’t work as well:
The Agents of Magic are sticklers for following human laws in case humans become aware of magic sometime in the future. If the veil is broken sometime in the future, it will be unimportant if the sorcerers followed human laws in the past. It’s only described in the book’s early parts, so it’s not a big deal. Also, astute readers may figure out the identity of the academy spy before it’s revealed.
The final verdict:
It’s hard to write a fresh story about a character discovering her powers, but the Mexican culture and undocumented immigrants help. There’s a spy at the academy, a family feud, an evil sorcerer, and Chloe puts a lot of pressure on herself to keep her parents safe. Overall, this is an exciting new series, and I recommend you give it a shot.
Chloe’s parents are undocumented immigrants from Mexico, which isn’t a common topic among middle-grade novels. The narrative includes some Spanish words and phrases, but readers should be able to use the context to understand their meanings. The early chapters describe the family’s fear of ICE, and Chloe’s sister is afraid federal agents will grab her parents at any moment. Chloe learns that a new classmate named Tiny is also from an undocumented family, and the author later reveals that a second character’s parents were arrested by ICE agents.
Since there’s a school, there must be bullies, and two characters fill that expectation. Chloe meets Danielle before reaching the academy, and her conflict with Danielle is more personal. Danielle’s father and Chloe’s parents have a contentious history, so Danielle directs that animosity toward Chloe. Jason’s character is pompous and cocky which rubs everyone wrong. He’s overly competitive and isn’t used to losing. An expected aspect of the story concerns how Chloe’s interactions with these two bullies develop over time.
Osthall is the main antagonist, and he wants magic revealed to humans. His anger toward humans comes from their history of persecuting sorcerers, as in the Salem Witch Trials. However, Ora, the head of the Agents of Magic, casts a spell separating the two worlds. Osthall wants to destroy the protective shield, which will let him control humans and make them his slaves. He captures Chloe’s parents to find the location of a powerful gem, and the residual effects of touching Chloe’s arm let him connect with her when she sleeps. These dreams tease her with feelings of hopelessness and have Chloe questioning any trust she might have with the Agents of Magic. The agents also think someone at the academy is passing intel to Osthall, so everyone becomes a suspect.
What didn’t work as well:
The Agents of Magic are sticklers for following human laws in case humans become aware of magic sometime in the future. If the veil is broken sometime in the future, it will be unimportant if the sorcerers followed human laws in the past. It’s only described in the book’s early parts, so it’s not a big deal. Also, astute readers may figure out the identity of the academy spy before it’s revealed.
The final verdict:
It’s hard to write a fresh story about a character discovering her powers, but the Mexican culture and undocumented immigrants help. There’s a spy at the academy, a family feud, an evil sorcerer, and Chloe puts a lot of pressure on herself to keep her parents safe. Overall, this is an exciting new series, and I recommend you give it a shot.
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September 15, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic by Leslie Adame is a third person-POV contemporary middle grade fantasy. Chloe Vega’s biggest fear is immigration coming for her parents and she tries to lie low to draw as little attention to their family as possible. When a neighbor gives Chloe a magic spoon, she’s not only giving Chloe access to magic, she’s also unlocking Chloe’s parents’ past in Mexico and Chloe’s own potential.
A major theme is the concern around immigration forces coming in and separating families when the parents are undocumented. Chloe’s older sister is even hoping to eventually become an immigration lawyer in the future to help families like her, which is very cool. There is also a character who is revealed to have been separated from his parents because of deportation. Given the state of the US now, this feels very timely and is a real fear many children grow up with, so this will not only provide a mirror to their experiences as well as a cool fantasy, but it will also help teach other children empathy around the situation.
The magic school here is the School of the Americas and the student body is made up of students from North, Central and South America. Because of this, a large amount of the student population identifies as Latine and the school itself uses terms like ‘familia’ when grouping the students up into cohorts. This is a very cool way to show an American audience things that we don’t think about so much, such as that our side of the world is largely made up of native Spanish speakers while sprinkling in bits and pieces of cultures that may or may not be familiar to the reader.
The magic system is centered around opals and different magic users start at different levels and can progress upwards. Magic is also largely inherited but it is not a guarantee as Chloe has magic from both her parents, but her older sister does not. There’s darker types of magic and lighter kinds, but it all involves some level of control and practice to use effectively. In future books, I would like to see how this all plays out more in the school setting as we focused more this time around on Chloe learning about the world and the role her parents played in it as she tried to find a way to get them back.
I would recommend this to fans of middle grade fantasies that cover difficult topics and readers looking for books discussing deportation
Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic by Leslie Adame is a third person-POV contemporary middle grade fantasy. Chloe Vega’s biggest fear is immigration coming for her parents and she tries to lie low to draw as little attention to their family as possible. When a neighbor gives Chloe a magic spoon, she’s not only giving Chloe access to magic, she’s also unlocking Chloe’s parents’ past in Mexico and Chloe’s own potential.
A major theme is the concern around immigration forces coming in and separating families when the parents are undocumented. Chloe’s older sister is even hoping to eventually become an immigration lawyer in the future to help families like her, which is very cool. There is also a character who is revealed to have been separated from his parents because of deportation. Given the state of the US now, this feels very timely and is a real fear many children grow up with, so this will not only provide a mirror to their experiences as well as a cool fantasy, but it will also help teach other children empathy around the situation.
The magic school here is the School of the Americas and the student body is made up of students from North, Central and South America. Because of this, a large amount of the student population identifies as Latine and the school itself uses terms like ‘familia’ when grouping the students up into cohorts. This is a very cool way to show an American audience things that we don’t think about so much, such as that our side of the world is largely made up of native Spanish speakers while sprinkling in bits and pieces of cultures that may or may not be familiar to the reader.
The magic system is centered around opals and different magic users start at different levels and can progress upwards. Magic is also largely inherited but it is not a guarantee as Chloe has magic from both her parents, but her older sister does not. There’s darker types of magic and lighter kinds, but it all involves some level of control and practice to use effectively. In future books, I would like to see how this all plays out more in the school setting as we focused more this time around on Chloe learning about the world and the role her parents played in it as she tried to find a way to get them back.
I would recommend this to fans of middle grade fantasies that cover difficult topics and readers looking for books discussing deportation
September 12, 2025
Thank you to HearOurVoices for the gifted copy!
Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic is so much more than a magical fantasy read; it tackles important themes like immigration laws now, fear of deportation, and it's through the eyes of a twelve-year-old, Chloe Vega. Full of the beautiful Mexican culture, magical elements, and the power of resilience. I hope young readers take away the power of hope and friendship.
Chloe Vega is only 12 years old and lives in Los Angeles with her family. They might not have all the money that could change their lives, but they have enough love to make every moment one to remember. A household filled with love is simply priceless. Instead of just being a kid, Chloe is always on edge, worrying about ICE and if she and her parents will be next on their list. The fear she lives with on a daily basis is heartbreaking. One day, when she is in charge of cooking frijoles, she discovers that her parents are actually secret agents of magic. Everything gets rushed and complicated when the villain, Osthall, finds them and puts them in danger. Chloe is forced to attend a secret academy and learn how to become an Agent of Magic so that she can save her parents.
This book is a perfect middle-grade book to read during Hispanic Heritage Month. It is powerful and hopefully lets readers see the resilience that is embedded in Chloe Vega and so many Latinx individuals. And it makes the themes of immigration more human. Readers get to see that immigrants are just human beings. Don't we all just want to live a happy life? I applaud Leslie Adame for this poignant novel. This book makes me proud to be Mexican American, and I will be passing this book along to my nieces. I can't wait to see them fall in love with Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic.
Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic is so much more than a magical fantasy read; it tackles important themes like immigration laws now, fear of deportation, and it's through the eyes of a twelve-year-old, Chloe Vega. Full of the beautiful Mexican culture, magical elements, and the power of resilience. I hope young readers take away the power of hope and friendship.
Chloe Vega is only 12 years old and lives in Los Angeles with her family. They might not have all the money that could change their lives, but they have enough love to make every moment one to remember. A household filled with love is simply priceless. Instead of just being a kid, Chloe is always on edge, worrying about ICE and if she and her parents will be next on their list. The fear she lives with on a daily basis is heartbreaking. One day, when she is in charge of cooking frijoles, she discovers that her parents are actually secret agents of magic. Everything gets rushed and complicated when the villain, Osthall, finds them and puts them in danger. Chloe is forced to attend a secret academy and learn how to become an Agent of Magic so that she can save her parents.
This book is a perfect middle-grade book to read during Hispanic Heritage Month. It is powerful and hopefully lets readers see the resilience that is embedded in Chloe Vega and so many Latinx individuals. And it makes the themes of immigration more human. Readers get to see that immigrants are just human beings. Don't we all just want to live a happy life? I applaud Leslie Adame for this poignant novel. This book makes me proud to be Mexican American, and I will be passing this book along to my nieces. I can't wait to see them fall in love with Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic.
April 4, 2025
Chloe’s biggest fear is that her undocumented parents are deported back to Mexico. But on a regular day a most unusual thing happened. First Chloe was doing other things and forgot to stir and take the frijoles off of the burner and they burnt, a whole pot, a pot the family could not afford to replace. She was about to throw them out when a strange neighbor she was told to stay away from pops out and tells her they can fix that. They go to her kitchen and the odd lady pulls out an even stranger spoon but Chloe is not going to complain it did fix the frijoles, so the neighbor gifted Chloe the wonderful spoon. Later while shopping at a mall a lady starts some stuff with Chloe and her mom and the strange spoon thing just appears in Chloe’s hand and made the ladies lip swell to an enormous size her mom grabs the spoon thing kind of does this time thing and rushes all of them out of the mall. Next thing Chloe knows it is time for her sister to go to her special school thing in Sacramento and there is no denying her parent the drive to the airport to say goodbye. But once her sister walks away all heck breaks loose and Chloe finds herself at the academy for agents of magic only she has no clue what that is, but soon learns so she can save her parents.
Wow I don’t think I have written a synopsis that long and still not scratched the surface. So much action and suspense, along with Chloe’s since of what is right and who her friends really are. Along with Chloe’s ingenuity just made this book a stand up and cheer for her book, even when things don’t look good. This is a great adventuresome book for anyone.
This review copy supplied by Netgalley
Wow I don’t think I have written a synopsis that long and still not scratched the surface. So much action and suspense, along with Chloe’s since of what is right and who her friends really are. Along with Chloe’s ingenuity just made this book a stand up and cheer for her book, even when things don’t look good. This is a great adventuresome book for anyone.
This review copy supplied by Netgalley
September 10, 2025
Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic puts a unique spin on the magical academy formula and emphasizes the importance of family and resilience in this story of a Mexican American girl and her undocumented parents.
While the story hits many of my favorite magical school elements, it feels fresh in part because it's inspired by Latinx culture. Students are from all over Latin America; Mexico, Cuba, Peru, Columbia, Argentina, and more. Instead of houses, students are sorted into "familias" with godparents to watch over them. Some classes are taught in Spanish and the school serves dishes like arroz con leche.
Themes of family, community, and resilience weave through the story. One thing I loved about this book was that after Chloe is separated from her family, she finds support and community at the academy. Chloe's story felt incredibly timely given the current state of things in the United States, and I loved the representation.
I loved the way that magic is integrated with technology. The magical battles and scrimmages were fun, and there's plenty of action throughout the story. The magical world and lore was intriguing, especially the magical gems. The antagonist has a lot of potential and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
While the story hits many of my favorite magical school elements, it feels fresh in part because it's inspired by Latinx culture. Students are from all over Latin America; Mexico, Cuba, Peru, Columbia, Argentina, and more. Instead of houses, students are sorted into "familias" with godparents to watch over them. Some classes are taught in Spanish and the school serves dishes like arroz con leche.
Themes of family, community, and resilience weave through the story. One thing I loved about this book was that after Chloe is separated from her family, she finds support and community at the academy. Chloe's story felt incredibly timely given the current state of things in the United States, and I loved the representation.
I loved the way that magic is integrated with technology. The magical battles and scrimmages were fun, and there's plenty of action throughout the story. The magical world and lore was intriguing, especially the magical gems. The antagonist has a lot of potential and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
September 19, 2025
This has been a very tiring, long (and depressing) week. With everything that’s been going on, I haven’t been in a great headspace. This week, reading has been my saving grace, and this book was absolutely just… pure fun.
I know I said this was pure fun, and it was… but there were some heavy topics, like immigration, policing, and (I’m sure there’s a word for it, but I’m drawing a blank… the situation where Latino children have to translate for their parents… language brokering maybe?), and financial insecurity. It’s a family of four, with parents who immigrated from Mexico and two daughters. I absolutely loved this family. The parents are kidnapped, and this has been one of their biggest fears. What makes this all so interesting is you’re getting all of this through the eyes of 12-year-old Chloe. You get all the anxiety, worry, and resilience that Chloe was experiencing—it was done perfectly.
The magic system was fun and fresh… and I loved that it wasn’t the entire family that was magical. It was fun to see how it works, how people can manipulate it. The author does a great job putting you in the character’s shoes, and you feel what they feel. This was an incredibly powerful story, a very timely story. It was a great way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month.
I know I said this was pure fun, and it was… but there were some heavy topics, like immigration, policing, and (I’m sure there’s a word for it, but I’m drawing a blank… the situation where Latino children have to translate for their parents… language brokering maybe?), and financial insecurity. It’s a family of four, with parents who immigrated from Mexico and two daughters. I absolutely loved this family. The parents are kidnapped, and this has been one of their biggest fears. What makes this all so interesting is you’re getting all of this through the eyes of 12-year-old Chloe. You get all the anxiety, worry, and resilience that Chloe was experiencing—it was done perfectly.
The magic system was fun and fresh… and I loved that it wasn’t the entire family that was magical. It was fun to see how it works, how people can manipulate it. The author does a great job putting you in the character’s shoes, and you feel what they feel. This was an incredibly powerful story, a very timely story. It was a great way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month.
April 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC to review.
Chloe Vega follows in the fantasy tradition of a young student exploring a new magical world and finding new friends, trials, and enemies. Her world is threatened by a great evil, one who has a close history with her family, not that Chloe is aware of any of this.
This is a promising beginning of a magical school series that will easily draw readers in. Fans of Harry Potter (JK Rowling), Kelcie Murphy (Erika Lewis), and Accidental Demons (Clare Edge) will also likely enjoy this book. The book has a strong focus on hispanic culture and is topical to the current situation in the United States and North America. I'd recommend it both for hispanic readers and for those in multicultural communities.
While the end of the book wraps up nicely, it's clear there are more adventures to be had, and I'm looking forward to seeing what is next for Chloe and her family and friends.
Chloe Vega follows in the fantasy tradition of a young student exploring a new magical world and finding new friends, trials, and enemies. Her world is threatened by a great evil, one who has a close history with her family, not that Chloe is aware of any of this.
This is a promising beginning of a magical school series that will easily draw readers in. Fans of Harry Potter (JK Rowling), Kelcie Murphy (Erika Lewis), and Accidental Demons (Clare Edge) will also likely enjoy this book. The book has a strong focus on hispanic culture and is topical to the current situation in the United States and North America. I'd recommend it both for hispanic readers and for those in multicultural communities.
While the end of the book wraps up nicely, it's clear there are more adventures to be had, and I'm looking forward to seeing what is next for Chloe and her family and friends.
June 29, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an early digital ARC.
Step aside, Harry Potter and Percy Jackson; there’s a captivating new heroine in town, and her name is Chloe Vega.
This enchanting book is a treasure trove of mystery, magic, and the kind of friendship that warms the heart, sprinkled with unexpected twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. As I turned the pages, I felt an exhilarating rush of nostalgia, reminiscent of the pure joy I felt as a child diving into fantastical worlds. I found myself deeply connected to Chloe’s struggles, as many of her experiences mirrored my own. Growing up, I longed for more stories featuring Latinx characters that authentically represented my community. It fills me with immense joy to see that future generations will have these books to help them recognize themselves in vibrant narratives, proving that anyone can belong to a magical realm.
Step aside, Harry Potter and Percy Jackson; there’s a captivating new heroine in town, and her name is Chloe Vega.
This enchanting book is a treasure trove of mystery, magic, and the kind of friendship that warms the heart, sprinkled with unexpected twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. As I turned the pages, I felt an exhilarating rush of nostalgia, reminiscent of the pure joy I felt as a child diving into fantastical worlds. I found myself deeply connected to Chloe’s struggles, as many of her experiences mirrored my own. Growing up, I longed for more stories featuring Latinx characters that authentically represented my community. It fills me with immense joy to see that future generations will have these books to help them recognize themselves in vibrant narratives, proving that anyone can belong to a magical realm.
September 21, 2025
Come on this magical adventure with Chloe Vega, la familia, a secret magical academy and so much more! This book also touches on a real life issue where Chloe is fearful her undocumented parents will be detained by immigration then life takes a turn and secrets unravel, magical 🪄 things happen and not everything is perfect even in the magical world. Such a beautiful story highlighting familia, life hurdles, friendships. Chloe is an admirable person, friendships form and a journey of discovery takes place. I like the references to La cultura Mexicana and sooo many other references that made the story relatable. I don’t want to spoil too much but highly recommend grabbing the book or audiobook. I hope there is a second book 📕
I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook as part of Hear our Voices Tour which provided me access to a ARC but the above are my honest thoughts and review of the book.
I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook as part of Hear our Voices Tour which provided me access to a ARC but the above are my honest thoughts and review of the book.
June 27, 2025
A new Latinx MG fantasy book by @leslieadame perfect for fans of Charlie Hernandez, Nic Blake and The Marvellers.
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Twelve-year-old Chloe Vega lives her life stressed about her undocumented parents being discovered and detained by ICE. Everything changes when Chloe discovers her family believes NF d to a hidden magical society and a vengeful sorcerer named Osthall is hunting them. When Chloe’s parents are kidnapped she must train at a secret academy run by the very agents who exiled her family from the magical world.
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This was such a remarkable, fast-paced debut that combined classic fantasy elements with rich Mexican culture and timely issues such as immigration laws. I highly recommend this novel releasing September 16 (the 2nd day of Hispanic Heritage Month!) and hope there’s a sequel!
CW: immigration issues, violence (age appropriate), kidnapping
🪄
Twelve-year-old Chloe Vega lives her life stressed about her undocumented parents being discovered and detained by ICE. Everything changes when Chloe discovers her family believes NF d to a hidden magical society and a vengeful sorcerer named Osthall is hunting them. When Chloe’s parents are kidnapped she must train at a secret academy run by the very agents who exiled her family from the magical world.
🇲🇽
This was such a remarkable, fast-paced debut that combined classic fantasy elements with rich Mexican culture and timely issues such as immigration laws. I highly recommend this novel releasing September 16 (the 2nd day of Hispanic Heritage Month!) and hope there’s a sequel!
CW: immigration issues, violence (age appropriate), kidnapping
September 16, 2025
This book weaves a riveting story of magic with the realities of undocumented life and families being separated by the rampant immigration raids we are seeing regularly.
Chloe and her sister are in a state of constant vigilance worrying about their parents, who are undocumented immigrants. When their family is separated though, it’s not because of their immigration status - it’s because of an ongoing feud between the Agents of Magic and the Osthonians. Chloe is determined to reunite her family - but she’s got a lot to learn about their history and her own magical abilities first!
I was totally hooked by this book! I thought the author did a great job of weaving the realities of life in the United States right now with a fascinating parallel global magical community.
September 20, 2025
Latinx Middle Grade Recommendation!! This is the perfect book to gift your middle grader this Latinx Heritage Month!! Fans of magical schools, evil villains, secret societies, and brave heroines will fall in love with Chloe Vega.
While this book has the elements of every fantastic fantasy story, I really was drawn to the underlying story of the horrors of mass deportations, the stripping of families, and the fears families are facing every day in this nation. I thought Adame's focus on this was compelling and I appreciated how she used these themes so young readers who face similar horrors and fears can see themselves in Chloe and the other characters and feel some hope and bravery to not let it define them.
While this book has the elements of every fantastic fantasy story, I really was drawn to the underlying story of the horrors of mass deportations, the stripping of families, and the fears families are facing every day in this nation. I thought Adame's focus on this was compelling and I appreciated how she used these themes so young readers who face similar horrors and fears can see themselves in Chloe and the other characters and feel some hope and bravery to not let it define them.
September 22, 2025
A magical, action packed story with high stakes. This story is a enjoyable ride that could fit right up there with other YA magical school coming of age stories. There is a lot more packed into this book besides just the magical fantasy adventure, immigration, family separation, policing and how these topics affect ones life are all part of this story giving it a grounded feeling in the here and now. Despite the magic are characters are throwing around you could almost believe that these events where taking place somewhere in the world this very minute just beyond are sight. I think this is a story that many YA readers need right now and I think many of them will be able to see themselves in this story. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC copy.
October 19, 2025
This book is so good!! Chloe Vega, age 12, worries constantly about if her undocumented parents will be detained my immigration authorities -- until, one day, she learns they're part of a magical secret society, and it's actually other sorcerers, not immigration, watching them. Chloe learns that she has powers too, and when her parents are kidnapped, she's sent to a magical school to learn about her powers. She tries to find her parents and learns the secrets that they and their world have kept from her.
This book is so good and so timely. It's exactly what magical academy books should be. Adame has created an incredible, magical world that leaps off the page, and characters you'll root for. Kids will love it, and adults will too. I can't wait to read more from Adame!
This book is so good and so timely. It's exactly what magical academy books should be. Adame has created an incredible, magical world that leaps off the page, and characters you'll root for. Kids will love it, and adults will too. I can't wait to read more from Adame!
June 27, 2025
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Magical academy books circulate a tiny bit in my library, and this Latine secret academy, where Chloe ends up going after her parents are detained by the magical forces and she must work to free them, is a culturally connected tale that may resonate with readers of Jreije's Bashir Boutros and the Jewel of the Nile, Mandana's Vanya and the Wild Hunt, or Pinto's Chai Jinxed. Since book one comes in at 400 pages, and I don't know how long the series is going to be, I'll have to pass for my school. If your students can't get enough of these tales, this is a fresh new entry to the genre with connections to current news topics.
Magical academy books circulate a tiny bit in my library, and this Latine secret academy, where Chloe ends up going after her parents are detained by the magical forces and she must work to free them, is a culturally connected tale that may resonate with readers of Jreije's Bashir Boutros and the Jewel of the Nile, Mandana's Vanya and the Wild Hunt, or Pinto's Chai Jinxed. Since book one comes in at 400 pages, and I don't know how long the series is going to be, I'll have to pass for my school. If your students can't get enough of these tales, this is a fresh new entry to the genre with connections to current news topics.
September 14, 2025
This newest book in the "ordinary tween finds out that they have magical powers and heads to a magical boarding school" is not only a fantastic addition to this genre but also exceptionally relevant right now. Chloe has always been so careful of her parents who are undocumented. She does everything she can to stay under the radar and help out at home. Her life takes a twist as she learns that magic is real and she has powers and so do her parents. Right on the heels of this discovery, they are abducted and she is whisked away by the Agents of Magic. This is an excellent start to a new series! Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
June 6, 2025
Kids of all ages who love magical adventures, will adore Chloe Vega. Chloe finds out that her undocumented parents were keeping a huge secret from her. Not that they are undocumented but the reason why they stayed in the US with that status. She and her friends from the magical school, embark on a mission to rescue her parents. These kids, while focused on school and their goals, still have to deal with real issues but it doesn't stop them. Fun fun fun read. For fans of Amari and Nevermoor.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
June 19, 2025
An action-packed and thrilling magical school story where a new agent must solve the mystery of her parents' kidnapping, lead a rescue mission, and defeat a big bad who wants to wreak havoc in the world by forcing non-magical people to serve sorcerers. Brilliantly written, the book explores immigration and coming-of-age themes that will ring true to young readers and prompt meaningful conversation. ARC read.
May 24, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. Chloe is living her life and has an interesting neighbor that her parents want her to stay away from. She soon learns she has magic in her blood and a whole new world opens up. She is accepted at a magic school and begins to learn the ropes. She also learns new things about her parents and people aren’t always as they seem.
September 14, 2025
Why did we read?
Because my little asked what does undocumented mean. I shared stories that were not easy but should be told and heard. The magical system made it easier and brought joy even through the not so happy discussions.
Also my little asked when we get the movie.
Thank you to the Hear Our Voices Tour and HarperColllins for this ARC.
Because my little asked what does undocumented mean. I shared stories that were not easy but should be told and heard. The magical system made it easier and brought joy even through the not so happy discussions.
Also my little asked when we get the movie.
Thank you to the Hear Our Voices Tour and HarperColllins for this ARC.
September 21, 2025
Beautiful book with a great message.
This book may have been about the ins and out of being a part of a magical society, but one of the big topics was immigration. The fear that Chloe and her sister endured at every turn, trying to make sure that their parents are safe.
So many secret, betrayals but also the loyalty! Can’t wait to see what happens next.
This book may have been about the ins and out of being a part of a magical society, but one of the big topics was immigration. The fear that Chloe and her sister endured at every turn, trying to make sure that their parents are safe.
So many secret, betrayals but also the loyalty! Can’t wait to see what happens next.
October 16, 2025
An exciting world of magic, a relatable main character, and positive representation make this story shine. The entire cast of secondary characters adds to the layered storytelling and brings Chloe's world to life. Fans of magical worlds and good vs evil battles will be happy to know there's another Chloe Vega book on the way!
July 1, 2025
This reminded me of the Harry Potter series but with a female lead and a Latino twist. Some of the plot was predictable, but I think middle grade students will like this book.
October 22, 2025
Congrats Leslie, so proud of you!
October 22, 2025
This is my favorite type of fantasy - a book that makes the reader think deeply about timely topics while also featuring an engaging and exciting storyline kids will love! Chloe Vega's parents are undocumented, so she's had to spend her life worried about being separated from her parents. Little does she know it isn't immigration that will take her parents from her - it's magic. This story is utterly enchanting, with an MC who's incredibly easy to root for and tight plotting that takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride, with all the worldbuilding, peril, and adventure readers have come to expect from a magic school fantasy setting!
November 10, 2025
This book is one of my new favorites! It packs in so much suspense and action that I simply could not put it down! I love a good book about discovering you are secretly magic (who hasn't dreamed of that?!), but this one is so much MORE than its premise! It takes on big questions like identity and it emphasizes the power of family and, well... I just loved it and I hope I can look forward to more Chloe Vega stories.
Want to read
June 17, 2025"A new Latinx middle grade fantasy debut where a secret magical academy, an evil sorcerer, and a powerful, coveted gem awaits one girl in her quest to reunite her family. Perfect for fans of Claribel A. Ortega and B. B. Alston!"
this sounds so good
this sounds so good
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