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Kit the Wizard #2
The Monster in the Lake
When wild magic starts causing trouble at the park, wizard Kit and her friends investigate—and find themselves on another journey to save the world. A lively and witty sequel to The Dragon in the Library.
Kit may be the youngest wizard ever, but she sure doesn’t feel like the best wizard. Her magic just keeps going wrong, and other weird stuff is happening, too: talking animals, exploding fireballs, and a very strange new arrival in the local park. Even Dogon (the half dog, half dragon) is droopy! So Kit and her two best friends—animal-whispering Alita and studious Josh—set off with Faith the librarian to investigate this wild magic that’s causing so much commotion. Their journey takes them to a Scottish loch, where they meet an eco-conscious wizard and some very grumpy mermaids (careful, they pinch!). But the danger is greater than they imagined, and it will take everybody’s help to set things right again. This action-packed adventure features plenty of humor, a diverse cast, and delightful illustrations.
Kit may be the youngest wizard ever, but she sure doesn’t feel like the best wizard. Her magic just keeps going wrong, and other weird stuff is happening, too: talking animals, exploding fireballs, and a very strange new arrival in the local park. Even Dogon (the half dog, half dragon) is droopy! So Kit and her two best friends—animal-whispering Alita and studious Josh—set off with Faith the librarian to investigate this wild magic that’s causing so much commotion. Their journey takes them to a Scottish loch, where they meet an eco-conscious wizard and some very grumpy mermaids (careful, they pinch!). But the danger is greater than they imagined, and it will take everybody’s help to set things right again. This action-packed adventure features plenty of humor, a diverse cast, and delightful illustrations.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2020
11 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Louie Stowell
119 books77 followersLouie Stowell started her career writing carefully researched books about space, ancient Egypt, politics, and science, but eventually she lapsed into just making stuff up. She likes writing about dragons, wizards, vampires, fairies, monsters, and parallel worlds. Louie Stowell currently works as the publisher of Ladybird Books and lives in London with her wife, Karen; her dog, Buffy; and a creepy puppet that is probably cursed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 8, 2022
Thanks for my audiobook to review, Netgalley! I think the book's been out a couple years but the audio drops tomorrow, February 8th.
This was a charming middle-grade story, filled with diverse characters who enjoy reading but are still cool enough to go on adventures. That part was huge for me, as young book nerd Bon was often made fun of for reading so much. Teaching this sort of acceptance early is essential.
The inclusion of mermaids, dragons, and the Loch Ness monster provided a solid array of British Isles folklore for such a short book. The narrator was fantastic, entertaining when dogs were speaking, with a decent Scottish brogue, and a clear tone during normal narration.
I haven't read the first book in the series but the message of unconditional friendship, even if you're not a wizard, was portrayed very well.
Side note to this publisher though - rather than send a strange, condescending message granting me Netgalley access, just deny me next time. Bad business. 😒
This was a charming middle-grade story, filled with diverse characters who enjoy reading but are still cool enough to go on adventures. That part was huge for me, as young book nerd Bon was often made fun of for reading so much. Teaching this sort of acceptance early is essential.
The inclusion of mermaids, dragons, and the Loch Ness monster provided a solid array of British Isles folklore for such a short book. The narrator was fantastic, entertaining when dogs were speaking, with a decent Scottish brogue, and a clear tone during normal narration.
I haven't read the first book in the series but the message of unconditional friendship, even if you're not a wizard, was portrayed very well.
Side note to this publisher though - rather than send a strange, condescending message granting me Netgalley access, just deny me next time. Bad business. 😒
February 12, 2020
The Monster in the Library takes us from a London park to the highlands of Scotland with a wonderful respect for the landscape, and a gentle message promoting environmentally friendly living (albeit in this case with just a smidge of magical help!) and kindness.
In this series Louie Stowell has created one of the cleverest and different concepts to appear in that little space between highly illustrated early readers and MG with its mix of contemporary, humour and da stash plus the wonderful character of Kit who bucks the trend for children’s book heroines with her scruffy knees-dinosaur tee-don’t like to read persona.
In this book Kit faces deeper challenges as a Magical Librarian whilst also dealing with typical childhood problems like negotiating the impact of her attitude and actions on her friends.
Davide absolutely knocks it out of the park with the illustrations, not merely for Duncan but for the 8-bit inspired sections and to be honest the whole aesthetic of the book is outstanding!
Overall The Monster in the Lake is a fantastic follow up and development upon the events of The Dragon in the Library with deeper self reflection and internal challenges as much as outer ones, I can’t wait to see how further books develop this tale.
In this series Louie Stowell has created one of the cleverest and different concepts to appear in that little space between highly illustrated early readers and MG with its mix of contemporary, humour and da stash plus the wonderful character of Kit who bucks the trend for children’s book heroines with her scruffy knees-dinosaur tee-don’t like to read persona.
In this book Kit faces deeper challenges as a Magical Librarian whilst also dealing with typical childhood problems like negotiating the impact of her attitude and actions on her friends.
Davide absolutely knocks it out of the park with the illustrations, not merely for Duncan but for the 8-bit inspired sections and to be honest the whole aesthetic of the book is outstanding!
Overall The Monster in the Lake is a fantastic follow up and development upon the events of The Dragon in the Library with deeper self reflection and internal challenges as much as outer ones, I can’t wait to see how further books develop this tale.
August 4, 2022
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, The Dragon in the Library, and The Monster in the Lake is a good follow-up adventure for Kit, wizard-in-training, and her friends Josh and Alito,
This time something is afoot in the local park, where the three friends discover they can talk to animals (the animals, it should be noted, are not interested in talking to the humans!). The reason for this is that there is a wild magic creature loose in the park, upsetting the balance, and even making Dogon, the dog-dragon (and my favourite character) sick. The three friends plus Faith, their local librarian-wizard, have to solve the problem, which includes a trip to Scotland (fortunately through some useful book portals), some new magical characters, and lots of bravery and resourcefulness to resolve the problem.
It was nice to see the three friends back, and to discover that Kit’s training in wizardry has advanced. This book, like the first in the series, is full of fun, magic and friendship. The plot is simple but humorous and magical and I think younger readers will enjoy it immensely.
This time something is afoot in the local park, where the three friends discover they can talk to animals (the animals, it should be noted, are not interested in talking to the humans!). The reason for this is that there is a wild magic creature loose in the park, upsetting the balance, and even making Dogon, the dog-dragon (and my favourite character) sick. The three friends plus Faith, their local librarian-wizard, have to solve the problem, which includes a trip to Scotland (fortunately through some useful book portals), some new magical characters, and lots of bravery and resourcefulness to resolve the problem.
It was nice to see the three friends back, and to discover that Kit’s training in wizardry has advanced. This book, like the first in the series, is full of fun, magic and friendship. The plot is simple but humorous and magical and I think younger readers will enjoy it immensely.
July 11, 2021
second book in the series.
The quality of the text is amazing, can't wait to read the next one.
The quality of the text is amazing, can't wait to read the next one.
March 19, 2025
There's nothing wrong with this book, but it failed to connect.
February 12, 2020
This series is such a delight! Kit, the youngest wizard in the world, is progressing with her training under librarian Faith, with help from her two best friends Alita and Josh. The concept of libraries being repositories for magic is such a strong one, and we get to see a little more of the secrets of the wizards, with new spells, new magical tools, and a host of new magical creatures to deal with (plus, of course, Draca the library dragon, and Dogon, who’s half-dog, half-dragon, and all adorable). In this book, Kit’s magic starts going wrong, and all signs seem to point to a new resident in the local lake…
I just love every character in this book. Kit doesn’t love reading, but Josh does, and Alita’s practicality is the perfect midpoint between Kit’s impulsiveness and Josh’s nervousness. Faith is a really excellent mentor and role model – kind and cool – and I like that she’s got the balance down of letting the main characters work things out, but explaining when it’s needed. I enjoyed new character Duncan a lot too – a bearded Scotsman who drives a library bus! And yes, the bus has a dragon of its own… The illustrations really bring the characters to life (and they’re actually portrayed as diversely as they’re described!), and I love seeing how the magical creatures look on the page – the mermaids in this one are brilliant, with their seaweedy hair and hilarious expressions!
As with book one, this is fast-paced and laugh-out-loud funny. It has a great underlying message about the power of books, but also about believing in yourself and trusting your friends to help you. Confident readers will race through it, and reluctant readers should find themselves drawn in by the jokes, illustrations, and Kit herself. It’s an absolute joy to read – five out of five cats!
I just love every character in this book. Kit doesn’t love reading, but Josh does, and Alita’s practicality is the perfect midpoint between Kit’s impulsiveness and Josh’s nervousness. Faith is a really excellent mentor and role model – kind and cool – and I like that she’s got the balance down of letting the main characters work things out, but explaining when it’s needed. I enjoyed new character Duncan a lot too – a bearded Scotsman who drives a library bus! And yes, the bus has a dragon of its own… The illustrations really bring the characters to life (and they’re actually portrayed as diversely as they’re described!), and I love seeing how the magical creatures look on the page – the mermaids in this one are brilliant, with their seaweedy hair and hilarious expressions!
As with book one, this is fast-paced and laugh-out-loud funny. It has a great underlying message about the power of books, but also about believing in yourself and trusting your friends to help you. Confident readers will race through it, and reluctant readers should find themselves drawn in by the jokes, illustrations, and Kit herself. It’s an absolute joy to read – five out of five cats!
February 12, 2025
I loved the second installment of what looks like a well written fantasy series in the making, all about our main character Kit. She's a girl who's not into books but ends up at a library thanks to her friends, gets wrapped up into the wizard and magical world where there's a sleeping dragon under every library. And here we are in book two, progressing the magical world while building characters and lore.
Note, this has to be read in order and isn't a stand alone book. My recommendation, please read the first book before venturing into any lakes. Thank you for your understanding.
The idea that all libraries are connected, that books are transport devices that connect from one library to another by jumping into it's very pages, is a clever concept and I enjoy seeing it again in this book. The interesting new part was the traveling library run by Duncan, a lovely addition to the world of Kit. He's a friend of Faith, our main mentor. His mobile library is in his van but he too has a dragon for his library.
The book explores Scotland, the mythical creatures that are usually talked about there, because Lizzie from the loch went through a portal into Kits town. Now wild magic runs rampant. It's up to Kit and her friends to fix this imbalance by going to the loch and figuring out what creatures are causing Lizzie to flee.
I found the pages to contain a few fantasy pop culture references that made me giggle. The way Louie explains magic and how it affects non magic and magic folk/creatures is fascinating. When Faith starts talking about evil wizards that weren't human, even before the dinosaurs, I thought "that's a pretty big bold move to say these ancient wizards killed the dinosaurs". It really made you think about how big the world truly was and what Louie could do here. The first villain wasn't as exciting but I found the second book to be much more enjoyable, especially when you find out who the villain is in this book, don't worry spoiler free, I just liked how it was unexpected. We also get to see the vibrant and detailed drawings of our characters.
Seriously awesome, can't put down, even tho it's 2am in the morning, read. I highly recommend book 2 and I have ordered book 3. I'm delighted to be this invested in the world building. Tho Kit isn't as fun of a character, that's my opinion, my favorite character is faith. And each character interacts well together and brings different things to the table. Kit just feels a bit flat for my taste but sometimes you need a blank canvas before you begin making a masterpiece.
Note, this has to be read in order and isn't a stand alone book. My recommendation, please read the first book before venturing into any lakes. Thank you for your understanding.
The idea that all libraries are connected, that books are transport devices that connect from one library to another by jumping into it's very pages, is a clever concept and I enjoy seeing it again in this book. The interesting new part was the traveling library run by Duncan, a lovely addition to the world of Kit. He's a friend of Faith, our main mentor. His mobile library is in his van but he too has a dragon for his library.
The book explores Scotland, the mythical creatures that are usually talked about there, because Lizzie from the loch went through a portal into Kits town. Now wild magic runs rampant. It's up to Kit and her friends to fix this imbalance by going to the loch and figuring out what creatures are causing Lizzie to flee.
I found the pages to contain a few fantasy pop culture references that made me giggle. The way Louie explains magic and how it affects non magic and magic folk/creatures is fascinating. When Faith starts talking about evil wizards that weren't human, even before the dinosaurs, I thought "that's a pretty big bold move to say these ancient wizards killed the dinosaurs". It really made you think about how big the world truly was and what Louie could do here. The first villain wasn't as exciting but I found the second book to be much more enjoyable, especially when you find out who the villain is in this book, don't worry spoiler free, I just liked how it was unexpected. We also get to see the vibrant and detailed drawings of our characters.
Seriously awesome, can't put down, even tho it's 2am in the morning, read. I highly recommend book 2 and I have ordered book 3. I'm delighted to be this invested in the world building. Tho Kit isn't as fun of a character, that's my opinion, my favorite character is faith. And each character interacts well together and brings different things to the table. Kit just feels a bit flat for my taste but sometimes you need a blank canvas before you begin making a masterpiece.
January 12, 2020
This is a spellbinding return to the magical world created by Louie Stowell in the Dragon in the Library where we find Kit, the youngest wizard in the world making magical mistakes in training; however, she has a feeling that it is more than inexperience that is making her spells go wrong.
And when she and her friends discover that Dogon, the utterly adorable dragon-dog who lives in the library, is unwell and that they can understand the animals in their local park, they decide they have to investigate the dangerous creature that is causing havoc.
What they find is not at all what they were expecting and so, they find themselves on a mission to Scotland, travelling through one of the portal books in the library, a book on computers. The picture for this is just brilliant, and showcases Davide Ortu’s fantastic illustrations which complement the story throughout perfectly.
On arriving in Scotland, Kit and her friends meet the librarian Duncan – who is utterly brilliant - and soon find themselves on an action-packed adventure which involves mermaids, ancient curses and a battle of wills. The action is fast-paced, tension-filled, dangerous … it really did have me on the edge-of-my seat, quickly turning pages, to find out what happens.
The depiction of the friendship between Kit and her best friends, Alita and Josh is wonderful. It is filled with warmth, humour and support. There is a magic in their friendship: in their ability to cheer each other up; to draw on each other for strength; and, the belief they have in each other’s abilities. Josh is the clever, quick-thinking friend who has a thirst for knowledge; Alita is the gentle, animal-loving friend who sometimes lacks self-belief; and Kit is the outdoor loving tomboy who is developing her love of reading – yay! Together, they make a brilliant team!
I love the relationship between libraries, reading and magic in this story which is a beautifully symbiotic one. As a teacher who adores middle-grade books, I loved the symbolism in this as I truly believe that there is something very magical in losing yourself in a fantastic story. Every child is entitled to a local library where they can explore the magic, comfort and joy in stories of all kinds, and hopefully find the story that hooks them on reading for life.
This is a wonderfully warm, action-packed, humorous adventure for younger middle-grade readers. The short, perfectly-paced chapters and gorgeously bold images by Davide Ortu are perfect for this age group, and will certainly keep them engaged and entertained as they adventure with Kit and her friends to discover the identity of the real monster in the lake …
And when she and her friends discover that Dogon, the utterly adorable dragon-dog who lives in the library, is unwell and that they can understand the animals in their local park, they decide they have to investigate the dangerous creature that is causing havoc.
What they find is not at all what they were expecting and so, they find themselves on a mission to Scotland, travelling through one of the portal books in the library, a book on computers. The picture for this is just brilliant, and showcases Davide Ortu’s fantastic illustrations which complement the story throughout perfectly.
On arriving in Scotland, Kit and her friends meet the librarian Duncan – who is utterly brilliant - and soon find themselves on an action-packed adventure which involves mermaids, ancient curses and a battle of wills. The action is fast-paced, tension-filled, dangerous … it really did have me on the edge-of-my seat, quickly turning pages, to find out what happens.
The depiction of the friendship between Kit and her best friends, Alita and Josh is wonderful. It is filled with warmth, humour and support. There is a magic in their friendship: in their ability to cheer each other up; to draw on each other for strength; and, the belief they have in each other’s abilities. Josh is the clever, quick-thinking friend who has a thirst for knowledge; Alita is the gentle, animal-loving friend who sometimes lacks self-belief; and Kit is the outdoor loving tomboy who is developing her love of reading – yay! Together, they make a brilliant team!
I love the relationship between libraries, reading and magic in this story which is a beautifully symbiotic one. As a teacher who adores middle-grade books, I loved the symbolism in this as I truly believe that there is something very magical in losing yourself in a fantastic story. Every child is entitled to a local library where they can explore the magic, comfort and joy in stories of all kinds, and hopefully find the story that hooks them on reading for life.
This is a wonderfully warm, action-packed, humorous adventure for younger middle-grade readers. The short, perfectly-paced chapters and gorgeously bold images by Davide Ortu are perfect for this age group, and will certainly keep them engaged and entertained as they adventure with Kit and her friends to discover the identity of the real monster in the lake …
March 11, 2022
Kit and her friends are flabbergasted by a recent surge of wild magic that is making random things happen. Kit's magic spells are going haywire. Animals in the park are talking to humans, and something magical is bubbling up from the depths of the lake. This new adventure will take Kit all the way to Scotland to solve the mystery of the unpredictable wild magic.
I loved this book from start to finish! The characters, the plot, the world-building, the magic; everything is wonderful! The writing style is absolutely hilarious! There are so many cute bits of dialogue and funny scenes that had me laughing.
I loved Kit's character! She is bold and reckless and wild. She dares to say the things that other people only think. She sometimes makes mistakes, but she is always working to set things right again.
Alita and Josh are bookish and smart. It was so wonderful to see how these three friends interact and support one another. In this second book, we get to see a little more depth in their friendship and some good character development!
The black and white illustrations are lovely. Every few pages there are some cute illustrations that really draw the reader into the story and help you to visualize everything you are reading.
I can't quite put my finger on why this book is so charming. Every chapter is a delight! I finished the entire book in one day. I could not stop reading. It refreshed my mind. It gave me warm fuzzies in my heart. It made me happy in a deep-down joyful, silly, childish, carefree way.
This book made me believe in magic!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
I loved this book from start to finish! The characters, the plot, the world-building, the magic; everything is wonderful! The writing style is absolutely hilarious! There are so many cute bits of dialogue and funny scenes that had me laughing.
I loved Kit's character! She is bold and reckless and wild. She dares to say the things that other people only think. She sometimes makes mistakes, but she is always working to set things right again.
Alita and Josh are bookish and smart. It was so wonderful to see how these three friends interact and support one another. In this second book, we get to see a little more depth in their friendship and some good character development!
The black and white illustrations are lovely. Every few pages there are some cute illustrations that really draw the reader into the story and help you to visualize everything you are reading.
I can't quite put my finger on why this book is so charming. Every chapter is a delight! I finished the entire book in one day. I could not stop reading. It refreshed my mind. It gave me warm fuzzies in my heart. It made me happy in a deep-down joyful, silly, childish, carefree way.
This book made me believe in magic!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
February 23, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced audio copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
The monster in the lake is a super cute lower middle grade story about three friends with connections to magic. Kit is a wizard and Alita and Josh are her two best friends. The three are having a lovely day in the park when they realize that they can hear all of the animals talking which is *definitely* not normal. When they start to do some digging with Kit's magical advisor friend, Faith, the trio discovers that there's something in the lake that doesn't belong. This discovery leads them on a journey to Scotland with some mermaids, a magical book, giant rats, and chocolate tea.
While this wasn't exactly my cup of tea (pun intended), it was definitely really cute and I know lots of kids who would absolutely LOVE this book and other titles like it. It was fun, educational, and uplifting. I liked that so much of the story was about friendship, working together, and learning new things. It has tons of great messages, but is still super fun. I would highly recommend this for any 4th-8th graders (ish) in your life who love magical tales and are probably too young for Harry Potter.
The monster in the lake is a super cute lower middle grade story about three friends with connections to magic. Kit is a wizard and Alita and Josh are her two best friends. The three are having a lovely day in the park when they realize that they can hear all of the animals talking which is *definitely* not normal. When they start to do some digging with Kit's magical advisor friend, Faith, the trio discovers that there's something in the lake that doesn't belong. This discovery leads them on a journey to Scotland with some mermaids, a magical book, giant rats, and chocolate tea.
While this wasn't exactly my cup of tea (pun intended), it was definitely really cute and I know lots of kids who would absolutely LOVE this book and other titles like it. It was fun, educational, and uplifting. I liked that so much of the story was about friendship, working together, and learning new things. It has tons of great messages, but is still super fun. I would highly recommend this for any 4th-8th graders (ish) in your life who love magical tales and are probably too young for Harry Potter.
February 28, 2020
After saving the library from evil wizard-wannabe Salt, things are back normal for Kit Spencer and her friends, well as normal as it can get for a trainee wizard. Until Kit's magic starts going haywire and animals in the local park start talking. Getting to the bottom of this mystery will take them to the lochs of Scotland, where they'll encounter some very rude mermaids, an ancient curse and rather a lot of rats.
This series is so. much. FUN! It has everything: characters you'll like, want to root for and watch grow (what's also refreshing is that, thouhgh the magic of books and reading is a BIG theme, and amply represented through Kit's best friends Josh and Alita, Kit herself is someone who, initially, finds reading challenging, and has to be brought aaround to it, making it perfect for children who themselves find reading more of a chore than fun - and so much more effective than just saying it's good for you), action, humour, LOTS of great references (have fun spotting them all) and adorably gorgeous illustrations.
Looking forward to future installments!
This series is so. much. FUN! It has everything: characters you'll like, want to root for and watch grow (what's also refreshing is that, thouhgh the magic of books and reading is a BIG theme, and amply represented through Kit's best friends Josh and Alita, Kit herself is someone who, initially, finds reading challenging, and has to be brought aaround to it, making it perfect for children who themselves find reading more of a chore than fun - and so much more effective than just saying it's good for you), action, humour, LOTS of great references (have fun spotting them all) and adorably gorgeous illustrations.
Looking forward to future installments!
August 28, 2024
I'm probably too jaded, since I've been a rabid reader for more than half a century. There's a lot to love & respect here and I do recommend it. Just, to me, it seemed like it either suffered 'middle book-itis' or was simple another episode in the series (I hope the former, because I hope the third book is climactic of a trilogy). Anyway, I did learn more about how the magic worked, etc. And I learned what the author likes to think about Nessie and freshwater mermaids.
Oh, and I do like that the kids learn so much from books.
"'Crows are actually very intelligent,' said Alita. 'But I don't think they care much about us and what we want. I wouldn't, if I were them. They are interested in crow things.'"
And character dynamics:
"Kit smiled. She realized that cheering up Alita was making her feel better. That was a kind of magic, too."
Which reminds me. I also appreciate that the adults are involved; the kids don't go on these adventures alone but, rather, everyone is needed.
Oh, and I do like that the kids learn so much from books.
"'Crows are actually very intelligent,' said Alita. 'But I don't think they care much about us and what we want. I wouldn't, if I were them. They are interested in crow things.'"
And character dynamics:
"Kit smiled. She realized that cheering up Alita was making her feel better. That was a kind of magic, too."
Which reminds me. I also appreciate that the adults are involved; the kids don't go on these adventures alone but, rather, everyone is needed.
February 3, 2022
⭐⭐⭐.5
This is Book #2 in the Dragon in the Library series
This is a delightful story. If you ever wondered why Librarians are ‘always’ telling us to be quiet, you will find the true answer in this story. Okay I’ll tell you. It is because there is a dragon sleeping in the basement of the Library and we don’t want to wake him up.
In this story we find Kit, the youngest wizard making mistakes in training ~ she has a feeling that it is more than being the youngest and inexperienced that is causing her spells to be messed up.
Fun Middle school fantasy; the narrator Renee Dorian did a nice job in performing the characters.
Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape ~ for this audio eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 8, 2022.
This is Book #2 in the Dragon in the Library series
This is a delightful story. If you ever wondered why Librarians are ‘always’ telling us to be quiet, you will find the true answer in this story. Okay I’ll tell you. It is because there is a dragon sleeping in the basement of the Library and we don’t want to wake him up.
In this story we find Kit, the youngest wizard making mistakes in training ~ she has a feeling that it is more than being the youngest and inexperienced that is causing her spells to be messed up.
Fun Middle school fantasy; the narrator Renee Dorian did a nice job in performing the characters.
Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape ~ for this audio eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 8, 2022.
February 2, 2020
The Monster in the Lake is simply a joy to read. The cast of vivid and varied characters continues on from The Dragon in the Library with a few new additions as Kit, Faith, Alita and Josh take the magic to Scotland in order to help a stranded 'Lesser Nessie' get back home, before her wild magic wreaks havoc on their own.
The writing is evocative and colourful in a way that will appeal to child and adult alike, with plenty of little details thrown in for adults to enjoy. The illustrations by Davide Ortu are a lovely accompaniment to the prose, and together they make a story that is rich, genuinely intriguing, and oh so wonderfully nerdy.
What can I say? I honestly love these books. They're proof that a good 'children's' story knows no actual age boundary.
The writing is evocative and colourful in a way that will appeal to child and adult alike, with plenty of little details thrown in for adults to enjoy. The illustrations by Davide Ortu are a lovely accompaniment to the prose, and together they make a story that is rich, genuinely intriguing, and oh so wonderfully nerdy.
What can I say? I honestly love these books. They're proof that a good 'children's' story knows no actual age boundary.
Read
February 15, 2022Such a cute story and perfect for elementary school children and/or reluctant readers.
What I liked:
- Nice recap of the first book so readers don't feel like they are missing key information.
- Magic, wizards, dragons, friendship
- Nice to see a character who loves to read and one who doesn't. It's comforting to be able to see yourself in a book.
- Awesome narration -- the reader did a great job with different voices and accents.
- Gentle lessons about compassion and caring for other people and animals
- Love the quiz at the end, I think kids will get a kick out of it!
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media, for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
What I liked:
- Nice recap of the first book so readers don't feel like they are missing key information.
- Magic, wizards, dragons, friendship
- Nice to see a character who loves to read and one who doesn't. It's comforting to be able to see yourself in a book.
- Awesome narration -- the reader did a great job with different voices and accents.
- Gentle lessons about compassion and caring for other people and animals
- Love the quiz at the end, I think kids will get a kick out of it!
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media, for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
April 25, 2023
“But it rattled as she slapped it. Faith’s pockets were like that: infinitely full of stuff, but asked looking empty. Kit has begged to learn the spell that made like that’s, but Faith bad told her it wasn’t a specific spell-just what happens over time if you stuff enough magical items into a normal pocket.” P.14
“Well, do you think I want to be friends with people because they have special powers or genius brains?” Kit asked. “Are you friends with me because I have magic powers?”
Alita frowned. “Well, no. We’re friends because I like you.” She picked up one of her braids and started playing with it. “I feel like you’re tricking me into feeling better.”P.142
“Well, do you think I want to be friends with people because they have special powers or genius brains?” Kit asked. “Are you friends with me because I have magic powers?”
Alita frowned. “Well, no. We’re friends because I like you.” She picked up one of her braids and started playing with it. “I feel like you’re tricking me into feeling better.”P.142
August 7, 2022
3.5 Stars
We get a nice recap of what happened before so you're not lost. It's especially helpful if you don't read them back to back.
The characters are meant to be relatable and lovable, and it continues to be so. We have a new adventure, the children get to meet another kind of mythical creatures- lake monsters, and mermaids, and get more details about the ancient history of the wizards. Magic has always been, even before the time of the humans came.
The main focus is on the characters and their friendship. Still enjoying it!
We get a nice recap of what happened before so you're not lost. It's especially helpful if you don't read them back to back.
The characters are meant to be relatable and lovable, and it continues to be so. We have a new adventure, the children get to meet another kind of mythical creatures- lake monsters, and mermaids, and get more details about the ancient history of the wizards. Magic has always been, even before the time of the humans came.
The main focus is on the characters and their friendship. Still enjoying it!
May 29, 2020
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, but it wasn't surly loch dwelling merfolk, cute monsters and sustainable librarians! Turns out it's a surprisingly awesome combination. Coupled with sharp humor, vivid world-building and a lively cast of characters, this highly illustrated adventure story won't disappoint. Perfect for newly confident readers making the transition to longer books with plenty for adults to enjoy too.
May 12, 2024
Great sequel to the first book! The author didn't overly rehash plot or character intros from first book, and had decent character development for a juvenile/early reader book. Read it with my daughter, but she was so into it, she finished the last third on her own last night, leaving me to catch up so we could read the next book in the series together. This one had mermaids, a loch-ness monster, and an ancient curse. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
June 1, 2022
This was an absolutely lovely middle grade read! It’s book two, which I didn’t know initially but that didn’t affect the reading of this book at all! It’s an adorable story of friendship and mystery - with lessons in patience, kindness and working together as a big part of it!
I’d recommend this for children into magical type worlds that aren’t ready for thicker chapter books.
I’d recommend this for children into magical type worlds that aren’t ready for thicker chapter books.
March 20, 2024
Book 2 of the Kit the Wizard series. This is the second book and continues in stride with where the last one left off. Still strong middle grade and continues to be action packed that will help draw in those reluctant readers. As we follow the story we begin to see what problems the world faces when wizards are involved along with ancient evil.
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
Read
January 27, 2022This is the 2nd book in the series. My 11 year old loved it. Kit and her friends have a wonderful strong bond. It deals with typical problems in childhood and she learns how to deal with an understand how her actions and attitude impact her friends.
October 30, 2023
Kit is having trouble with his magic when a monster turns up at the lake. It’s up to Kit and her two best friends to figure out the mystery of the monster in the lake, the mermaids and the bone. You will be a wizard if you read this book! A wizard with power of reading!
September 16, 2024
I really liked this second book, and so did my boys, 8 and 6. It’s a little spooky and the story is a good mystery set in this fantastical world. The kids each wavered in their abilities and feelings of worth, so there were some good life lessons, too.
January 25, 2020
Naughty mermaids, a cute lake monster, a Scottish hunk of a wizard, lovely friends and a sinister villain, all beautifully illustrated.
It's an excellent follow up to The Dragon in the Library.
It's an excellent follow up to The Dragon in the Library.
April 27, 2020
I love this 😍 book and kit is the youngest wizard I can't wait to see the new book.😋😆😄😁😙🙃🤩
June 9, 2021
Another amazing story of magic gone wild and crazy. Didn't like the mermaids much but at the same time it was a great fun. I wish I had managed to enjoy the Scottish fun a little more.
Want to Read
October 3, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
February 23, 2022
*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Didn't have a chance to read the first book in this series but very cute for a kids book none the less! would have loved to read this as a kid :)
March 24, 2022
Delightful tale, not-too-scary risks, a good dose of humor, and great illustrations. A treat of a book for young readers looking for something longer than a chapter book.
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