What do you think?
Rate this book
Casey Grimes #2
Trickery School
Classes have begun. Please don't die.
In this "gripping fantasy adventure" (The Wishing Shelf Book Awards), Casey Grimes begins his studies at Trickery School, one of America's premier monster-control academies. But classes like Extreme Climbing and Land Creature Defense are the least of his worries. He realizes a mysterious enemy is after him—more cunning than a Bog Creep or Hyena Toad. And this secret adversary is playing for keeps.
Twelve-year-old Casey Grimes almost died fighting the Butcher Beasts. On the bright side, he's no longer invisible. Even better, he’s enrolled at Trickery School in the heart of Sylvan Woods—a secret forest society in charge of keeping monsters out of the suburbs.
The campus is gorgeous, the classes are crazy, and Casey and his little sister Gloria have good friends: Luci and Robert and Jake. But Casey quickly realizes he has bigger problems than surviving Land Creature Defense and Extreme Climbing.
Magic is causing controversy at Trickery. It’s back on the curriculum after a hundred years and everyone knows Casey is responsible. Even worse, someone is out to get him, someone more cunning than a Bog Creep or Hyena Toad.
As the shadow enemy closes in, Casey races to discover why he’s being targeted. Solving the deadly mystery will take all the courage and tenacity he’s got.
A fast-paced middle grade fantasy/adventure book with all the monsters and magic kids could ever hope for.
In this "gripping fantasy adventure" (The Wishing Shelf Book Awards), Casey Grimes begins his studies at Trickery School, one of America's premier monster-control academies. But classes like Extreme Climbing and Land Creature Defense are the least of his worries. He realizes a mysterious enemy is after him—more cunning than a Bog Creep or Hyena Toad. And this secret adversary is playing for keeps.
Twelve-year-old Casey Grimes almost died fighting the Butcher Beasts. On the bright side, he's no longer invisible. Even better, he’s enrolled at Trickery School in the heart of Sylvan Woods—a secret forest society in charge of keeping monsters out of the suburbs.
The campus is gorgeous, the classes are crazy, and Casey and his little sister Gloria have good friends: Luci and Robert and Jake. But Casey quickly realizes he has bigger problems than surviving Land Creature Defense and Extreme Climbing.
Magic is causing controversy at Trickery. It’s back on the curriculum after a hundred years and everyone knows Casey is responsible. Even worse, someone is out to get him, someone more cunning than a Bog Creep or Hyena Toad.
As the shadow enemy closes in, Casey races to discover why he’s being targeted. Solving the deadly mystery will take all the courage and tenacity he’s got.
A fast-paced middle grade fantasy/adventure book with all the monsters and magic kids could ever hope for.
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2020
15 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Vanderhorst
18 books58 followersAJ Vanderhorst has had many jobs, including journalist, paramedic, escape artist, and baby whisperer. One time in fifth grade, he built a traffic-stopping fort in a huge oak tree, using only branches and imagination, and slept there for a week.
Now he and his wife live in a woodsy house with their proteges and a ridiculous number of pets, including a turtle with a taste for human toes. This makes AJ an expert on wild, dangerous things—invisibility spells, butcher beasts, hungry kids, you get the idea.
He is the only author in the world who enjoys pickup basketball and enormous bonfires, preferably not at the same time. He and his family have drawn up several blueprints for their future tree castle. Visit AJ online at ajvanderhorst.com.
Now he and his wife live in a woodsy house with their proteges and a ridiculous number of pets, including a turtle with a taste for human toes. This makes AJ an expert on wild, dangerous things—invisibility spells, butcher beasts, hungry kids, you get the idea.
He is the only author in the world who enjoys pickup basketball and enormous bonfires, preferably not at the same time. He and his family have drawn up several blueprints for their future tree castle. Visit AJ online at ajvanderhorst.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Read
May 14, 2021Well, here it is. Just in time for Christmas 2020, because this book, like Casey Grimes #1, is not afraid of a little pandemic. No stars from me for obvious reasons, but I've always got time to talk shop.
I suspect this book is better than Casey #1, The Mostly Invisible Boy. I'm talking pace, plot and my writing chops—hey, I'm still learning. But I'll have to let you decide for yourself if it's really, you know, better.
There are more monsters in here. New ones. And I have to say, this monster creation stuff is effortless. I could do it all day—because I have imaginative kids who are always trying to quietly pull me aside and sell me on their gruesome concepts.
Finally, here's the part where I say how close to my heart I hold these characters—yes, it's true—and how I wish them well on their perilous journey across the pages of this book, through your eyeballs, and hopefully deeper. Good luck, Casey, Gloria, Luci, Robert, and co.
It's not easy, fighting to be who you are.
I suspect this book is better than Casey #1, The Mostly Invisible Boy. I'm talking pace, plot and my writing chops—hey, I'm still learning. But I'll have to let you decide for yourself if it's really, you know, better.
There are more monsters in here. New ones. And I have to say, this monster creation stuff is effortless. I could do it all day—because I have imaginative kids who are always trying to quietly pull me aside and sell me on their gruesome concepts.
Finally, here's the part where I say how close to my heart I hold these characters—yes, it's true—and how I wish them well on their perilous journey across the pages of this book, through your eyeballs, and hopefully deeper. Good luck, Casey, Gloria, Luci, Robert, and co.
It's not easy, fighting to be who you are.
December 25, 2020
Back again with the second installment of 'Casey Grimes.'
I received a copy as a thanks for reviewing the first. And what a gift it was. Trickery School follows Casey as he returns to the Sylvan Woods as a 'new' student. But things are different now. Trickery is even less safe for him than it was before. People are watching, enemies forming. Casey has come to represent the acceptance of magic in the Sylvan world and with UWA's ruling on the Butcher Beast incident, that's making some people very nervous.
When he is singled out before hundreds in the Great Trickery Hall on Back to School Night, he knows he's being targeted. But by who? And how far would they go to remove the threat.
My Thoughts: Possible Spoilers
Plot:
Being the sequel to 'The Mostly Invisible Boy,' Trickery School starts with a bang. Casey is already enrolled, things have settled down since the Butcher Beast incident, and all seems well. Because of this, the plot can start immediately, without the setup required when first introducing a new world. The plot is even more of a mystery than Casey Grimes #1 and I was all aboard.
This story, while having all the adventure expected for the sequel, also carries a more interesting mystery as the way Casey being targeted engages with the context of the world. I will continue this thought lower. The plot is engaging, with suspicious activity, clues and revelations, and a conclusion that made me physically gasp.
Characters:
The same characters are also cast in Casey Grimes #2, as would be expected. But they get even more interesting, or in some cases, suspicious. Luci West, Robert Pierce, Gloria Grimes, Ms. Crake, Jake, and so on are all back in action. But what I really thought was well done, was the inclusion of new characters. Matt Rhiannon (my favorite), Fiera Laurent, and Jenni Tompkins were organically introduced into the narrative. But mostly, it throws the audience slightly off-kilter, as we just began feeling as if we were taming the world. New people, new creatures, new politics, re-stimulate the audience, giving us a sense of...well, newness. But it wasn't overwhelming, just tidbits here and there.
World Building:
Returning to the plot, I mentioned that it expanded the world building. Because Casey is viewed as a political threat, it automatically informs us of how the world is arranged. (Which we were already aware of from Casey Grimes #1) But now we know the extent of anti-magic politics. Its much more than the simple, 'it doesn't exist/ that's old-school' attitude. This makes the world feel more real. As, realistically, whenever someone/something's power is threatened, they will always work to delegitimize or dismantle that threat. Trickery School establishes this well with the extent to which Casey is strategically targeted.
Prose:
Much like Casey Grimes #1, the prose is lively and cartoonish. Energy runs through the sentences, keeping the audience engaged. There were parts were I became confused such as the bullseye scene with Fiera but mostly, the prose had great clarity.
I received a copy as a thanks for reviewing the first. And what a gift it was. Trickery School follows Casey as he returns to the Sylvan Woods as a 'new' student. But things are different now. Trickery is even less safe for him than it was before. People are watching, enemies forming. Casey has come to represent the acceptance of magic in the Sylvan world and with UWA's ruling on the Butcher Beast incident, that's making some people very nervous.
When he is singled out before hundreds in the Great Trickery Hall on Back to School Night, he knows he's being targeted. But by who? And how far would they go to remove the threat.
My Thoughts: Possible Spoilers
Plot:
Being the sequel to 'The Mostly Invisible Boy,' Trickery School starts with a bang. Casey is already enrolled, things have settled down since the Butcher Beast incident, and all seems well. Because of this, the plot can start immediately, without the setup required when first introducing a new world. The plot is even more of a mystery than Casey Grimes #1 and I was all aboard.
This story, while having all the adventure expected for the sequel, also carries a more interesting mystery as the way Casey being targeted engages with the context of the world. I will continue this thought lower. The plot is engaging, with suspicious activity, clues and revelations, and a conclusion that made me physically gasp.
Characters:
The same characters are also cast in Casey Grimes #2, as would be expected. But they get even more interesting, or in some cases, suspicious. Luci West, Robert Pierce, Gloria Grimes, Ms. Crake, Jake, and so on are all back in action. But what I really thought was well done, was the inclusion of new characters. Matt Rhiannon (my favorite), Fiera Laurent, and Jenni Tompkins were organically introduced into the narrative. But mostly, it throws the audience slightly off-kilter, as we just began feeling as if we were taming the world. New people, new creatures, new politics, re-stimulate the audience, giving us a sense of...well, newness. But it wasn't overwhelming, just tidbits here and there.
World Building:
Returning to the plot, I mentioned that it expanded the world building. Because Casey is viewed as a political threat, it automatically informs us of how the world is arranged. (Which we were already aware of from Casey Grimes #1) But now we know the extent of anti-magic politics. Its much more than the simple, 'it doesn't exist/ that's old-school' attitude. This makes the world feel more real. As, realistically, whenever someone/something's power is threatened, they will always work to delegitimize or dismantle that threat. Trickery School establishes this well with the extent to which Casey is strategically targeted.
Prose:
Much like Casey Grimes #1, the prose is lively and cartoonish. Energy runs through the sentences, keeping the audience engaged. There were parts were I became confused such as the bullseye scene with Fiera but mostly, the prose had great clarity.
March 3, 2021
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Trickery School
Author: A J Vanderhorst
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 6/10
Of the 17 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
10 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 2 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
17 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“The children my class of 11 year olds enjoyed this author’s two books. Invisible Boy was voted the best of the two; I guess the first book in any set is always the best! They liked the adventure, the element of creeping danger, the monsters and the school very much. In fact, they felt the setting of the story was probably the best part. A lot of them felt it was similar to Harry Potter and Percy Jackson but in a good way. A talented author who knows what kids enjoy.” Primary school teacher, aged 38
“I liked the Casey Grimes character the most. He was brave and often lucky. He reminded me a bit of Harry Potter.” Boy reader, aged 11
“Any book full of monsters has my vote. I thought this was exciting as there was so much happening. I think it’s best to read The Mostly Invisible Boy first so you will understand everything. The first book is best but this is good too.” Boy reader, aged 12
“I would love to go to a monster control academy. His lessons are far more exciting than mine.” Girl reader, age 11
To Sum It Up:
‘A gripping fantasy adventure for 9 – 12 year olds. A RED RIBBON winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Trickery School
Author: A J Vanderhorst
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 6/10
Of the 17 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
10 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 2 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
17 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“The children my class of 11 year olds enjoyed this author’s two books. Invisible Boy was voted the best of the two; I guess the first book in any set is always the best! They liked the adventure, the element of creeping danger, the monsters and the school very much. In fact, they felt the setting of the story was probably the best part. A lot of them felt it was similar to Harry Potter and Percy Jackson but in a good way. A talented author who knows what kids enjoy.” Primary school teacher, aged 38
“I liked the Casey Grimes character the most. He was brave and often lucky. He reminded me a bit of Harry Potter.” Boy reader, aged 11
“Any book full of monsters has my vote. I thought this was exciting as there was so much happening. I think it’s best to read The Mostly Invisible Boy first so you will understand everything. The first book is best but this is good too.” Boy reader, aged 12
“I would love to go to a monster control academy. His lessons are far more exciting than mine.” Girl reader, age 11
To Sum It Up:
‘A gripping fantasy adventure for 9 – 12 year olds. A RED RIBBON winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
December 16, 2020
This is the perfect series for younger readers. So many great characters and their adventures are both fun to read about and their personalities fit perfectly with younger kids these days.
Exciting and Fun, Magical and Vibrant. It's such a wonderful series, I loved how much more we got from this one. I can't wait to see where Vanderhorst takes the characters next!
Exciting and Fun, Magical and Vibrant. It's such a wonderful series, I loved how much more we got from this one. I can't wait to see where Vanderhorst takes the characters next!
March 8, 2021
This second Casey Grimes story was even better than the first one! A.J. Vanderhorst has created a magical world that lies hidden right next to our own world. The characters of Casey and his friends are well developed, the plot is exciting, and the Sylvan world makes you want to visit for an adventure. I highly recommend this series!
My 12-year old daughter loved this book as well. She was surprised right along with Casey by the twist at the end, and is so excited for the next piece of the story to be written! She says that this story is great for kids who love adventure. She also highly recommends the Casey Grimes story!
My 12-year old daughter loved this book as well. She was surprised right along with Casey by the twist at the end, and is so excited for the next piece of the story to be written! She says that this story is great for kids who love adventure. She also highly recommends the Casey Grimes story!
March 25, 2021
What a fantastic sequel! Book 2 is as well paced and plotted as the first book, with new twists and turns that kept me riveted. Excellent new characters, along with those we've grown to love. I'm excited to see what this imaginative author comes up with next!
January 5, 2021
Thanks to AJ for sending me copy of this book, which I planned on reading sooner. I have been eagerly awaiting this sequel to The Mostly Invisible Boy and it did not disappoint. The stakes are high as Casey experiences way more trouble than any new kid ought to ensure in his first semester at trickery school. Friendships are tested, monsters are battled, and danger is on every side. But this is my favorite kind of story, where hope glimmers ever brightly and good triumphs.
December 23, 2020
I loved it. It was just as creative and engaging as book one. Sometimes second books lag a bit, but Casey and friends kept me rapidly turning the pages. This is such a fun series and I look forward to reading more.
January 26, 2022
My 12 year old boy and ten year old girl flew through this book, unable to wait for their father’s schedule to slow down enough to allow him to read it aloud. But now that I’ve caught up, I can agree that it’s a worthy sequel, filled not just with the suspense of lurking danger, but an exploration into self-identity, true bravery, and what friends do for each other. I have to mention my love for the nature descriptions of the Sylvan woodland and school/houses within it that make me wish I could wander around there as well (armed with a scythe-staff, of course, just in case). With his characteristic humor, AJ Vanderhorst introduces us to Sylvan creatures, weapons, and food, but the memorable characters and driving questions about magic make it a great read. Get it for your kids, grandkids, nephews, and nieces. Read it for yourself!
September 7, 2023
In Trickery School Casey, and Gloria have officially become Sylavanite citizens and now have classes at Trickery, one of America's top monster-controlling academies. Then someone at Trickery accuses Casey of being a spy who wants to reveal the secret Sylavan world to the unaware Civilians. It's up to Casey, Gloria, and their friends to expose the villain or villains responsible. One thing I liked about this book was that it combined sword fighting and magic both of which I find interesting.
September 16, 2022
Great young adult book, with adventure and friendships.
March 26, 2023
After the first book I wasn't sure how much I would like this one, but the author did a better job of giving a bit more detail and having an easier to follow story line.
December 27, 2024
THE PLOT TWISTS!!😱😱😱😱
January 2, 2023
Another great middle-school and up book. Any book that makes kids want to read is a great book in MHO. As an adult, I would like to have more backstory, plot development and character development. It’s getting there but still so many questions about how it all started. More on the Jabberwocky and the politics of the whole academy would be appreciated. I hope that AJ will write the backstory also. Turn it into a kind of backwards trilogy or trilogies….like Star Wars
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews