I had so much fun reading this book!

The whole idea of art and creativity being used to heal corrupt magic was such a great concept! I really liked how Keynan's poetry played a significant role in the story. It was unique, well-incorporated into the narrative, and a lot of fun! There were so many wonderful messages in the story – the consequences of greed and selfishness, the power of friendship and community, and the importance of courage and belief in oneself.

The author created a complex world and unique magic system. The description of storms was so intriguing, and it was clear right from the start that there was much more to them.

I absolutely loved the sense of community in this book, and how people worked together to rebuild everything that was lost due to storms. I also loved Keynan and how passionate he was about using his talents and creativity to help others. It was also great to see his character grow, realizing he doesn't have to do everything on his own and that it’s okay to accept help from those who truly care about him.

Also, maybe not the most relevant to the story, but… This book made me sooo hungry! There were so many amazing recipes in this book, so be sure to have some snacks ready before you start reading!

I didn’t expect that ending, and can’t wait for the sequel to find out what happened! I thoroughly enjoyed this book as an adult, and I’d definitely recommend it! It’s a great book for middle school readers and a great start to a new fantasy series!

Thank you, BookishFirst, the publisher Inkyard Press, and author DaVaun Sanders for the gifted copy! I received a free copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ( )

Just okay

The best part of this novel is the beginning and getting to know Keynan's loving and supportive family and neighbors. I enjoyed the small town setting and how everyone looked out for each other and helped each other. Keynan's knowledge of plants and creatures was a pleasantly surprising character trait for a middle grade boy. I liked the fresh take on a magical school and how Keynan was very nervous and apprehensive about fitting in.

Keynan was not likeable to me and I found him to be selfish and conceited and his character arc didn't have enough growth in what is apparently the first book of either a series or duology based on the huge cliffhanger ending.

The world building in this novel was lacking and often left me confused and bored. The storms made for an intriguing plot twist, but why did no one seem to know anything about them other than they meant destruction? Too many assumptions were made about the poetry magic and too much was held secret from the reader. ( )

"Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew" is Davaun Sanders' debut novel. I'm always looking for age-appropriate, diverse novels for my students and this novel certainly did not disappoint! The characters were interesting, believable, and based on their words and actions, created with strong values. The plot follows the magical adventures of Keynan Masters and his friends as they navigate the strange characters and happenings at their new school, the Peerless Academy of Movement, Art, Genealogy, Instrumentation and Composition. They discover secret tunnels, portals and attempt to solve the mysterious disappearances of fellow students. Keynan also has an ulterior motive for attending Peerless Academy. He is attempting to research a way to end the dangerous storms that threaten his family and neighborhood on Bizzy Block. Will he succeed, or is the task too great for him to tackle? Without giving any of the plot away, the ending is truly magical! I'm looking forward to reading additional YA novels by Mr. Sanders ( )

children's middlegrade fiction - Black middlegrader leaves his parents and his beloved "Bizzy Block" southern neighborhood to attend an elite school where he hopes to learn how to stop the mysterious "storms" that keep causing people and homes to disappear and discovers that his talent for rhymes lends well to performing magic.

You can't write a book about a school for wizards (well, "sorcerers" in this case) without being compared to Harry Potter, but all that aside -- DaVaun's book has clearly been a labor of love, providing clever Black protagonists (and notably, including some nonbinary characters in the supporting cast) so that a more diverse population of kids can feel seen. It took a while for me to get into this book because I was confused about the setting -- are the storms like super-charged hurricanes or tornadoes? Is this an environmentally-distraught, climate-challenged future? What does the landscape usually look like between neighborhoods? But as more details came to light and the situation became a lot clearer, I was able to enjoy the time spent with this mischievous magic crew. I liked this story a lot but also acknowledge there is room for growth in the character and setting deveopment. I still have more questions than answers, especially after that cliffhanger twist of an ending, but I also look forward to learning more about these kids and their backstories and the crazy magic-filled world they live in. ( )

KEYNAN MASTERS very slowly develops his version of Mastery of Magic as his Team, the Peerless Pack - Leah, Amari, and eventually, Dez - attempt to save the Peerless Academy.

The plot arches quickly along as Keynan is unexpectedly admitted to Peerless, rejects it to the disappointment of his family and the entire Bizzy Block neighborhood, and winds up bicycling through one of the endless STORMS that dominate the tale to enter Peerless.

Even his vaunted fire poetry rhyming skills do not help him when the "corrupt magic"
which has entered Peerless escalates, thanks to his choices. Help oddly comes from the also magic challenged staff to sort of smooth things out so that Peerless can last another year despite no resolution to the threats of storms, at home or at Peerless.

You team characters smoothly and honestly interact.

Confusion arises with way, way too much unexplained and chaotic magic piling on:
Magic, Corrupt Magic, Breaks, Radiant, Illusion Wars, Rachet, Glories, and now, Rip.
Too many interrupt and cloud the plot...

Heck Masters and Soup are favorite characters.

"Great poems get past the surface, past what your eyes show you." ( )