The Accidental Apprentice

January 15, 2021
An orphaned boy discovers belonging and friendship. Eleven-year-old Barclay Thorne is an apprentice to the mushroom farmer in the town of Dullshire. He's worked diligently to prove himself since his parents perished in an attack by an otherworldly Beast seven years prior. Dullshire prides itself on rules and prickliness, and its citizens abhor all notions of Lore Keepers, those who bond with Beasts and practice Lore magic. So, when Barclay accidentally stumbles upon--and bonds with--a wolflike Beast in the forbidden Woods, the town banishes him. Left on his own, he teams up with the headstrong Viola, a local Lore Keeper with a dragonlike Beast named Mitzi. Together they seek a way to remove Barclay's magic Beast Mark so he can one day return to Dullshire, a goal contingent upon his finishing first in the Exhibition, a dangerous competition where budding Lore Keepers prove their worth. As Barclay spends more time in the fantastical town of Sycomore, he bonds both with human allies and his own Beast. The worldbuilding calls forth the atmosphere of classic fantasy worlds while invoking fun and whimsy every step of the way. In addition to pale-skinned Barclay and brown-skinned Viola, casual, naturally integrated diversity is found throughout. Barclay's journey reignites the wonder and discovery of childhood, culminating in a warm and sincere message about embracing who you are. Wholesome, delightful, and jam-packed with adventure. (encyclopedia of beasts) (Fantasy. 9-13)

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