Tilly, our impulsive protagonist, is spending the summer in Clayton Forest with Opa, a magical teacher. She hasn’t discovered what magic she will have but being with her twin cousins, Jess and Zach, and learning about potions and self defense from fairies and gnomes will help her understand.

What she is really here for is to find her friend Michael who disappeared a year ago in the neighboring and witch controlled Wythic Wood. She convinces her cousins to help in the search and sneak into Wythic Wood to save Michael. The quest is not easy when they are hunted by the Witch of Wythic Wood (try saying that 3 times fast!) who has bears, crows, weredogs, and other creatures to bring these three to their demise.

The third person narration takes readers through 18 chapters. Of course when it says Book One on the cover, you know not all plot points will have resolution. I won’t reveal what happens, but it sure would have been satisfying to have this story wrapped up more fully by the last page. Readers will be anxiously anticipating the arrival of Book Two.

The three young protagonists (you can see their dark outline on the cover’s center), each have fun and memorable personalities that show off their strengths and weaknesses. IF any of those potions they use are ever available on Amazon, sign me up! 🙂

VANISHINGS will appeal to anyone looking for a magical adventure full of surprises and a cast of supportive characters.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: May 20, 2025 PAGES: 272

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catharina Steel has an adventurous spirit and enjoys traveling and exploring. The forests in The Wythic Wood Mysteries series and the world in the Kinesis’ series stems from her love for hiking, the outdoors, and the enchanting essence found in these settings. She’s had various pets over the years, among them a kid goat named “Billy,” named after the famous “Billy the Kid.” Her current cherished companion is Macherie, a gentle and sweet greyhound. During her leisure time, Catharina enjoys viewing properties, walking in the southwest region of Western Australia where she dwells, reading, sketching, and watching TV series. (for more about Catharina and her writing endeavors visit her website)

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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights from other individuals blogging about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.

It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com

Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.

*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.