I’ve had this one on my future read list for way too long. The wait was worth it as I was rewarded with an engaging fantasy set in a boarding academy for magic.

The story centers around 12-year-old Chloe Vega. She lives with her sister and parents in East L.A. and fears that mom and dad could be detained by immigration as they are undocumented. But wait… Chloe finds out her parents are part of a magical society. The police that are hovering outside the family’s house are actually working for a very evil sorcerer who is trying to get revenge for something the parents did in the past.

Chloe discovers she too has magical powers at the same time her parents are kidnapped. She’s enrolled an elite academy, run by the very agency who forced her parents to be removed from the magical world.

Chloe is now in the center of a magical war and she feels the Agents of Magic don’t have her best interests in mind like seeing her parents alive again. With some new found friends they take to investigating what is going on with the dangerous side of the magical world and the opposing Academy leaders in order to save her family.

This latinx middle grade fantasy debut is a fun and exciting read. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. This will appeal to avid readers who enjoy an action packed plot. The page count though at nearly 400 pages will be a bit much for many in the 8-12 age group.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: CHLOE VEGA AND THE AGENTS OF MAGIC by Leslie Adame

1. Chloe is one of those characters you will never forget. She has her plate full with family concerns and deals with them all in a kid like but brave way. The culture of Mexican American also came to life, especially at meal time.
2. The focus on immigration is a perfect one with what is currently a crisis in the U.S. You’ll feel the hardships these families and especially the children must go through when most are just looking for a better life.
3. Bullies are almost a given in middle grade books and here we have two of the best with obnoxious know it all Danielle and the cocky Jason. Their character ARCs had me smiling.
4. The person who turns out to be a spy at the academy was the last one I expected. Such a great set-up to the reveal of their true intentions.
5. A magical gem turns out to be a vital part of the tale. It has a story all its own. It will be interesting to see where this leads Chloe in her next tale due out in October, 2026: CHLOE VEGA AND THE MISSING UNSEEN.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leslie Adame is a first-generation Mexican American and graduate of UCLA with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Film, Television, and Digital Media. She’s always enjoyed giving back and telling stories about characters not often found in books or films. Leslie grew up in the Inland Empire, specifically Ontario, California.

When she’s not writing, you can find Leslie scanning the aisles of your local bookstore, lovingly pestering her family, and catching a flight to explore a new place. She loves watching rom-coms, Disney movies, and trashy reality TV in her spare time, especially while cuddling with her cat. (Find out more at Leslie’s author website)

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