I am always so excited when I come across a book series that I KNOW my middle schoolers will LOVE! I hit the jackpot when I had the opportunity to review the book, Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows by J.M. Bergen. It is exactly the type of book my students are always interested in! Even though it won’t be available until Feb. 2nd, I already have a waiting list in my classroom of kids that want to check it out!
This book is about a 12-year-old boy named Thomas who lives in Southern California and encapsulates everything that a typical pre-teen boy loves. Due to the death of his father several years earlier, he still feels as if something is missing. His father’s last words to him were, “No matter what happens, always remember that magic is real.” This statement has stuck with him ever since his death, and he longs to understand what he meant by this.
In search of understanding his dad’s last words, he visits a book store and asks the owner for books on “real magic.” The man offered Thomas a book that was in a lockbox that could be opened with a special key. He told Thomas that he should only read 1 chapter per day and only when he was alone. As Thomas delves into the page-turning book, a world of magical characters and family secrets takes him on the ride of his life!
If your students love the likes of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, they are sure to be equally obsessed with The Book of Sorrows Series! This book is available now and can be ordered here.
What books do your students love? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below.
