The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia, doesn’t miss the mark or measure up to it

I like this illustrated novel trend. It’s enjoyable as an older reader (who is certainly not the intended demographic), and for the younger readers in elementary school who need a nudge to get them into a book. The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia has a gorgeous layout. Its illustrations add to the readability factor, and it certainly speaks to upper-elementary-aged readers. Older readers will have some issues with the pacing of the book. Middle school audiences will also be able to see through the plot twist in short order. Does any of that matter to the book’s key demographic, those fourth or fifth graders who simply want to have fun while reading?

The answer to that question will depend on a couple of factors. Sparrow Xia is a young girl who’s leaving home to attend a magic school. She lives in a world where the youth have magical abilities, and older people don’t. People lose their magic at different points in their lives, and the kids at this school are out to hone their abilities as quickly as possible. Her older brother is very talented with his magic and is able to harness fire just by thinking of it. He’s been attending the school and is already well-known on campus.

When the two arrive in the vicinity of the school they’re greeted by a meandering path. The path leads to campus, but is imbued with magic so that the weak will get cut. The stones they walk on might move up or down and poisonous vines will try to grab you. This action sequence is really good and will hook in many readers who are not too sure on another magic-school, mglit book. During this series of events Sparrow meets her two best friends who help shape the trajectory of her life in school.

All of the students are tested to see where they’re magical ability will be strongest. It could be water, heat or fire, but Sparrow is in the later house, don’t say house, don’t say house, the later type of power category, just like her brother. She’s very disappointed because of her annoyance to her brother, and wanted a power that would make her unique. Not only that, but her flame powers are weak, barely strong enough to warm a cupcake.

The classes continue for everyone. Friendships are strengthened, foes are formed, the teachers are introduced and everything is going magic-licious, until a sickness starts spreading. This sickness is taking the magical abilities of students and reducing them to pale, sickly teens. Sparrow has a strong theory that the sickness is intentionally caused by Ted McGinley- sorry, Gale Higgins. To make things even more personal, she suspects that Gale has the ultimate goal of poisoning her brother. There’s a big festival coming up and they suspect that someone, probably Gale, wants the school destroyed.

If you’re older than seventh grade, you probably have guessed within a character or two, how the book proceeds. For that more mature demographic, they’ll also think that The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia gets a little melodramatic once the faux-climax happens. They’ll know it’s not the end of the book, there are still 30% of the pages remaining and they saw the “1” on the book’s spine.

This is the world-building number that puts forth the plan for more books. The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia isn’t totally a case of putting the cart before the horse. There are moments of the book that are really entertaining. The illustrations that go along with it will keep reluctant readers engaged, and even pull in those who otherwise wouldn’t go near it. You have to start something with the end in mind, I know that mantra and teach it.

This all builds up to fourth and fifth-grade girls enjoying The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia, with some fifth or six-grade boys liking it. The book is just good enough to where those boy readers will tolerate the non-action sequences. There is a lot of friendship drama, sibling rivalry, sibling drama and individual self-discovery that make it a plateau on life, rather than the ups and downs some readers need. If you’re an upper-elementary reader or have a library where those readers frequent, this is a book that will fill the void.

It’s just good enough to make you curious about a second book in the series. Your patience might not be as thick, but you’re curious enough to see if it can fulfill the promise of the first third of The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia. This book, and its sequel, won’t have a problem roping in the usual suspects. However, finding a larger audience will require more of the unique vibes that aspects of Missing Magic had.

The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia: An Illustrated Novel is by Leia Ham and is available on Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic.

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