Despite coming from an impressive magical lineage, Taika Turunen has no magic. Forced to attend a school for the magically gifted, they have a hard time fitting in - especially being non-binary. But when students start going missing, it looks as though Taika is the only one who can save the day.

Straddling the boundary between MG and younger YA, I would highly recommend My Name Is Magic to younger readers who enjoy magical school settings, with elements of urban fantasy. While I personally felt a little too old at this point to enjoy the story to its full potential, my favourite aspect of the novel is its unapologetic inclusivity. Reading it felt like a middle finger to a certain well-known magic school series, with Taika as the downtrodden queer protagonist put front and centre as the reluctant hero. It's huge to have a non-binary protagonist as the lead in a book like this, and the nine-year-old in me feels deeply seen. I think books like this are important, and I would recommend this to fans of the Simon Snow series or parents of younger LGBTQ+ readers looking for a magic school story that is truly welcoming.

I am grateful to Tiny Ghost Press for providing an ARC of My Name Is Magic. These opinions are my own.