So fun! I loved how this story played with all these established Magic school tropes while still giving something that felt fresh and exciting. Cara Moon was a really fun, interesting and relatable protag and I loved Zuki the Three Tailed Fox. The magic system and the whole idea of Spell Sweeping and spell dust was well thought out and so cool! But overall, this was a bright and vibrant new magic school tale with a lot of fun moments and a few good twists.

The NetGalley audio is not the finalized audiobook. The voice was synthetic. I assume the final audiobook will be narrated by an actual person and thus will be a better listening experience.
Despite the narration, I did really enjoy the story! It’d been a while since I read a Middle Grade book and this one did not disappoint! I know Harry Potter is used as a measuring device for many a magic school genre book and this one truly did give me the ol’ HP feels.
Our main character isn’t “the chosen one” but rather a wizard who doesn’t have quite enough power to be anything other than a Spell Sweeper. Spell Sweepers or (MOPs) clean up the residue that magic leaves behind. It doesn’t seem that important until a dark magic begins to test the stability of the field that separates the magic word from the non-magic world. MOP Cara and her classmates (including her nemesis Harley “The Chosen One” Wu) go on a secret mission to save the world.

3.5 stars

This was a cute book with a fun twist on wizard lore and a message that anyone can make a difference. We follow Cara Moone, a wizard who's been put in the M.O.P. program, wizards who clean up magic dust after big spells are cast. She's discouraged that she doesn't have more power and isn't important like the great Harlee. When spells start going awry and darkness is on the horizon, Cara starts to suspect that Harlee may be up to no good.

I really liked that Cara wasn't a 'chosen one' and was support to other wizards. It was refreshing to see an average girl realize that she's capable of great things and learn to believe in herself. Occasionally Cara was a bit spiteful and did the wrong thing, but she's young and learning. I liked her friends and the way they came together to stop the evil going on.

The adults in the story were the most frustrating, not listening to Cara and unwilling to look closer into what was happening. I also got a bit lost a couple times, not quite understanding the wizard world or the evil happening. Overall, I thought this was a fun story, fast paced, and had cute characters.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the copy.

I got an early listen to this book via NetGalley and enjoyed the book far more than I anticipated. The audio length was just over 8 hours and I thought that was a little on the long side for a YA/Younger read but once I started listening, I didn't want to stop and finished in one day. The characters are unique and both likable and a little cringey at times, which makes them ultra relatable. There was plot twists that I didn't see coming which can be difficult to achieve with a book towards this targeted demographic.

I would absolutely recommend this book to others of all ages.

Set in a world not unlike that of a certain lightning-bolt-scarred glasses-wearing young wizard, Cara quickly discovers that she is not the Chosen One. Instead of getting to take fun classes like advanced potion making, transformations, talisman crafting, and how to raise a magical familiar, Cara is stuck sweeping up magical dust so that it doesn't turn into something volatile. Despite being teased by her classmates and rejected by her own sister, Cara is determined to become the best wizard ever, but is she willing to break the rules to achieve her goal?
The theme isn't new, and the setting doesn't surprise me, but this book still manages to fit in a few delicious twists. Since wizard school settings are pretty popular lately, it takes very little imagination to fall into this magical world where legends from around the world and a few new rules work together to make every moment a surprise. I especially enjoyed the idea that just because Cara isn't the Chosen One doesn't mean she can't have self-confidence, friends, adventures and success. Overall, it's pretty cute and there is a good amount of nerdy lore, but it has a good heart underneath all the magical sparkles, and I'll definitely be recommending it to kids who are looking for a lighthearted fantasy underdog story.

This book was a bit of a disappointment. I liked the premise and the magic system and world building was very unique. Unfortunately I had a lot of trouble connecting with the main character. She seemed very jealous and bitter and it really made me dislike her instantly. It's understandable given the trickiness of her situation, but I just couldn't get past it.

This book was really fun. I almost always love a book with a school setting and this one was no exception. The idea of spell sweepers, or MOPs (Magical Occurrence Purger) hooked me. The idea of spells leaving behind residue that needs to be cleaned up was just so unique and something I had never heard of. There were several other things that overlapped other books about magical schools though.
Cara was a great female main character. She was brave and sure of herself even though she wasn't really where she wanted to be. She would much rather have been a wizard than a MOP, but she didn't show enough magical potential. She had a rivalry with the "chosen one" Harlee and ends up going on a secret mission with her and I liked where their relationship ended up. I really liked Zuki (Suki? I listened to the audibook, not sure of the spelling), the kitsune and somewhat Cara's companion.
I found my mind wandering a little bit while listening to this book, but I think it was more of the synthetic narrator rather than the actual book. I was really invested at the end though, there were some things I saw coming and some I didn't.
Definitely give this one a go if you enjoy magical middle grades!

Argh!! The first 1/3 of this book was so frustrating!! I’m just glad I didn’t drop it when I wanted to...
The story is adorable! I love that the heroine was female, smart - and flawed. As a teacher in China, I love that the characters were clearly Asian but that it was simply a fact, not an “issue.” It’s so hard to find middle school books that my students can relate to, and I love that this one had a lot of elements that would attract them. The plot was fun and exciting (at times predictable and obvious, but ... ) and all of it was very age appropriate for my middle school students.
However ...the first third was SUCH a rip-off of Harry Potter that I found myself wanting to throw the phone plying the audiobook against the wall. I just kept thinking “it’s just an Asian, female Harry Potter” - magical creatures, a secret school of magic, and even a “chosen one” storyline. At one point, there was even a cringe-worthy homage to the Rowling story when there is a mention of “all that’s missing is a facial scar.” (Ok, ok, ok... brooms are NOT used for flying in this story ... the author REALLY wants you to know this is different from “the other famous wizard” book).
Why, why, why??? It was soooo unnecessary! Let Cara and her friends live and breathe on their own. There was so much untapped potential and so much wasted creativity. Was this just meant to be fan fic and I missed the nod?
The story clearly lends itself to sequels and movie versions - if they can get rid of the obviously hacks.
I’m torn about recommending it to students - I don’t want them to get the impression that plagiarism is acceptable, (Oh, right, no one flies on a broom, it’s not the same story. Ugh.)
I would have loved to give this more stars, but just can’t condone the “overlap.”
This version only had an AI voice, so I can’t review the actual voice actor/audio aspect.