Mischievous Magical Maia Malone

Broomsticks, alligators, gargoyles, and a lighthouse stretching up to touch the sky. When nine-year-old Maia describes her drawings, they come to life with comic and chaotic results - but could losing the family she loves be the price she has to pay? After finding herself transformed one time too many, Maia's older sister Neeta snaps and tells Maia she's adopted. Maia's world crumbles. Thinking her family would be better without her, she sets off on a daring and dangerous quest armed only with her pencils, her notebook and a faded photo of a woman she resembles. A rollercoaster ride full of surprises, with themes of adoption, bullying, friendship, identity, and the scary responsibility of having a powerful magical gift. Richly illustrated by Abigail Hicks. Why This Book Belongs in Your School or Library1. Themes: Family, cross cultural identity, diversity: The book is a realistic story about siblings, about families that don't fit the 'traditional' mould. The father works with refugees, the mother is a writer and both daughters are adopted. Use/ Misuse of power: Maia's gift gives her great power, but she doesn't always think of the consequences. Neeta uses knowledge about Maia's being adopted in a spark of rage - and the cost, emotionally, to her as well as to Maia and the family, is huge. Then there's the villain, Uncle Morgan who misuses his power as a detective inspector. Identity: The question of what family means, who we are, how we define or find ourselves. Maia's best friends are a talking mouse who thinks he's an elephant (identity) and Graham who's autistic (neurodiversity). She and Neeta (11) are both adopted, with different cultural backgrounds. 2. Strong, credible charactersMaia is a feisty, courageous female lead whose magic power comes directly from her creativity and imagination - writing and drawing. This book tells every child who loves making things that their imagination is a superpower. The sibling dynamic between Maia and Neeta is authentic. The