Spellfall

Name: Spellfall
ISBN: 9781903434024

by Katherine Roberts

Twelve-year-old Natalie is an outsider until she's swept into a dangerous quest. She must embrace her hidden magic to stop a powerful wizard from destroying Earthaven, a world beyond the Thrallstone,

About This Book

"Spellfall" introduces Natalie Marlins, a 12-year-old girl who feels like an outsider, teased at school and struggling with a difficult stepfamily. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she is kidnapped by Hawk, a powerful and vengeful wizard. Hawk seeks to use Natalie's latent magical abilities to complete his spellclave and invade Earthaven, an enchanted realm from which he was banished. Natalie must confront her fears, discover her true identity, and team up with unexpected allies, including Hawk's downtrodden son, Merlin, and a magical hound, to thwart Hawk's destructive plans. The book explores themes of bravery, friendship, family, and overcoming adversity, set against a backdrop of two intertwined worlds. Parents should be aware of scenes involving peril, bullying, and the death of a pet, which can be upsetting for sensitive readers.

Someone knows Natalie is special. He knows her mother came from Earthaven, a world of strange forces that lies beyond the Thrallstone. He knows her father is a Thrall who sells spells between the two worlds. Now, Spellmage wants her power.

Concepts

Fear & Bravery Self-Confidence & Identity Resilience & Perseverance Love & Family Friendship & Loyalty Good vs. Evil Justice & Fairness Loneliness & Belonging Anger & Frustration Empathy & Kindness Curiosity & Wonder Bullying Making Friends Being Different Sibling Rivalry Growing Up Fantasy & Magic Friendship & Social Coding & Technology

Heads up, parents

peril_danger

animal_harm

Character Death

bullying

separation_from_parent

mental_health_themes

Discussion Prompts

How does Natalie's experience with bullying at school prepare her, or not prepare her, for the challenges she faces in Earthaven?

Discuss the different kinds of families in the book, like Natalie's blended family and Merlin's relationship with his father. How do these relationships impact the characters?

What does it mean to be brave in this story? Can you think of moments when Natalie, Merlin, or Jo showed bravery?

Hawk is driven by revenge. What are the consequences of his actions, and how does Merlin ultimately choose a different path?

If you could visit Earthaven, what magical skill would you most want to learn?

External Reviews

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