The Magicians of Caprona

The Magicians of Caprona is a delightful fantasy adventure set in a parallel world's Italian city-state, where two ancient, rival magical families, the Montanas and Petrocchis, are locked in a generations-long feud. The story follows young Tonino Montana, who feels like an outcast because he lacks traditional spell-making instincts, and his brother Paolo, as they are drawn into a plot to save Caprona from an impending war. When Tonino and a girl from the rival Petrocchi family are kidnapped, they are forced to put aside their differences and work together, discovering hidden talents and the power of cooperation. This book is perfect for children aged 8-11 for independent reading, and can be enjoyed as a read-aloud for younger children from 6-7, offering rich themes of teamwork, self-discovery, and overcoming prejudice.

Chrestomanci Book 2 Tonino is the only person in the famous Montana household who wasn't born with an instinct for creating spells, but he has other gifts. His ability to communicate with cats just might help defend the city of Caprona against a mysterious enchanter -- but only if Tonino can learn to cooperate with a girl from the hated Petrocchi family of spell-makers. PerfectBound e-book exclusive extras: "Diana Wynne Jones's The Chronicles of Chrestomanci: Nine Notes"; and our exclusive interview with Diana Wynne Jones.