A neglected orphan, a heartless matron, an enchanted gauntlet, and a seemingly impossible task? A magical adventure is afoot! Anne has been counting down the days until she turns 13 and can finally leave Saint Lupin's Institute for Perpetually Wicked and Hideously Unattractive Children. This dream is smashed, however, when the matron conspires to keep Anne at the orphanage for another year. A rash midnight escape lands Anne and her best friend, Penelope, at an adventurer's academy, where the girls and a brainy boy named Hiro are given their very first quest d it's a doozy. Clues send the untrained adventurers to different "tiers" (airborne islands) in a high-stakes race against the clock. White gathers up familiar tropes in his debut, but his tongue-in-cheek writing keeps the story funny and fresh. The quest, it is soon apparent, is an orchestrated challenge, with complex rules and assigned roles, such as "Official Antagonist," giving the story a gamelike feel. Slight character developments and fast pacing t to mention dragons and robots ll keep readers invested in this lighthearted new series.

Gr 4-6 At age 13, Anvil, known as Anne, is preparing to leave St. Lupin's Institute for Perpetually Wicked and Hideously Unattractive Children. She is neither wicked nor hideous, but with no knowledge of her family or origin, she has little hope of fulfilling her dream of entering a quest academy. But isn't it her luck that just at this point she falls off the edge of the earth? It's easy to do when one's world is comprised of different small islands and tiers. Luckily, a strange woman and a dragon rescue Anne. Unfortunately, a metal gauntlet is now attached permanently to her arm. Suddenly, Anne's life becomes a whirlwind as she snaps up a medallion that turns her into a leader of a Rightful Heir Quest (as the blacksmith, no less). With her best friend Penelope (who has no weapons training) and her new companion, Hiro (whose magic abilities are questionable), Anne sets off on an adventure with a goal everyone is ill prepared to achieve. Throughout their adventures, the three are stymied by ancient technology, the Official Antagonist, and the Deceiver Card. Each chapter begins with tongue-in-cheek quotes that add humor and build the legitimacy of this created world, reminiscent of Caroline Carlson's "Very Nearly Honorable Pirate Society" series. The narrator's sarcastic undertone is an additional clue that readers should not take things so seriously. However, this fast-paced adventure deals with deep themes, such as wanting to know one's place in the world, which is not completely resolved for Anne. Notable also is that Anne is a black protagonist, offering some much needed diversity to the fantasy genre for this age group. VERDICT The first in a fantasy adventure series with a unique crew of characters, this will tickle funny bones and leave readers awaiting the next installment. Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA