ALA Booklist

Twelve-year-old Nick runs away from a dismal life with his bullying uncle and cousin, only to find himself a reluctant apprentice to the evil wizard Smallbone. But Smallbone may not be quite as evil as his reputation, and as Nick begins to discover his own talents (aided by a magical bookshop with an agenda), he finds a place in the odd little household surrounding the wizard. This is an unassuming but very smart story of created family and dedication to duty, laced with prickly warmth and humor and populated by people that you wish lived next door. Sherman pays her respects to standard tropes in the form of the apprentice and the strong contrast between good and evil, and employs shape-shifting mythology ecifically loup garou (wolf) and selkie (seal) good effect. The story is never dull and would make a good read-aloud. Try this with fans of Angie Sage's Septimus Heap series or Susannah Appelbaum's Caux books.

Horn Book

Runaway Nick Reynaud seeks shelter at Evil Wizard Books in Smallbone Cove, Maine. Proprietor Zachariah Smallbone declares that Nick will be his new apprentice and turns Nick into a spider when he disagrees. Back in human form, Nick searches the bookstore to learn enough magic to protect himself. Meanwhile, something strange is going on in town. Well-timed revelations feed the mystery, and all is satisfyingly resolved.

Kirkus Reviews

It is an enduring, unforgiving Maine winter when 12-year-old runaway Nick Reynaud seeks shelter on a frigid night by knocking on the door of small-town evil wizard Zachariah Smallbone.When the evil wizard makes it known that he intends to hold Nick captive as his minion, Nick at first regrets his decision to run away from his abusive uncle and cousin. After completing his daily duties as the wizard's farmhand and housekeeper, Nick secretly explores the wizard's bookshop. It is there that hilarious exchanges between Nick and the snarky magic books (whose conversations with him are rather like text messages) help him (and readers) move beyond the fact that he has been kidnapped by a cranky old man. Lurking about in the Maine woods is the arrogant, shape-shifting French werewolf wizard Fidelou, who wishes to conquer the quirky small town (sort of a cross between quaint coastal village and Hogsmeade) that has been ruled by the wizard Smallbone for centuries. Though Fidelou and his crew of biker werewolf minions add some dramatic distraction, it is Nick's evolution into a young wizard that commands attention. Readers journey with Nick as he stumbles through what was real in his world, his grief at losing his mother, into a magical world that gives him a sense of purpose. Fans of fantasy will be captivated—and hoping for a sequel. (Fantasy. 9-13)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

After 12-year-old Nick Reynaud flees his abusive uncle, he's taken on as an apprentice by the wizard Zachariah Smallbone, who lives in the secluded, electronics-free Maine town of Smallbone Cove. Instead of being taught magic, Nick winds up managing the wizard's bookstore, cooking his meals, and trying to avoid getting turned into a spider (again). With the help of the store's books, Nick begins to harness his own powers, just as the seal-people his master has sworn to protect are threatened by the shape-shifting wolf wizard Fidelou. In an imaginative contemporary landscape of magical pelts and powerful tomes, Sherman (The Freedom Maze) delivers a cast of richly developed characters, though their backstories, as well as the magical history of Smallbone Cove, remain somewhat vague. Instead, the narrative focuses primarily on Nick's character growth as it builds to a climactic clash between wizards. Themes that include the importance of self-confidence and self-knowledge, as well as the power of appearances and of reading, should resonate with a broad range of readers. Ages 8-12. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. (Sept.)

School Library Journal

Gr 3-7 Runaway Nick intends to stay only long enough for a hot meal and a night's rest before moving on, but the Evil Wizard Smallboneand his bookstorehave other plans. ("You knocked on the door and you asked for shelter. Well, you got it. And now Evil Wizard Books has got you.") Agreeing to apprentice for the evil wizard, Nick finds himself facing the daily threat of being turned into something unpleasant. But despite his time spent in various forms (spider, rock, rat), Nick manages to befriend the enigmatic bookstore, save some enchanted animals, and even pick up a little magic here and there. Unfortunately his precarious peace is threatened by Smallbone's maniacal nemesis, the werewolf Fidelou, a wizard of great power and few scruples. Fidelou wants to claim Smallbone's lands and destroy him once and for all. Can Nick find the power to stop Fidelou? Or will he be turned into a helpless slug? Or worse? Sherman's tale takes place in the present in a sleepy Maine seaside town. The plot unfolds easily, and though a fantasy, it's not over-the-top for fans of realistic fiction. The characters are well-developed, especially Nick, who learns to value self-knowledge. Avid readers will enjoy Sherman's nods to other literary works, and reluctant readers will find themselves immersed in the tale. VERDICT Recommended for fans of Harry Potter, this story will captivate older readers while remaining accessible to younger ones. Recommended as a first purchase. Rose Garrett, Cliff Valley School, Atlanta, GA