What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon

by Henry Clark

When three kids discover a book of magic spells that can only be cast during a few short minutes a day, they'll need all the time they can get to save a dying magical world, its last dragon, and themselves.An ordinary day turns extraordinary when twelve-year-old Cal witnesses his neighbor Modesty summon a slew of lost coins without lifting a finger. Turns out she has a secret manual of magic spells . . . but they only work sometimes. And they're the most boring spells To Change the Color of a Room, To Repair a Chimney, To Walk With Stilts, To Untangle Yarn. Useless!But when Cal, his friend Drew, and Modesty are suddenly transported to the world the spells come from—a world that's about to lose its last dragon—they'll have to find a way to use the oddly specific incantations to save the day, if only they can figure out when magic works.From the inventive mind of Henry Clark comes a hilariously wacky adventure about magic, friendship, a lookout tower come to life, a maze in the shape of a dragon, an actual dragon named Phlogiston, and lots and lots of popcorn.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Adventure, Dragons, Juvenile, Magic

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2020

About the author

Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Kimberlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon" by Henry Clark is an absolutely wonderful book! I'll admit upfront that I am a good bit older than the target demographic, but I enjoyed it every bit as much as my son. We actually made quite a game of stealing it back and forth from each other to read the next part!

What I Loved:
1. The plot! It was lots of fun, with quirky magic, entertaining characters, and great world-building, both in the regular world and in the parallel magical one.

2. The characters! The main characters were well-drawn and believable. It's nice to see middle-school-aged kids portrayed as clever, loyal, and caring. In real life, most of them are, and it's nice to see something other than the complete brats that usually populate books and tv shows. Modesty's quirky family (who are mostly off-screen) are described well enough to provide plenty of laughter for the reader. A spin-off book along the lines of "Modesty and Her Sisters Shop at the Mall" could be hilarious! Regardless, kudos to the author for getting middle school kids just right!

3. The subtle humor! Yes, there was plenty of not-so-subtle humor, which I also enjoyed. But how can you NOT love a magical world in which people enjoy reading about "Mary Potter, Girl Scientist"?

4. The positive messaging! In a real world full of doom and gloom, it's nice to see a book that shows kids using their brains, working together, and actually making a difference. I loved how they made the "Magical Minutes" work for them, despite the apparent uselessness of some of the spells. The "take-care-of-the-environment" and "stand-up-to-bullies-even-if-they're-the-ones-in-charge" messages were also timely and age-appropriate.

Overall, I 100% loved this book. I recommend it to everyone, regardless of age or ability to enjoy stories about magical-doorways-in-refrigerators.

Five out of five extra-large chunks of Monterey Jack!

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This new fantasy tale is brimming over with clever bits and pieces like li-fi (librarian) fiction, Harry Potter (Mary Potter) references, and a fire tower that transports people (walks on stilts) to name a few. There was a healthy dose of humor and tongue in cheek references to scientific (not scientifical, Pre) conumdrums and controversies in our world. Cal, Modesty, and Drew exhibit great ingenuity in attempting to make use of the book of spells that has been discovered in this world. Pre, the visitor from Congroo, reminds us of the wonder we have lost when regarding many of our modern conveniences. The great villain Semi Hemi Demi Uhm Lout is a thinly veiled jab at our current president and takes the book too far into the political. Overall, though it is an entertaining, whacky, though sometimes a bit erratic, ride. Kids who enjoy the wordplay and antics in this book will grow up to read Jasper Fforde and his Thursday Next series.

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tiffany Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a glorious and truly imaginative adventure this novel truly is!

Right away, the reader is introduced to the very endearing, and relatable, Calvin, who lives on his family's farm in the town of Disarray. Soon, he and his friends must try to save the neighboring world of Congroo (where magic, and a dragon are on the brink of extinction).

I was immediately drawn into this story and could not put it down. I was constantly left wondering what was going to happen next and there is certainly no lack of action and adventure.

But ultimately, what truly blew me away are the underlying themes. This book touches brilliantly on the impact that large corporations have had on smaller agricultural farms as well as the difficulties faced in farming and agriculture. It also hits on topics such as global warming, wildlife conservation, and endangered species.

Other topics this book touches on several times, that i applaud, are bullying, friendship, relationships with family, trust, and teamwork.

I do want to bring up that there is a little violence in a few places and implied violence. While this did not bother me, I know this might be something parents wish to review prior to allowing their younger reader to read this novel.

Once again, I highly enjoyed this magical journey. Thank you so very much for the advanced reader's copy!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic exists!
It's this realization in the book, What We Found In The Corn Maze And How It Saved A Dragon by Henry Clark that sends three friends on a whirlwind adventure to not only save a dragon but also save the family farm, rescue an alternate universe, and take down a global corporation.
At first, the magic seems mundane, gathering lost coins, opening doors, etc, but once the door to the alternate universe of Congroo is open (in the fridge, natch) the kids see just how the two worlds are reliant on each other. They quickly realize that the fate of both worlds is in their hands.
I loved the speed and whimsy in this book. From very early on in the read I was reminded of Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth. There is so much fun to unpack in this one that kids will want to read it multiple times just to try to catch all the hidden (and not-so-hidden) puns and literary references.
I am DEFINITELY adding it to my list of recommendations for gifted youngsters and would wholeheartedly suggest this book for advanced 3rd grade up to 8th grade readers.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry Clark’s fantasy novel for grades 5 and up has dragons and magic plus humorous references to Harry Potter and a variety of other contemporary icons. The beginning and ending were unique and entertaining, but the middle lagged. However, the book will garner a readership of those who love fantasy and have a quirky sense of humor. No red flags raised in regards to language, violence, or sexual content. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss and NetGalley.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

In What We Found in the Corn Maze and How it Saved a Dragon introduces the reader to Calvin, a very relatable young man who lives on a farm. We also meet his best friend, Drew and neighbour, Modesty, all living in the town of Disarray. The boys discover that Modesty has a book of spells, but there are a couple of catches. They are for simple household type chores (gathering lost coins, opening doors, changing the colour of a room) and only work at certain times of day. While trying to figure out ways to use the spells, they discover the land of Congroo. This is an alternate universe that is in danger and dragons are on the brink of extinction. The kids see just how the two worlds are reliant on each other, and quickly realize that the fate of both worlds is in their hands. Soon, he and his friends must try to save the dragons, the magic and Congroo. The door to this world is opened with a spell, but you will have to read the book to find out where that door is. This book will be a hit with children who love fantasy and have a quirky sense of humor. It will be fun to try and catch all the hidden puns and literary references. II also enjoyed the humour in the story, most coming from Modesty when she shares stories about her sister. There are some great themes in this book dealing with bullying, friendship, relationships with family, trust, and teamwork. It also has a larger focus on the impact that large corporations have had on smaller agricultural farms as well as the difficulties faced in farming and agriculture. It touches on topics such as global warming, wildlife conservation, and endangered species. This book has a some minor violence so I recommend it for students in grade 5 or above. The reason I knocked off one star is because it lagged a bit in the middle and some kids might give up at that point.

[Anastasia Tuckness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another laugh-inducing fun favorite from Clark, whose book What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World remains one of my favorites!

The plotline is reasonably interesting, presenting a magical parallel world that's increasingly impacting our own, and three middle schoolers with a binder of magic spells. But honestly where Clark really shines is his humorous details, like the oracle--her name is Delleps (spelled backward), her ring tone is her saying "ring ring," and you can only ask her one question at a time--at the 2nd question, she hangs up. This makes for some very careful conversations. Or the existence of "libfi"--librarian-themed fiction, sure to have increased sales because librarians like to recommend books containing librarians!

Will be enjoyed by fantasy/humor lovers for sure as well as fans of books where kids have to save the world. (These are not uncommon!) I enjoyed it and am going to recommend it to Alex as a camp Iowa audiobook since it can be enjoyed by young and old alike. (Note: I read an ARC; it won't be published for a couple months yet.)

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having been witness to its critical acclaim, this is one book that I can highly recommend.

My son is required to do 20-minutes of reading each night for school. After a month went by in which he was stuck on the same book, I realized that if he had his way, he would never finish it. We switched out that book and replaced it with 'What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon'.

After only a couple of sessions, he was going on and on about Drew, Cal and Modesty; about their spells and about the green chocolate chip cookies. At one point while he was reading, he stood and began gesturing with his hand. (I think he was trying his luck with an incantation!) Suffice to say, he loves it! It will be placed on the school's recommended reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Henry Clark for an ARC of 'What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon' in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

[Lindsey Rojem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review here and on my blog Samwise Reviews. I loved every minute of it. I was laughing out loud at my desk and I never knew what was coming next. It was absolutely my sense of humor, it was witty and creative and original and clever. My favorite part was Modesty talking about her sister's cooking mishaps. "Why are the chocolate chips green? Because they're peas" and "Why is your cat starting at the fridge? Because she made icecream yesterday and that cat loves anything with fish in it" were the highlights. Some parts in the middle felt a little slow, but there was always something new about to happen to liven things up. I would definitely seek out more books by Henry Clark. This also fulfills the "A Strong Friendship Theme" part of my 2020 reading challenge.

[Sammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for a review copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

That title is a mouthful, and I don’t recommend saying it five times fast, because who knows what could happen? You might end up opening a wormhole that the Earth falls into, thereby destroying all of creation, and you wouldn’t want that one on your resume, now would you?

What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon is a funny, punny adventure that extols the virtues of science in a sneaky, engaging way, wrapped up in a whole dragonload of fun.

I’m not entirely sure how to describe this book, because while the blurb does a good job, it doesn’t quite capture the heart in this story. I just had so much fun with this book, more than I imagined I would. Definitely one I would recommend to kids, and I think the easy humor would draw them right in.

My Thoughts:

- This book has a delightful, charming, easy-to-read voice that’s full of humor and easily relatable. Do I think kids will love it? Heck yes. I loved it. The plot is a little all over the place at first, and I wasn’t really sure what to expect or where it was going, but around the 30% mark, the quest really kicked into gear, and the plot was a little more focused on something other than I found a book of useless magic. Normally, this would drive me bonkers. I’m a very plot-centric gal. But here, the voice was just so fun and relatable that I was fine just going along for the ride. Yeah, sure, let’s meander here and there. I was just sort of fine with it, because Cal makes for a funny, engaging narrator.

- There’s a little of everything in this book: magic spells, endangered dragons, puns (oh so many wonderful puns), a quest, a conspiracy, new friendships. Yet, none of it is quite as you might expect. This book follows a very Pratchett-like (Pratchettian? Pratchettish?) habit of twists and turns. Just when you’re sure X will happen, the very improbable Y will happen instead … and probably make you laugh, at the same time. This was so freaking effective, because the book incorporates a lot of tropes that you think might end up being tired and cliche, but it twists them in a way that makes them recognizable yet fresh and fun.

- The characters in this are just absolutely delightful. You’ve got our main guy, Cal, who is the child of farmers … and farming can be a difficult life. I really appreciated how the book tackled this, in the midst of everything else, because legacy farms are hard. Staying afloat as a farmer? Also hard. Cal’s not what I would call brainy, but he’s a problem-solver, and his heart’s in the right place (mainly, his chest … I APOLOGIZE FOR NOTHING. Cheesy jokes galore with this book! Own it.)

Modesty is the go-getter of the group. She’s a leader, unafraid to take charge in a situation and just do the thing. Not exactly the stop-and-think-before-charging-in sort of character, but hey, that’s what she’s got the guys for, right?

Then there’s Drew, who’s the more book-smart, logical one. I didn’t feel like I got to know Drew as well as the others, which is a shame, because he’s probably the one who’s most like me. I loved how matter-of-fact he could be, though.

Last but not least, there’s Pre, who is a librarian who just wants to be a scientist (and on behalf of librarians everywhere, I’d be offended, if being a scientist wasn’t so stinking cool in its own right.) To be fair, science doesn’t exist in his world, which makes it more exotic. It’d be the equivalent of me wanting to be a witch and … well, duh. So I can’t really fault him on this one.

- There’s this super sneaky thing going on here, where the book slips in some really powerful life lessons while the reader isn’t looking. It’s sort of a “drop and go” approach, where they’re slipped into some action, and yet they catch your attention because, one, you’re not looking for or expecting them, but two, they make perfect sense in the context that you’re like … huh. Well, that’s a good point. My favorite examples of this, in particular, are with Pre and his absolute fascination with science, which doesn’t exist in his world. Pre wants very much to be a scientist, so the book shows, in a lot of little ways, how much science can play a part in everyday life. Or, you know, in big quests to save the world, even. It was so fun to see the little ways that Pre did something “scientifical” without even realizing it, because science is just that broad and that powerful.

- This book is super punny and with the cheesiest sense of humor, and I absolutely freaking loved it. It’s witty, in a simplistic way, and makes the story so much more enjoyable to read. The best thing about this type of humor is that it allows the author to slip in all sorts of little Easter eggs that younger kids may not understand, but which older readers and adults will appreciate even more. Basically, it’s accessible to all ages. There’s a little something for everyone. The book is obviously targeted to kids, but this would be a super fun one for parents to read out loud with their youngsters, too.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining book. I enjoyed the characters and plot. Looking forward to sharing it with my customers and grandkids!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is probably called fantasy, but the mix of magic and modern technology makes it feel a little sci-fi too. I'll echo what others have said--the characters are positive--respectful to each other & their parents, smart & resourceful, and still interesting! The writing is engaging, believable, it flows well, and is SO funny! My only complaint is that this book is said to be appropriate for 8 to 12 year olds. There is nothing to censor for younger kids (maybe a little bathroom humor if that bothers you, I don't care for it but the way the author used it, it fit) but the clever humor and word play (plus the slightly complex plot work) in the book is going to be lost on anyone under 12, or maybe under 14. Which is a big loss--it is my favorite thing about the book! The audience should be teens plus! There are not too many new books that come out that I like and think will stick around. I hope this one does. My 12 year old liked it but I am pretty sure she didn't get most of the jokes--she likes all kinds of light fantasy. We got this book at our library as an advance reader copy. I'm going to have my 16 year old try it. If you'd like a comparison, maybe an Edward Eager story brought into our time. Try it!!

[Karen McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another reviewer mentioned that this book was a "vacation" and I absolutely agree. The premise was fun, if not bordering on absurd, the puns and humor abound- from potty humor for the middle grade students to some more sophisticated jokes poked at our expense that will most likely go over my students' heads. What I kept thinking when I was reading this book is that is so unlike any fantasy I have read- maybe because it is irreverent and just downright silly- but then all the elements of the story come together to be necessary and meaningful with some twists and turns I didn't see coming. I quite frankly enjoyed the ride immensely.

I think this would make a great read aloud for middle grade classrooms because of the humor but also the adventure and "cliffhanger" chapter endings my students like to groan about so much but really they love and it keeps them coming back for more. While mostly a lighthearted book, there are some connections to the "World of Science" that I think are definitely worth exploring, and certainly worth having fun with science while reading.

The ending did border on ridiculous (as the author himself mentions in writing), but at that point I had greatly enjoyed the story and was just glad to see it wrap up so quickly because the fun was done. Overall, this surprised me and brought a joy to reading on this 100 day of quarantine in Covid 19 land when I really needed an escape.

[Bethany W · Rating 5 out of 5]

My reading challenge for 2022 was 30 books and it is fitting that this book is #30.

They say don’t judge a book by it’s cover, but that is 100% why I grabbed it on a whim from the library shelf. I had no idea I was in for a treat of whimsy and fantasy and all-around awesomeness.

I think this is my favorite read of the year and it will definitely be my top recommendation when parents ask for a good book to read with the family.

[Blinn Sheffield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best friends Cal and Drew see a bizarre sight: coins rolling along the ground. This leads them to a girl named Modesty and a book of magic spells she has found from an alternate world called Congroo. The trio, along with a Congroo librarian named Pre, soon find that they must stop an evil plot to drain Congroo of its magic. A fun and original story filled with hilarious gags: Congroo has a Mary Potter series to mirror our world's Harry Potter, Modesty has no modesty whatsoever, and why don't Congroo residents need toilet paper?

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read aloud spanned the end of summer and the beginning of the new school year. It was a slow starter for both the kids and myself but by the end we were all invested in the outcome. The kids particularly loved the silly parts, which were many and varied.

[Amaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an amazing story. A lot of adventures and surprises.

[Matt Sweeney · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a full review, visit us at Woodpecker Books.

Calvin Sap and his friend Drew discover that one of their classmates, Modesty, can use magic – but only at 12:34 pm. After they find her spellbook, they give it a go and discover four other times during the day when magical spells can be said. When the three children use magic to open a locked safe in Modesty’s kitchen, the refrigerator opens instead. And with it, the entrance to the land of Congroo.

What follows is a lot of magical trial and error as these children try to uncover a plot to suck all the magic out of Congroo. A Congroo local, Preffy Arrowshoot, explains that if magic dies, so will the last dragon. Will they find the culprit that is siphoning all of the magic out of Congroo in time? And will they be able to save Calvin’s farm in the process?

The author nailed the art of preteen dialogue. It’s fast. Witty. Natural. Humorous. The premise is creative. The amount of puns borderlines the absurd. While a book full of puns might connect with the middle grade boy, it cheapens the feel of the book overall. Everything lacks seriousness or gravity of the situation as the characters move from come back to come back. As for character development, every character feels the same. There are little differences such as their particular interests (swimming, video games, science). But they are all sassy, chatty, and witty. I would have preferred character variance to deepen the impact of the story.

I was disappointed that the dragon in the title received such little time and focus on the book. The characters began to wear a bit on me by the end. Every person seemed incredibly high energy. No one came across as reserved or cautious. The novel just jumped from one-liner to one-liner. Don’t get me wrong – some of those were incredibly funny and clever. But even the best of the jokes felt a bit hackneyed by the end of it.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book for kids and adults; I'd recommend it as a family read-aloud. It has the usual two boys and a girl dynamic and is a portal fantasy. Fun, light, and perfect for losing yourself in 2020, especially around Halloween.

[Rosie Rizk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun & magical adventure.

See full review at: https://tbrnext.com/2020/01/26/what-w...

When two boys find a girl from their school performing real magic, they work with her to figure out how and why it works, and how a magic spell book ended up in her locker. When they try opening a long locked safe with a spell, but end up with a door leading to another world, the trio learn of the source of their magic, and a dastardly plan in motion that puts the magical world in grave danger. Cal, Modesty, & Drew must work together with Pre, a boy from the magical world, to try to help out however they can.

The magic spells available were limited to funny, but mostly useless purposes. Still, even useless spells can be turned into important ones when used right. The characters were pretty smart with figuring out the limits they could work with, and in using them to their most practical applications. They also made a great team, and it was fun and funny to read.

There was a great mix of magic, brainwork, and friendship. The plot was fun and moved quickly. I really liked this book. It's a great middle grade (and older) read.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on how science and magic can work together, or not.

Cal and other farmers are going out of business because an inventor has come up with a way to make food from tomatoes.

But, no one understands how that works.

And then magic appears in the form of coins rolling.

And magic appears in a door opening.

And magic is leaking from another relm, and threatens to kill all magic. Forever.

This is just how the book goes. It wanders around, but all comes together in the end.

I liked how everything connected, though I have to say I found it odd that they introduced Drew to have him be gone for most of the book.

Good story on interconnectivity of life. Not too heavy handed there, and I liked that there was a series of books, in the magic relm called Mary Potter, about a scientist.

It took a while to get into the story, and it was a bit slow in the middle, but it made up for it as we raced to the conclusion.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

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“What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon” turned out to be quite an adventurous middle-grade novel of magic, farms, and even a dragon, and I liked reading it!

I adore reading middle-grade novels because it provides a form of escapism without making it too serious. This book turned out to be the perfect blend of fantasy and magic set for the target audience. I liked how creative the author made the plot in terms of the Magic Minute and the world of Congroo. The way the author merged our world with the world of magic was interesting, and I also enjoyed the various Harry Potter references mentioned.

Moreover, the author paces the story where you feel like something new happens in each chapter. There are also some exciting moments, like when they find themselves walking into high voltage electricity or realizing that someone is an imposter. The story has a few twists and turns that I did not expect and made the book entertaining to read.

Similarly, the main characters are also friendly and blend well with the plot. I particularly like Cal and Modesty, and even Preffy. However, I sometimes felt like the story was plot-driven, and we didn’t see much connection between the characters. For instance, Cal and Modesty pretty much remain the same throughout the story, and Drew doesn’t appear for a significant portion. It would have been nice if the author also focused on the characters and expressed their emotions.

Nevertheless, the book is still unique, fun, and creative. Overall, “What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon” is a delightful middle-grade fantasy that you would love to read if you are a fan of the genre.

[Adysnewbox · Rating 3 out of 5]

"What We Found in the Corn Maze..." (sorry, I'm not typing out that whole title!) was a very cute book with a very fun premise. The book was clearly written for mid-grade readers, so it's not exactly filled with subtlety and nuance, but I liked its general mood. Its setting also SCREAMS fall/Halloween, so it was perfect timing to read this when I did.

The plot, in a nutshell: Our hero Calvin lives on a small farm, which creates a corn maze every fall. Unfortunately, due to a big mistake of Cal's, and due to a giant corporation in town, the family farm is on the verge of failure, hoping to scrape by with the tourist money from one more fall season. Then, one day, Cal, his friend Drew, and their neighbor Modesty discover coins moving across the ground seemingly by themselves. It's MAGIC! Modesty uncovers a strange notebook with a host of oddly specific spells (mostly only used to help with chores), and a gateway into a parallel world that needs their magic back! But there's a catch; magic can only be performed at VERY SPECIFIC times of the day!

Things kind of spiral out from there. There is clearly a lot of thought put into this silly little magic system. However, there is also a LOT of exposition in order to explain it. There's also a lot of talk of conservation and saving the environment...and shadow wars waged by government leaders...and orphan life in magical worlds...and 3D-printed food (or its equivalent) overshadowing traditional agriculture. It's a LOT to cram into one kid's book and it it hard to keep it all balanced. There are times the story loses focus and drags. Overall I liked it, but I'm unsure what an average middle-grade reader would think.

[Deanna Holdsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the town of Disarray Cal and Drew are best friends. One afternoon they see a quarter rolling by, it hits Cal's shoe, rolls back and tries to go around his shoe a few times before finding success. Soon the boys see more coins rolling down the road, just like a race. The boys follow the coins to an awaiting bucket held by Modest, a girl from school who is just a bit odd. As Modest runs away the boys notice a notebook with jibberish written underneath titles like "How to Open a Door", "How to Walk with Stilts", "To Gather Lost Coins" etc... They think it is a spell book but why would anyone want such silly spells? Modest finds the boys and her book explaining it is magic but that it only works at certain times of the day (example 12:34) and only for one minute. When they try the "How to Open A Door" spell a green person comes out of Modest's refrigerator his name is Preffy Arrowshoot. They go into his world, Congroo. The dragons need to be saved in Congroo and help can be found in Disarray. Cal, Modest and Preffy make it back to Disarry in hopes of stopping the DavyTron Company which is making local farmers lose their farms, it makes all vegetable from Tomato juice. Magic is also involved with DavyTron. Can the kids master the magic, help Preffy, the dragons from Preffy's home, get Drew back home and save Cal's family farm?
I really liked this story, very unique and quirky. I am sure there are many readers that enjoy humor and adventure that will also enjoy this story.

[The Keepers of the Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cal’s family owns a corn maze and a farm, but their family business is in trouble. A machine is printing vegetables of all kinds from tomato juice! When Cal discovers her classmate, Modesty, can practice magic, they hatch a plan to save the farm. Finding a secret book of spells, they summon all of the lost nearby coins. As a side effect, they find themselves transported to a neighboring world where all the dragons are dying. With the help of Preface Arrowshot, a Congruent librarian, the kids discover that the local entrepreneur who’s trying to take Cal’s family’s farm is the culprit. To stop the entrepreneur, they will have to save both of their worlds and a dragon named Phlogiston, Can Modesty and Call save the farm, the dragons, and the corn maze? This adventure-filled story is unique and engaging. The characters are easy to relate to and add a slapstick comedic element to the novel. This bizarre, offbeat adventure will capture the imaginations of middle grade readers who enjoyed Chris Grabenstein’s novels, Phantom Tollbooth, Wayside School, Pennybaker School is Revolting, and Secrets of Topsea series.

Please Note: A copy of this book was given to us by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own. No financial compensation was received.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

When they see some coins moving all on their own, Cal and Drew follow them to Modesty who has a binder full of magic spells. But there's a catch. They only work at certain times and most of them do rather...unspectacular things like change the color of paint in a room or collect loose change. But when they try the open door spell, they accidentally open a portal to another world and discover that someone in their world is draining magic from the other world and dragons and magic are about to go extinct unless they can stop it.

Not quite as funny as Clark's sofa/crayon adventure but still a fun fantasy adventure. I liked that the highest usage of magic is to make common household chores easier. The titles in the magical world's library were also clever. Hand this to readers who like magical adventures with a touch of humor.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Past violence resulted in deaths of one character's parents. Perilous situations are faced but everyone makes it out pretty well.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

When middle schooler Cal tries to help his father save their farm it seems hopeless, until he meets Modesty. She's a mysterious neighbor who is able to concoct pointless spells. After saying an incantation, change rolls towards her from all directions. Cal and best friend Drew are shocked and impressed, how can she perform this trick? It turns out she has a book of magic, and makes the spells in it work. This is an outrageous adventure with three kids, who discover there is another world where dragons are becoming extinct, AND it has a connection with a dragon shaped maze in Cal's father's farm, plus an obscure secret. This tale takes the trio to another world called Congroo, where they meet Preface Arrowshot, a green third apprentice librarian, and learn that there are powerful forces they must discover and conquer to save precious creatures AND their environment. This is a wild tale that will appeal to readers with big imaginations.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cal’s family owns a corn maze and a farm. But their family business is in trouble due to a machine that prints vegetables of all kinds from tomato juice! When Cal and Modesty find a secret book of spells, they accidently summon all the lost nearby coins. Soon they are transported to a neighboring world. There they discover that they must save both of their worlds and a dragon named Phlogiston. Can the trio save both worlds, Cal’s family farm, and the corn maze? The characters are engaging and entertaining. The plot is funny and unique. This bizarre, offbeat adventure will capture the imaginations of middle grade readers. For fans of Wayside School, Pennybaker School is Revolting, and the Secrets of Topsea series.

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

[Tatyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends Cal and Drew team up with their odd classmate Modesty when they find her casting spells from a mysterious three-ring binder. The spells are simultaneously weird and mundane and will only work during very specific minutes of the day. As the group works to figure out how to use the magic, their friendship becomes stronger and the stakes get higher. This book will take the reader into different worlds, evil corporations, the perils of middle school, and yes, a corn maze.
The action starts almost on the first page which will be great for reluctant readers. Clark does a great job of incorporating real-world problems that we’re all facing (monopolization of industries, fake news, gender bias) in an unproblematic way. The intrigue and adventure made this a page turner, causing this rather long book go by quickly. Humor is really Clark’s strong suit. This book may not make you laugh out loud, but it will definitely have you quietly chuckling. The relationships between the three (or four) protagonists didn’t really land for me. Yes, Modesty eventually thawed towards the boys, and yes, Cal said a number of times that he was worried about Drew, but it did not always feel organic.
Overall this was an enjoyable, funny read. I’d recommend this book to grades 5 and up through middle school.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC
Fun book! Don't think to much about this book, just read it and enjoy it. Imagine what would happen if Amelia Bedelia met the the Hogwarts crew and together saved the world. Think of this book as a vacation.