AMBER AMBROSIA

In this middle-grade supernatural sequel, two students of magic experience a summer vacation brimming with mystery and villainy.

Taking a known criminal down has turned Wil Wychwood and Sophie Isidor into heroes. The 10-year-old cousins, having nearly finished their first year at a magic academy, are ready for the summer off. But it’s not long before they’re staving off boredom, even eyeing a beekeeper’s Help Wanted sign—“Besides, what else have we got to do?” Sophie asks. As it turns out, honeybees in the kids’ magical city, MiddleGate, have been getting sick. This seemingly falls in line with Sophie’s catching part of two women’s cryptic conversation in a washroom, something about “magical bees” and a supposedly defunct secret society, the Serpent’s Chain. But there’s a chance the Serpent’s Chain, with ties to the baddie the cousins thwarted, has a revival in the works. Wil and Sophie vow to help the bees; while this may put them in danger in MiddleGate, it also gives them a close-up of the insects’ tiny, fascinating world. This series installment fills the pages with mysteries. Along with the magical bees, Wil’s beloved snake, Esme, disappears, and it looks as if someone is moving into the long-vacant home in the kids’ neighborhood. Bridgman wisely sets this concisely written novel outside of the academy, where much of the preceding book unfolded. It’s fun to watch the likable, sadly friendless cousins bond and later hit it off with a couple of their peers. The memorable supporting cast features the cousins’ endearing, caregiving aunts, including Violet, who’s looking to buy a brand new (or maybe used) crystal ball from a flashy salesman. Although the story centers more on characters than magical feats, the final act takes a spell-induced turn as Wil and Sophie investigate the sickly buzzing insects.

Youthful adventures and magical touches make for an entertaining tale.