What is The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia about?
12 year old Sparrow Xia is about to begin her 1st year at Zenith Academy where her older brother Ainsley is already a student.
Sparrow envies Ainsley for his powerful fire magic and the attention it brings him from family and friends. She aims to work hard at the academy and build her own fire magic. After all, when she becomes an adult, her magic will fade. This is normal in her world, so she wants to experience the same glory as her brother before that happens.
Her new school brings new friends, new challenges, and more danger than she’s ever known.
Plot summary of The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia (No Spoilers)
Sparrow travels by portal from her home to the bottom of the steps to Zenith Academy. Reaching the top is her first magical challenge, determining if she can actually enter the school for further magical training.
The ascent is tough, but rewarding in many ways and she’s relieved she can follow her dream of becoming a fire mage as accomplished as her older brother.
There are many classes to attend, friendships to build and magic to practise, and soon even more to occupy her mind. Fellow students are losing their magic and falling ill. Sparrow believes she has clues to why this is happening, but convincing anyone it almost impossible. Her brother’s contempt for her is even stronger when she tries to warn him.
Can she save more students? Is she next?
Review
Not quite as big as a Harry Potter novel, but of the same reading level, The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia is a novel based in a magical school. Well written, with strong world building and characterisation, and with building tension and a thrilling climax and conclusion, what really stood out for me was its presentation.
From the eye catching cover to the sneak peek of the cover to the next in the series, this magical middle grade novel is lusciously illustrated throughout. It might be a picture in the corner of a page or down the length of one. Sometimes an illustration stretches across both pages, and some even fill entire spreads with the text continuing on top.
The characters are introduced in the text and with a picture of them with their name on the page. As with school settings, there are usually many characters. These small portraits help readers picture each character as they become part of the story.
The conclusion leaves readers wondering what will happen next and how Sparrow Xia will develop her magic further.
Book Style
307 pages / 30 Chapters / Illustrated throughout with small to large pictures and even full page spreads behind text of the story.
FAQ’s
What age is it for?
9+
Where & When is it set?
In a country called the United Realms – mostly at a fictional fantasy school called the Zenith Academy for Magical Development
What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
Third person / Past tense
Is there Violence?
Magic – Fire
What genre is The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia?
Illustrated Middle-Grade Action
Themes
Magic / School / Friendship / Family / Mystery / Sibling Rivalry
Is it part of a series?
Yes
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Author / Illustrator
Leia Ham
Publisher
Penguin Books
(2026, Penguin Books, Fantasy, Magic, Friendship, School, Family, Action, Fantasy, Mystery, Courage, Series, Fire, Elemental magic, Sibling Rivalry, Power, Greed)