The Mesmerist by Ronald L. Smith - ADVISABLE

Smith, Ronald L. The Mesmerist 257 pages.  Clarion, 2017.  $17.  

Language: G (2 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some fighting)

EL, MS – ADVISABLE

Jessamine and her mother having been running a fake medium show for years – until the day that Jess starts receiving real messages.  Then her mother takes her to Balthazar, a faerie who has a collection, a makeshift family of other children who also have strange abilities.  Balthazar is training the children to rebuild the League of Ravens, dedicated to fighting Mephisto, who killed Jess’s father years ago and who just murdered Jess’s mother to prove a point.  Jess and the others will have to find their separate powers and their strength together in order to survive Mephisto’s plans.

I’m not even sure what genre to call this – but I haven’t seen its like written for the middle grades ever.  Its set in Victorian England at a time when spiritualists were much sought after.  Smith adds paranormal and supernatural elements together and the mishmash manages to work.

Cindy, Library Teacher