Friday, April 3, 2026

The Forbidden Room by Nicki Pau Preto, - ADVISABLE

The Forbidden Room (Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents #2) by Nicki Pau Preto, 327 pages. Viking (Penguin), 2025. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (magic fight)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Vin is happy for school to start again after winter break, but unfortunately the events of the first part of the school year has brought Inspectors from the Worldwide Magical Coalition whose aim really seems to be to find any excuse to shut down the school. A new student, Zach, has joined the school, and Vin is determined to make him feel welcome, just like her friends did for her. As Vin becomes more proficient and comfortable with her Chameleon powers, she  doesn’t know that she and her friends are headed for a showdown with someone whose purpose is much more evil than just closing the school. 

Vin is SUCH a great character! She does act older than 12 - it would have been great if she had aged up a whole year between books instead of just having winter break. The magical powers of the world are different from others i have read for this age group and if Pau Preto doesn’t continue this series (it does feel like it could be finished), then I hope she continues to realize new characters.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS


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