The witch's apprentice /

Jaxon and company return in this follow-up to The Dragon Thief (2019). Jax is frustrated with Ma, the witch he's apprenticed to. Instead of teaching him about magic, she's teaching him about plants. Then, mysterious ash starts falling from the sky and the adults of New York City start falling asleep all over the place, just as Ma, Jax, and Ma's coven leave Brooklyn for the annual convention in Chicago. Jax's first-person narration chronicles his frustrations with Ma, which go beyond her unwillingness to teach him magic to a deeper theme: adults who don't communicate thoroughly with children and don't allow children agency. When a face from the past shows up and challenges his assumptions, Jax begins questioning much of what he's been told--and believes. In the end, Jax must decide whether using his voice or following orders is more important, but the consequences may be steeper than he bargained for. While the themes are compelling, the plot unfortunately relies on the device of miscommunication to propel it. Apart from this, fans will be happy to return to Jax's story (and encounter a new magical creature). The cliffhanger ending points to a future series entry. Most characters are Black; some names cue South Asian heritage. A solid third installment. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.