A great read. The characters were lovable and their relationships were so heartwarming.
I loved Brucifer, he is iconic.
Not going to lie, I thought the leaders would be someone else, but it kind of still makes sense.
The one thing is, it didn’t seem like a 12/13 year old’s pov. I know she would be bound to be more mature based on what she has gone through, but still.
I highly recommend this for you to read for a cozy, fun, and thought inducing read. I hope to read the continuation.

Great book and interesting story. will keep children and anyone else interested in the story from the beginning. would recommend

This is a great pick for middle grade readers who love magical stories set in magical schools with great underdog characters who rise up to save the day. Vin has been kicked out of almost every magical school possible. Her parents never visit her, and she's never really had friends. And she's never really understood her powers. Until she ends up at the Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents. Friendships form, and powers are revealed. I was furiously turning pages for the last 1/4 of the book, in particular, to find out what happened next. Excellent characters and big themes about good vs. evil, how to be a good friend, owning your power, and forgiveness of self and others give this book an emotional charge that complements the fast-paced fantasy nature of the book. I highly recommend it to fans of books like School for Good & Evil, Keeper of the Lost Cities, and Harry Potter.

A cute, fun read for younger middle grade. I went in with slightly different expectations which it didn't quite reach, but I think that is a fault of me and not the book.
I enjoyed the magic system and thought that it was well fleshed out, and I think there is a good base for the next installment!

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents is an exciting read for kids who are especially drawn to “boarding school” and magical fantasy books/series — think The School for Good and Evil, Witchlings, Harry Potter, etc.

Vin is such a likeable character, accidentally causing havoc while trying to remain invisible. She’s street smart but doesn’t believe in herself or her magic. She’s relatable, even though her story is set in a world of magic.

And what a world of magic. Author Nicki Pau Preto has created a magical system that’s intriguing without being confusing. It’s these magical elements that really bring the story to life. The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents is Preto’s middle-grade debut, but it doesn’t feel like one. Preto’s writing is strong and assured and fun to read.

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents is a standalone novel, but there’s room for more books in this world. Fingers crossed!

Fun magic school book for older middle graders. I really enjoyed the set up of this school, the fact that it’s all the delinquent students kicked out of all the other magic schools. Very cool magic system and some great characters.

This was delightful. A mix of Upside Down Magic and Harry Potter, it takes the kids with strange and unexpected magic concept from Upside Down Magic and gives it higher stakes.

I loved the characters. They were all charming delinquents with unexpected magic, including the headmaster. Brucifer was just wonderful.

I was thoroughly hooked the entire time and I can't wait to read more books in this series. I will be looking up Nicki Pau Preto's other books now based on how much I enjoyed this one.

I would recommend it to kids who loved Harry Potter and Nevermoor, and would consider it a step up in maturity from Upside Down Magic and a great next step for kids who loved that.

*Thanks to Viking Books for Young Readers for providing an early copy for review.

Great fun read! reminiscent of Harry Potter with a little bit of X-men mixed in. The school sounds amazing I want to go there myself. The magic systems is simple but well done. The story had me hooked from start to finish. The book does leave off on a cliffhanger so I am hoping the next one comes out soon!

OKAY FOLKS

This book was SO GOOD!

I've always loved Nicki's writing style and world building, and when I saw she was coming out with a middle-grade magical boarding school series, I just knew I had to check it out. This exceeded all my expectations. It was cute, whimsical, and just left me feeling so happy.

I know many of us grew up with another magical boarding school series written by a super horrible person who should not be named. I also understand the feeling of nostalgia when you think about that series and the memories associated with those books. But this book and hopefully series has a lot of similar vibes and feel-goodness.

I'm struggling to review this because every aspect was so perfect–the friendships, Vin's relationship with the headmistress, capture the flag, the Free Mages, all the mysteries, and the final "battle" scene. I loved seeing Vin grow as a character and learn to embrace herself and her magic and open herself up to the people around her. I also loved how the students all worked together at the end to protect the school and their headmistress. While I did kind of predict where things are headed, it just makes me so excited to see what happens next.

I'm also obsessed with Brucifer. He reminds me of Calcifer from Howl's Moving Castle, and I love him and his need for expensive wood chips so much. I NEED MORE OF HIM. And possibly a little water spirit to join the gang.

You just feel so good reading this book, and it's a feeling I've missed from other books I've been reading, and I think is sometimes almost exclusive to middle-grade books. There is danger and the unknown, but there's also such great friendship and camaraderie. It can have a lot of the typical tropes you would expect, but I never feel annoyed with them, because it does feel like coming home.

I really hope there's more books to come. And I'm just so curious to see what happens with the Free Mages. In part I kind of agree with what they stand for because it is unfair for kids who have different magical abilities to be excluded from magical society and schools, but I can also understand why the headmistress mistrusts them because of what they've done. I'm really curious to see if the plot thickens and gets more complicated, because it is something Nicki's done with her YA books, and I think it would be an interesting direction to take this series too.

This was a very cute story for middle grade kids who love magic. My 9yo’s favorite part was Brucifer and the twisty ending. The core group of characters are incredibly supportive of each other and there as just a good dynamic of students. Lots of age appropriate lessons to be learned. We’re hoping it’s a series.

An excellent take on the magical school genre! With a colorful cast of characters, interesting magical abilities and categories, and believable world building, this book kept me enthralled. Heavy found-family themes here for those of us that just don't fit into the societal mold, even the already outcasted magical one! The only thing that I can say is that most plot-twists were predictable, but that may just be for me; the target audience, middle-schoolers, probably won't see it coming!

Such a fun book to read with my seven year old daughter! We had to stop reading it before bed, because it was making her so excited! It was the perfect book to read in the morning though, while we were both waking up:)

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents by Nicki Pau Preto sets up Vin to realize what she truly wants.

Will Vin save the school and her friends? Can Vin say that the school is her new home?

Lavinia "Vin" Lucas
Vin Lucas is at the end of the line for magical schools, and if she doesn't do well at this school, she can't continue her education. Her magic isn't like everyone else's since it causes magical outbursts, leading her to The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents, where other kids like her can finish their education. But here's the problem: Vin is too scared to use her magic. I loved Vin and how she slowly changed about using her magic at the school over time. This school is good for Vin. Once Vin is comfortable using her magic, she can do so freely without any teacher wanting to expel her.

Her Friends
Once Vin arrived at the school, she met three students who became her friends. They are Gilly Reid, Theo, and Araminta Singh. The three of them each have their specialty of magic that isn't exactly what the Treaty wanted from their classifications. Gilly initiated the friendship with Vin, and the other two followed. I love the four of them together since they all helped Vin realize that she isn't a bad person and that her magic isn't dangerous.

The School
Headmistress Ava Hope runs the Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents. Ms. Ava Hope reminded me a bit of Franny Fisher from Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The school is made for these students to get their education while also feeling free to use their magic. This way helps them to grow healthily. Especially in the way they gain control of their magic. However, unlike the other young mages that have a similar power to them, the Delinquents's magic works differently. I love this school. The students encourage each other to do things with their magic that they wouldn't think to do otherwise. It's fun seeing how all the students came together under one goal and how if push comes to shove, they will all stand together to protect their school, even if it is against the other students in classes.

Five Stars
I am giving five stars to The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents by Nicki Pau Preto and recommend it. Ms. Pau Preto is an excellent storyteller, and I thought I was right there with Vin exploring her world. I loved every minute of this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents by Nicki Pau Preto.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

This book felt like a combination of the best parts of the Harry Potter series, the Percy Jackson series, and the Divergent Series. It starts with a mage who has been expelled from every school she has been in. She now has to adapt to a new school, where the headmistress takes a special interest in her (Sounds much like Harry Potter). Why? Because she has an unusual magical power that no one else has. She is a chameleon (Sounds like Divergent). She now has to save her school along with some of her bullies (Sounds like Percy Jackson) from other mages, who are out to retaliate against her headmistress. I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read. I am looking forward if the author writes a Book 2.

I loved this book. It was well written and had great characters who, were, as much as can be done in one book, well developed.. The plot was great - a young girl with magic keeps getting expelled from magic schools because she can’t control her magic - gets sent to a school that is her last hope for success. There, with many downs and a few ups, she finds herself and her place in the magical world.
I have read many middle grade books with magic schools and students with issues, some good, many mediocre, and some just plant bad, but I can easily see this one developing into a multi-book series. There is enough left unfinished that it should be able to take the characters to the end of their school careers. I truly hope it does.

Liv (short for Lavonia) has been expelled from almost every magical school on the planet. She's now been sent to the Last Hope School and is desperate to "fly under the radar" so she can finally graduate and move on with her life. Getting expelled from Last Hope means no future for her. Always placed in the wrong category of magic, Liv can't seem to control the huge swell of magic that resides within her and how destructive she can be. It is only the headmistress of Last Hope, Ava, who can see Liv's vast potential and is willing to help her learn how to control her magic. But there are others who want to destroy the Last Hope school and are willing to use an unsuspecting Liv as their agent of destruction.
For younger fans of "Harry Potter" type tales. There are a lot of similarities between the two stories. The ending leaves an opportunity for a sequel as it appears that the evil isn't totally vanquished.

I recieved an eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Things go wrong for Vin at school. Every school. Her magic is uncontrolled and bursts out, unexpectedly. She is at risk of being labeled a magical dropout, unable to get any form of education past middle school, When she is sent to the Last Hope School, she's terrified this will happen again. But, she finds a true refuge. She makes friends, and discovers that her magical outbursts are due to being a Chameleon, one who picks up and amplifies magic from other sources. But, things also keep going wrong. Viv and her friends need to figure out what's happening and save Last Hope.

This is an enjoyable addition to the Magical School genre, and hopefully the start of a new series.

If you’re a fan of Harry Potter and looking for your next magical adventure, “The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents” by Nicki Pau Preto is a must-read. This middle-grade fantasy novel is packed with everything young fantasy lovers crave: a whimsical boarding school, quirky magical lessons, and a cast of enchanting characters. And of course; the plot is captivating and intriguing.

The story follows Vin, a strong-willed girl who has been expelled from numerous schools due to her uncontrollable magical abilities. At the Last Hope School, however, she finds a place where she is welcomed by the headmistress.

Vin’s journey is one of self-discovery and empowerment. With the support of her headmistress and group of new friends, she learns to harness her powers, gaining control and confidence. The themes of friendship, acceptance, and perseverance are beautifully woven into the narrative, making it a heartwarming read. The book also tackles the feeling of being an outsider with sensitivity and depth. Vin’s struggles and triumphs are relatable and endearing.

The writing is top-notch, showcasing meticulous editing and a well-crafted plot that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

“The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents” is a delightful and magical read that middle-grade readers will absolutely love. It’s a perfect blend of humor, adventure, and heartfelt moments.

Vin's uncontrollable magic and many expulsions land her in the Last Hope School for Delinquents. Unlike her other schools, this one encourages her to use her magic and make mistakes. Although Vin starts off apprehensive of her magic, she learns to be excited about what she can do thanks to the headmistress, Ava Hope. She also makes friends with Gilly Reid (a water conjurer), Theo Singh (a replication expert), and Araminta Singh (an illusion caster) who are her first true friends. There's also Brucifer, a sassy fire spirit she summoned the first day who reminded me of Calcifer from Howl's Moving Castle. After discovering a plot of deception, Vin must use her newfound abilities and friendships to save her new home.

Immediately loved Vin because she was getting bullied to use her magic which is what made her lose control so many times. Her genuine fear of hurting others, because her magic was unpredictable, endeared her to me. The magical system itself was very interesting although slightly confusing in the beginning. I enjoyed seeing Vin exploring what she could do through her magical lessons. I also secretly loved seeing her lose control because boy was she powerful! Her growth in confidence and determination was such a wonderful thing to see.

The story could drag a little but I also liked that it was so lengthy because by the end of the story, I got a sense of the world as well as all the characters' personalities and motivations. Although the villain was obvious I liked how everything played out and look forward to the sequel. There's a lot of potential for this to be a great magical academy series that fans of Nevermoor and Harry Potter would enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. This story is a wonderful novel for middle grade kids. The themes of friendship, finding family bonds with those that do not share blood ties, resiliency and finding oneself are all important for kids to experience through fiction. I loved the story of Vin and how Gilly, Theo and Araminta took her in as their friend without her asking or even trying. They showed her friendship and loyalty throughout. I look forward to reading more from this author.