I received a complimentary review copy from Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for my honest review. This doesn’t affect my thoughts about the book in any way.

3.75 🌟

This middle grade fantasy novel is perfect for fans of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and Witch Hat Atelier. I loved how cozy it was, even though its themes don’t fall under my demographic. The plot and magic system were simple yet fun to navigate, and this book would be something you’d stumble upon when you’re a kid and absolutely enjoy it. I didn’t expect to like literature for 12-year-olds, but I appreciate how the writing style had a way of taking me back to when I first started reading books, which is more than a decade ago already. The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents is a children’s book that teaches strength, camaraderie, and the bond of found family through the humorous dynamics between the characters and the engaging storytelling. That cliffhanger ending was so unexpected, yet I’m excited for the future of these books.

This book is a delight. When I read Klune's The House on the Cerulean Sea, I remember it felt like it was trying to be a MG book in many ways. Apparently, it was trying to be this book. How it managed to be an echo of a book that would come out in the future, I don't know, but it did.

Last Hope's characters are vivid, with great hints of complexity beyond what main character Vin can see. While getting the adults out of the way is standard in MG, "parents are off studying dung beetles" is a unique take and made me laugh.

The magical world building is interesting, if a bit patchy in how it fits into the world outside magic schools, but there's a feeling that that's partially due to seeing the world through the eyes of a 12 year old, rather than the author not having thought it through. And the plot pacing is great. You're given enough to be satisfied if you figure out where things are going, without it being completely predictable. I look forward to more of Vin and her adventures.

3.5⭐
Its a really strong middle grade fantasy, with a whimsical school, with very fun characters. However it did read like a lot of other books I've read. It was also a little predictable but I'm obviously not the targeted demographic for this book at 25y/o. With that said I do think someone who is 10-12 the reveals will be shocking and unexpected.

I do this it has a lot of potential as a series. I will more than likely read the next book whenever it comes out cause I am invested in the characters and I do want to know what will happen to them next. I did really enjoy the magic system in this. It was a really fun read. Ended on a good cliff hanger too!


Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for a copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review!

I love a good middle grade witchy book. And this did deliver that. Sadly I personally didn't love it as much as I had hoped.
But if you also love a middle grade witchy book, definitely give this one a go!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a wonderful middle grade. I don’t want to spoil too much, but the characters were marvelous. I cannot wait for this to come out! Highly recommend

Hooray for The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents.... The title, cover and description said yep, yep, yep you're sooo going to like this book, and OMG, the story was even better than I anticipated. I knew just a couple of chapters in that yes it was going to be an unputdownable read, and yes I was definitely going to be giving it a two thumbs up review, and I was so right. I totally loved the world and the characters (which were very relatable) and was caught up right away by Vin and her ongoing magical and school dilemma. I found myself crossing my fingers, laughing out loud and cheering for her and her friends right till the very end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group for this ARC for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced Arc of this book in exchange for a review 🩷

Vin has been going from school to school, leaving trouble and destruction in her wake and now she’s at the end of the line, and believes there’s no hope of a future for her. But now she’s headed to Last Hope School, that gives magical delinquents a last chance to learn how to use their magical abilities.

It’s difficult for me to review this book because I went into it expecting more of an X-Men type story. But this story put more focus on the magic and the different kinds of magic the delinquents possess. So I think it’s just that that’s not my particular interest, so I was disappointed. But anyone who loves exploring the different kinds of magic and uses of magic, I think you’ll love this book!

A few things I ❤️:
-The message of friendship and finding people who will love you and stick with you even when you try to pull away due to fear.
-The way the author wrote about the school. I honestly want to live there so badly. It sounds so magical in more ways than one!
-The representation of anxiety and panic attacks. It felt very real and it was great how the author connected the anxiety to the magical abilities.

A few things I 💔:
-The story dragged in some places.
-A bit predictable when it came to figuring out who the villain was.
-I found the explanations of magic kind of confusing and hard to keep track of the kinds of magic.

This was such a magical middle grade read. I was hooked from page one, and enjoyed the adventures Vin goes on. The friendships and found family vibes were on point. This was such a fun read, I can't wait to see where this series goes.

Thank you Netgalley for the free eARC.

I had such a wonderful time reading this book! It follows Vin, a budding new mage with uncontrollable powers who has gotten kicked out of every magic school, leaving her with one last chance: the Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents. As soon as Vin arrived at Last Hope, I fell in love with its wild, cunning, and caring students. I adored their pranks and competitions, and loved seeing them help Vin accept her powers and move past her fear of herself and into a role of protecting others.

I have a few small complaints, namely that I would have liked to see Vin having more agency throughout the book, and there were times when her fearful-but-excited attitude about magic felt a bit contradictory. If I hadn't so thoroughly enjoyed myself reading this, I would maybe take it down a star. But it would seem that, I too have a soft spot for magical delinquents.

when is book 2 coming out! The beginning of this book had me a little confused but once I got to learn about the characters and their “powers”….I was hooked! I was completely imagining myself in the school and with the characters! I wish it was a world I could visit! I especially loved the “capture the flag game” because that is one of my favorite games to play at school! The ending was shocking and has me desperately ready for a second book! This is a book I finished in two days! I think any 4th graders and up can/and will want to definitely read this book!

Thanks to @netgalley and @penguinkids @penguinteen for allowing me ARC read this book! @nickipaupreto has a hit!

#TheLastHopeSchoolforMagicalDelinquents #netgalley #youngreaders #bookclubpick #buddyread #penguingroup

It starts out pretty sadly. Outright neglectful parents. Vin is very independent and smart managing her money and attending schools. Managing the timings of her arrivals and departures to keep them in the dark. Like expensive magical group homes essentially. Taking advantage of the many cracks available.

Last Hope is the environment Vin needs. It’s supportive and understanding. Loving even. We discover that there is a threat to this place and Vin herself is being used to take it down. Good plot point but abhorrent to use a child like that. Who is the mysterious drop out? Is it Mr. Fox? Also disturbing that there is a group focusing on children who are not fitting the mold provided. Manipulative behavior.

I have a soft spot for magical boarding school, so when I read the blurb of Last Hope I knew I needed to read it immediately, and I’m so glad it was everything I was expecting and a bit more.

Vin has been going from one magical school to another for years, her magic doesn’t seem to obey her and always puts her in trouble until she ends up expelled, but this time it’s different because the school board gets involved and sends her to Last Hope, a school for magical delinquents and if she gets expelled from this school she will be banned from any further education, magical or otherwise.

Vin, at first, is extremely nervous to start a new school that’s literally her last hope but she soon discovers that Last Hope, it not like any other place she’s ever been, the headmistress seems to understand Vin struggles and encourages her to become her better self and of course Vin makes friends that help her along the way.

This was a very strong beginning of the series and I can’t wait to see where Nicki takes us next.

Thanks Netgalley and Penguin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents
Nicki Pau Preto
Written for Middle School Students.
Twelve-year-old, Lavina (Vin) Lucas had been on her own for years. Vin has powerful magic, but she doesn’t know how to control it. She has been expelled/kicked out of all of the magic schools. She has only one chance left, the Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents. This is it; she must make good. If she doesn’t succeed at Last Hope, she will be kicked out of the magic system forever.
Last Hope School is very different from all the other magic schools. Vin is trying hard to control her emotions at the new school. She is afraid she will lose control of her magic and something terrible will happen and she would be expelled again. However, her teachers and the headmistress insist she discover and develop her magic. Her classmates get excited about every mistake and accident. For the first time Vin has friends, three close friends. They all seem to be cheering her on, except one instructor who just might be trying to sabotage Vin. There is a school bully; he teases Vin but she gets the upper hand. She comes to love the school, the instructor, the headmistress and her fellow classmates.
When the school is attacked Vin must decide whether to protect the school.
This is a delightful read. The magic system was easy to understand. Part of the book that I love was how each person may have things in common with others but were unique individuals. The characters were well multifaceted, and they came to life on the pages of this book. This is a fun book, I do hope there is a sequel.

Thank you NetGalley for providing a review copy.

My 14 yr old really enjoyed this book. He said the characters were funny and well written, and the school sounded like somewhere he would like to go. As a parent I loved that he could hardly put this book down. This book is a great way to keep kids off screens!

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Viking Books for Young Readers for this advanced reader's copy. This book was so adorable! Lavinia (nickname "Vin") is an out-of-control 11-year-old witch. Things just always seem to happen around her. She can't control her magic and has been kicked out of every magic school around. Now she's being sent to The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents in the middle of nowhere in NJ, run by a wonderful headmistress who wants to help her. Vin is doing her best to rein in her magic and behave here, but someone is out to destroy the school and blame it all on her. Vin learns about her new school, the headmistress, and those around her, and tries to save the school. I loved this book and can't wait for the next one!

I love a good book that was magic, great plot, and wonderful characters! I think kids are going to love this books as well. The magical children in this story aren't really delinquents, as much as not being able to control their magical powers. Having gone to every respectable, traditional, school for the the magical, Young Vin is sent to the Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents to learn to control her magical powers. Children will find the story entertaining as they read about the children who attend the school and the teachers who teach them. It's lots of fun and a pretty quick read! Magically minded kids are going to eat this book right up!

This is an incredibly sweet book, and one that I really liked for lots of reasons.

The characters are great, the message is sweet, and while I don't typically love books in which kids are left to save the day of their own accord, there was a level of adult presence in this one that made is forgivable.

I'm excited to see this is the first in a series?

This book was a lot of fun to read! It's a middle grade book but definitely doesn't feel like it. The writing is smart, the characters and environment are smart. The magical world and its lore is built up very well. The story follows Vin, who's always been kind of the outcast kid, the "different" one, the "troublemaker." She's been to many different magical schools and her magic has caused her to get kicked out. Now she's at the end of the line, going to a school for delinquents. Because of this constant struggle to stay in a school and learn her own magic, she hasn't had friends or a place to call home. When she arrives at Last Hope, a small group of students take her into their little friend group. She still doesn't feel like she belongs, she's never been told she belongs anywhere. But once the headmistress begins to help her with learning her magic (a very special kind that can be easily misunderstood hence the struggles), she slowly accepts their friendship. Of course there is a big event, and of course she again struggles with feeling like she belongs, but who can't relate to that?

The first half of the book builds the world and the characters. There are quite a few students described and it's a little hard to keep track of them. The magical system is different, not like most where everyone is just grouped into a "you're a magician" kinda thing. How they all use their different magics is fun and so interesting. The second half is all about saving the school and each other, forcing Vin to depend on herself, her magic, and her new friends.

It's not exactly a quick read, which is nice. It moves along at a good pace. Middle school me would have loved to read this book, and 40-something me is very much looking forward to the next in the series.

What worked:
Vin doesn’t want to cause trouble but her emotions build up until she loses control of her magic. The rules at Last Hope School are very different from what she’s used to as Vin’s first observations find students wielding their magic in mischievous ways. The headmistress isn’t terribly upset by the behavior so Vin doesn’t know how she’ll ever learn to control her magic in this environment. Vin holds back when practicing her magic because she always fears it will explode and destroy everything or hurt someone. And then expelled. As with many middle-grade novels, Vin possesses a rare form of magic that can make her a formidable sorcerer.
Three other students immediately become Vin’s friends although she’s never had close relationships before. Even her parents have no interest in her. The students are very patient and understanding as Vin struggles to adapt to the new school. They all appreciate that there’s something unusual about Vin’s powers and there’s no explanation as to how she has a fire sprite hidden in her closet. Readers will wonder if the sprite will have a bigger role in the story besides grumbling and becoming more agitated about its captivity. The school has a self-centered bully (his power is based on charisma) who has targeted Vin for teasing. It’s amusing to read about Vin finally getting even with him and possibly giving him an attitude adjustment.
The narrative presents different aptitudes and attitudes toward magic and these different sides create an underlying conflict. The biggest disparity is between magic and non-magic folks but their differences are mostly addressed by a treaty. The magical school board supports strong rules and guidelines for sorcerers with uncontrollable students kicked out and discarded. The headmistress at Last Hope won’t give up on any child which is why she’s reluctant to allow any school board members inside the school’s walls. The Free Mages are made up of rogue sorcerers who don’t want any restraints or limitations on their magic. Many of them are angry outcasts and one of them is a former student at Last Hope with a grudge to settle.
What didn’t work as well:
The plot follows Vin’s struggles to discover her abilities and to feel accepted but it takes over half the book for the larger conflict to come to the forefront. Also, the mysterious former student is easily identified even though Vin has no suspicions until the plot nears its climax. However, the author saves room for a few surprises including one that will affect the book’s sequel.
The final verdict:
While the school seems similar to other middle-grade books, Last Hope has a very different feel to it. Every student is unique and school activities are unpredictable due to their unpredictable abilities. Vin’s pursuit to master her magic leads to an exciting adventure within the school. Overall, I highly recommend you give this book a shot!

First off, thank you to NetGalley and Nicki Pau Preto for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I wish I had a book like this when I was younger. It was so whimsical and enjoyable, but also featured complex topics and issues for the characters to tackle. The concept, a last-ditch effort school for magical delinquents is just wonderful, such a great idea. And the school really comes to life within the pages. The magic system was well thought out, and the characters especially added to my enjoyment of the book.

Vin, the main character, is easy to empathize with. She's been kicked out of every magical school she's ever attended, and Last Hope is her last chance to wrangle her magic. It was wonderful to see Vin grow throughout the pages, discovering and becoming more comfortable with her magic. With the help of her friends, Theo, Araminta, and Gilly who all featured complex personalities of their own. The dynamics between the characters made the book all the more heartwarming. Overall, this was an incredibly enjoyable read, and I look forward to the sequel!