Very fun continuation of the series, more magic, shenanigans, and a character with a disability that is the hero of the story! Not feeling middle grade at the moment but will be continuing as soon as I do!

Rated online for ages 8 to 12, The Magician’s key is the second book in the Secret’s of the Pied Piper series. While the book does fill in some what of what occurred in the first book, I do recommend that you start with The Peddler’s Road because you won’t want to miss what happened previously. I don’t think this works well as a standalone.

The second story begins about 800 years from the time that the Pied Piper played his magical flute and all the children except one followed him to Summer Isle. Since then, the Piper added two more children, descendants of the one who was left behind the first time. While one of the new children, Max, gets away, her brother Carter is still there with the 800 year-old children who look like they are the same age as they were when they were taken. Carter and Max desperately want to get back together, and much of the book follows their attempts to do that.

The story includes plenty of magical elements that are sure to stir a child’s imagination, and the plot is exciting enough that they won’t want to put the book down. Parents, who like children’s books or read with their children, are sure to enjoy the story too. With the last book coming out in October, you can read the trilogy in order without waiting very long to find out what happens next.