Book Review-Night School for Young Mystics: Five Fabulous Field Trips into Moonlight & Magic by Maia Toll, Illustrated by Khoa Le
Book Review
Night School for Young Mystics: Five Fabulous Field Trips into Moonlight & Magic
By: Maia Toll, Illustrated by Khoa Le
Publisher: Running Press Kids
114 Page E-Book
Release Date: August 6th, 2024

Night School for Young Mystics: Five Fabulous Field Trips into Moonlight & Magic by Maia Toll is a wonderful, witchy, and safe children’s book, geared towards pre-teens and teens. Night School for Young Mystics takes the younger reader on guided field trips outside, at night to develop their psychic and magical senses. Toll takes on the alter-ego of Night School’s instructor, Ms. Bea Marlowe, who guides the reader on their field trips. Ms. Bea begins with the basics of the elements, some very basic magical information, as well as a list of supplies the young mystic will need, and explains how to make them at home if need be! Each field trip is a different exercise and experience for the young mystic to begin developing their spiritual and magical practice. Even as an adult, these field trips sound fun, and I just might go on a few myself!
I picked this book up because I am an advocate of allowing kids to express themselves fully, and freely, and that also includes spirituality. I grew up in a very strict, Evangelical household, and anything of this type was not accepted; it makes me happy to see that this is changing, even if it is a slow process. This is one of a few kids’ books I’ve picked up to review, and is a wonderful addition to a young person’s magical and spiritual library. The field trips are safe, and the young reader is encouraged to practice safety, which will assure any Young Mystic’s adult! Spiritually, the field trips and exercises and spells are all safe, and won’t have any negative ramifications. I myself am not a parent, but I still feel assured that folks such as Ms. Toll are writing from the heart, ensuring spiritual safety for our next generations of mystics and magicians.
I have only good things to say about Night School for Young Mystics, and because of that, I give it a 5 out of 5. As I stated before, even as an adult, I find myself inspired by some of the activities. With Samhain coming, some Pagan and Witchy parents may find their young ones interested in the path of magic and mysticism, and this book is an excellent starter for them!
Maia Toll is an award winning author, having written the Wild Wisdom series, as well as The Illustrated Herbiary, The Night School and Letting Magic In. Toll earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy and subsequently taught second and fourth grade. She took a sabbatical from teaching and apprenticed with a traditional healer in Ireland, where she studied the alchemy of medicine making and the psycho-spiritual aspects of healing, which became a new calling. Maia is the co-owner of the retail store Herbiary. You can find her at maiatoll.com
Khoa Le is an illustrator and author based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She has a passion for writing, art and reading, partially inspired by her travels, where she feels she discovers the beauty of the world and the magic within it. Khoa finds comfort in her small studio accompanied by her loving cats, and she also finds peace in nature.
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Author Bio:
The Modern Merlin has been a Polytheist and Animist Pagan, Witch, Sorcerer, Wizard, Druid, Mystic, Ceremonial Magician, Occultist, Shaman, Seer and Soothsayer for 15 years, worshipping and casting magick with deities and spirits from many cultures, including Ancient Greece, Rome, Norse & Germanic, Celtic, Egyptian, Sumerian, as well as many Faeries, Nymphs, Dryads, Ancestors and other nature and land spirits and spirits of place. He practices Necromancy and Deathwalking, as well as Traditional Witchcraft, Druidry, Hellenism and Ceremonial Magick, incorporating all of them into a cohesive practice, with some shamanic touches. He studies and practices Astrology as well as Tarot and other forms of divination such as Runes, Palmistry and Ogham. He has a personal blog where he shares Astrological, Pagan, and other magickal wisdom for free! He gives readings and other spiritual services on his Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see!
