Into the Wild Magic
Candlewick Press, August 19, 2025
ISBN 978-1-5362-2769-7 (Hardcover)
Also available as an ebook
Cover illustration by Jen Bricking
Every day at recess, eleven-year-old Bevvy heads for the shade of her favorite tree—a safe space where she can avoid the other kids and escape into her fantasy books. When she finds a new girl sitting in her spot one afternoon, Bevvy wonders if she might finally have found a friend. But Cat is not exactly friendly. She even starts a fight with Bevvy's worst enemy and then abandons her to face the consequences.
Later, Cat's apology is cut short when a strange car rolls up. Cat tells Bevvy to run. The girls bolt into the woods and then Cat opens a kind of doorway . . . in the air. Bevvy knows magic when she sees it, but this isn't like one of her books. The world they escape to—teeming with unicorns, spellcasters, and dragons—is shockingly real. It's a world at war, with those who wield wild magic battling dark sorcerers.
Bevvy soon discovers that she has her own connection to the wild magic as both girls get caught up in the struggle. But Cat is keeping many secrets. With so much at stake, can Bevvy trust that Cat is truly a friend? And can she trust herself with her newfound power?
Bestselling author Michelle Knudsen invites readers into an exhilarating world where magic and monsters are real, and friendship and risk go hand in hand.
EARLY REVIEWS
"The pulse-quickening twists and thrills will captivate readers . . . An empowering tale of self-discovery, friendship, and love of the natural world." —Kirkus Reviews
"Into the Wild Magic is a love letter to readers who long to escape into a magical world—or to find the magic hidden deep within themselves." —Caroline Carlson, author of Wicked Marigold
"If you love nature, real and invented; sentient, benevolent trees; gangs of savage unicorns; and—above all—the real magic of hard-graft friendship, you are going to love Into the Wild Magic. And it's going to love you back." —Chris Lynch, author of the Printz Honor Book Freewill
"An epic tale full of heart, magic, and adventure! I loved it!" —Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times best-selling author
"A portal fantasy unlike any other, bridging two worlds with magic, adventure, and heart. The twisty plot, brave young heroines, and the relatably human feelings of the two warring factions make this story a heart-pounding read. It's absolutely delightful." —Tracey Baptiste, New York Times best-selling author