In this provocative fantasy set in an insidious boarding school, a few free-spirited children challenge the cruelty (and in this case, necromancy) of the administration. Jai comes to Nexhoath when his parents are deported back to India as illegal aliens. He is quickly befriended by two rebellious students who believe the headmaster is stealing the souls of the children. Jai isn't sure he believes them, and he has adopted his family's practice of not calling attention to himself: "He thought of what his parents had said about trying to fit in. But they hadn't known Mr. Drake was some kind of cannibal drackle. If he really was." Jai is also being watched by some mysterious kitchen servants who appear to have qualities more animal than human, and who treat Jai like someone special. Rubinstein (Foxspell) employs the devices of classic fantasy with intelligence and authority. A wardrobelike door provides entry to a series of alternative worlds that have a coherent and intriguing relationship to one another, and the nefarious headmaster's evil doings become revealed in a clever plot twist. Despite a satisfying conclusion, this one will have fantasy fans clamoring for a sequelAwhich seems likely, since many of the "worlds of Nexhoath" remain unexplored at the story's end. Ages 8-12.

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Mystery book, with fantasy, animal story all rolled up in a pretty scary adventure. Will keep you awake.

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Jai has a bad feeling about his new boarding school from the moment he arrives. The windows of the old mansion are watchful, like a hundred eyes, and he senses the house is waiting for him. The students and teachers just don't seem normal - they're all very serious and strangly alike, almost robotic. The only 2 students who are friendly tell him a horrible story: they think the headmaster is a monster, and that he's stealing the souls of teachers and students. Jai doesnt believe it at first. But when one of his new friends gets converted, Jai knows he's got to unravel the mystery...or he might be next.

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my son loved this book..

from the back cover:
Jai has a bd feeling about his new boarding school from the moment he arrives. The windows of the old mansion are watchful, like a hundred eyes, and he senses the house is waiting for him. The students and teachers just don't seem normal-they're all very serious and strangely alike, almost robotic. The only two students who are friendly tell him a horrible story: they think the headmaster is a monster, and that he's stealing the souls of the teachers and students. Jai doesn't believe it at first. But when one of this new friends gets converted, Jai knows he's got to unravel the mystery.. or he might be next.

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Jai has a bad feeling about his new boarding school from the moment he arrives. The windows of the old mansion are watchful, like a hundred eyes, and he senses the house is waiting for him. The students and teachers just don't seem normal--they're all very serious and strangely alike, almost robotic. The only two students who are friendly tell him a horrible story: they think the headmaster is a monster, and that he's stealing the souls of the teachers and students. Jai doesn't believe it at first. But when one of his new friends gets converted, Jai knows he's got to unravel the mystery...or he might be next.

Share/Like this Review?