Review:The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
Quick Info:
Book type: Chapter Book
Target age: 8-12 years old
Recommended age: None
Plot: Ella Durand is the first ever “Conjuror” allowed to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a magical school where “Marvellers” from around the world learn and practice magic. When a notorious criminal escapes prison and her favorite teacher go missing all eyes on Ella. However she is determined to prove herself worthy.
Review:
Unfortunately, no one is able to write a story about a school of magic without people comparing it to Harry Potter leading this series to be nothing new. While I don’t mind childish and fun magic in children’s books, but there is a fine line. My biggest request is: leave Muslims out of it. It goes against Islamic belief to practice magic and to believe in any high power other than Allah. It just doesn’t work.
There are multiple Muslims in this book. One summons a spirit, another communicates with her “djinn friend”. A Hijabi character has two married Muslim mothers. This representation is not for Muslims. Instead it excludes the average Muslim and steals the Muslim narrative. If you feel offended or upset by this book’s representation of Muslims I suggest writing a respectful letter to the author, her P.O. box is down below.
P.O. Box 491 Olney, MD 20830
Opinion:
Due to the poor Muslim representation I don’t suggest this book.
Content:
Magic school so the usual childish magic: magic creatures, spell casting, elixirs, good luck charms, enchanted objects and magical powers.
Muslim students literally practice shirk & magic
A Hijabi student has 2 moms & enchanted hijab to help her remember things (+ other magical things in the story)
A Hijabi student has a magic bejeweled lamp that she keeps close for her “djinn friend” to come and stay in because she’s “a nice one”.
Summoning spirits
Wearing crystals for protection
Prophecies, looking into the future & past
Card reading
Conjurors go to the underworld with “divine responsibility” to guide the dead
Magical Christian saint statues & doing rituals for removing spirits
Referring stars in a spiritual way
Possibly 2 non-binary characters
Some creatures are “divine” in a spiritual sense
Gambling & bets
Mentions of death
Excerpts:
Excerpts from books are a glimpse of the content that is found and are not every instance of un-Islamic and/or “iffy” content.
It was a bit difficult to get excerpts as there were whole scenes needed to explain why content was brought up, such as the scene where characters summon a spirit.
Context:
Samaira is a hijabi student that one can allude to being a Muslim. She speaks of her moms and their powers. One of them has a “gem marvel” which means she has powers regarding gems. Her other mother has a “wisdom marvel” which means she has powers making her more wise. There is no deeper explanation on Samaira’s mothers, her ethnic background or a possible father.
Context:
The Muslim character carries a lantern for her “djinn friend” for when she decides to visit.
Context:
In this universe there is “the Underworld” and this excerpt explains the concept of “Conjurors” and “the Underworld”. The main character of the series is a “Conjuror”. A person who is a “fewel” is someone who doesn’t use magic.
Context:
The main character has tiny saint figurines in her dorm room that are sentient and whose jobs are to advise her. They are Christian saints as they are depicted in the story clutching rosaries and Bibles. They are also depicted performing the sign of the cross and perform a ritual to cleanse the main character’s room from evil spirits.
Context:
A deathbull is a Pitbull-like creature that lives in the Underworld. They are referred to as “divine creatures”. There are instances of other animals being referred to as “divine” as well.
Context:
The excerpt shown below is a scene where a “Conjuror” (a magic user who is in charge of the bridge between life and death) instructor summons a spirit with the help of a student “Ousmane”. Ouseman’s belief system or background is unknown.
