Jaleigh Johnson is a New York Times bestselling author as well as lifelong reader, gamer, and moviegoer. She loves nothing better than to escape into fictional worlds and take part in fantastic adventures. Her novels for young readers include The Mark of the Dragonfly, The Secrets of Solace, The Quest to the Uncharted Lands, and The Door to the Lost.
Jaleigh lives and writes in the wilds of the Midwest, but you can visit her online at jaleighjohnson.com or follow @JaleighJohnson on Twitter. - (Random House, Inc.)

Booklist Reviews

The people of Talhaven have always lived in harmony with the wizards from Vora, who brought magic in exchange for goods. That is, until the day a ship full of child refugees with amnesia entered the portal, and a catastrophic explosion marked the end of all Talhaven's magic. In retaliation, the people of Talhaven exile the children, who all have magical powers, and they've been running ever since. Johnson throws readers right into the thick of the story, wasting very little time on exposition and instead focusing on the plight of two exiles, Rook and Drift, who do small jobs with their powers while avoiding the authorities. When Rook finds a magical door just as threats of another explosion loom on the horizon, she must choose between saving a world that would rather see her dead or letting it burn. Johnson's immersive world building is vivid enough that readers should have no trouble learning the rules and history of the imaginative setting, and the fast-paced action, compelling characters, and one cute magical fox will keep fantasy-loving kids hooked. Grades 5-8. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

When magic disappeared from Talhaven, children with magical talents were forced into hiding. But two of these outcasts, girls Rook and Drift, band together to try to find their way home and are joined by a shape-shifting boy and a wizard with questionable motives. Magical doorways, giant spiders, and the like add suspense, but the deep bond of friendship between the girls sets this stirring fantasy apart. Copyright 2019 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

The fate of amnesiac magical exiles and their adopted xenophobic hometown depends on a girl, some chalk, and her singular power. Rook makes doors, but she's not a carpenter. She uses chalk and the magic that courses through her to open portals. She and a boatload of magical kids were shipped parentless from the world of Vora into the harbor of Regara minutes before an explosion closed the portal between worlds, erased the memories of the Voran children, and made Regarans instantly distrust magic. Voran orphans have been corralled and a wall built (sound familiar?) to dam up magic residue from the Great Catastrophe. In the aftermath, Rook has joined forces with Drift (who can "fly" by manipulating air) to make a home, sell black-market doors, and avoid authorities. Regara's inability to endure the strain of leftover magic makes Rook desperate to get Drift and herself to Vora (not the mysterious forest that keeps appearing when she draws doors). This need accelerates when their income is compromised and the twosome adds another: a shape-shifting boy aptly named Fox. The exquisite worldbuilding will please steadfast fans of Johnson's other Solace books. The Voran magic isn't a gimmick, as it causes complications, unpredictability, and danger. Rook, Drift, and Fox are white, and there are some supporting olive and brown characters. Apropos themes of refugees and found families are addressed in a way that retains fantasy flavor while realistically presenting the brutality of ignorance and beauty of humanity. Your new favorite fantasy. (maps) (Fantasy. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus 2018 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Reviews

Gr 4–7—Rook has no memories of her homeworld, but she desperately wants to get back to it. Two years ago, an explosion destroyed the portal to the realm of Vora, leaving the world of Talhaven with decaying, dangerous magic and a skyship full of magically gifted Voran children with no memories. Now Rook, who has the ability to create doors to anywhere, and Drift, another exiled child, are on the run. When a magical job attracts the attention of Talhaven's authorities and a Voran wizard named Dozana, the two are forced on an adventure to save their new world and discover the true meaning of home. While the book begins slowly with some repetitive world-building, once the action starts, it doesn't stop. The narrative takes time to balance copious action scenes with heartfelt explorations of the meanings of friendship and family. Rook is a strong character, going through a clear arc—initially scared of her powers and then confident in her own ability—who learns that she had already found what she was searching for years ago. The adult characters, while often sliding into caricature, do provide enlightening foils and, ultimately, give Rook and Drift a positive model for how to use their burgeoning abilities. VERDICT Fans of portal fantasies, steampunk, and action-driven books will find this an entertaining read and will be left wanting more from Talhaven. Purchase where fantasy and action are popular with middle grade readers.—Bridgid Gallagher-Sauter, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County