The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

Joel is a student at Armedius Academy, an expensive school located in the United Isles that was created to teach both rithmatists and non-rithmatists alike. Joel is the son of the schools late chalk-maker, a man respected by many on campus. Joel has dreamed all his life about becoming a rithmatist, a person who can bring drawings out of chalk to life. Unfortunately, it is an innate power that he isn't born with. He befriends a rithmaticts teacher name Professor Fitch, as well as another student named Melody. Because of his deep knowledge of rithmatics, as well as his quick thinking and perseverance, he joins both Fitch and Melody in a hunt to find a murderer... that lurks in their very school.

I really enjoyed The Rithmatist. I find Brandon Sanderson to be a really good author, whose books I always enjoy. This was one of the first books of his that I read, and it really drew me in to his work. I never expected that a book about chalk and school would turn out to be such an interesting new facet of fictional pre-modern America. This is a book i would recommend to readers of Brandon Sanderson, or anyone who just wants to open up a good book, sit down, and read. This book is one that i spend a lot of time thinking about, and re-read often.

Reviewed by Julio B., Grade 10
Glendale Central Library