What This Book Is About
Barclay Thorne is eleven, and he follows the rules. He has hated Beasts since one of them destroyed his village, and in his town of Dullshire anyone connected to the magical Beasts of the Wilderness is banished for good. A quiet, ordinary life is all he wants.
Then he accidentally bonds with a powerful Beast, and the bond will not simply go away. Exiled from Dullshire, Barclay sets out to find someone who can undo it. He travels to a town of Lore Keepers, the people who bond with Beasts on purpose, and enters a contest for apprentices, because winning it means a Lore Keeper will teach him. What he wants from magic is not power: he wants the bond broken so that he can go home.
This is the first book in Amanda Foody's Wilderlore series.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why We Recommend This Book
A perfect "gateway fantasy" for A2-B1 readers, especially those ready for something beyond Harry Potter. Two reasons why.
First, the themes of belonging and identity mirror the experience of students adapting to new school environments. Barclay is exiled from his community and has to find his footing among strangers—a powerful parallel for students who have moved countries, switched schools, or feel caught between cultures. International school students see themselves in Barclay's journey without the story ever feeling heavy-handed.
Second, at Lexile ~780L and 368 pages, this is a substantial read that builds genuine reading stamina, and it is the first of a series, so a student who gets hooked has somewhere to keep going. That voluntary next book is the single most effective way to improve English fluency.
Reading Level Guide
Too challenging at A1. Start with Magic Tree House or Wings of Fire for age-appropriate fantasy.
Perfect range. Strong A2 readers can handle it with support; B1 readers will fly through it.
Easy reading at B2. Try Howl’s Moving Castle for a more linguistically challenging fantasy.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.