A New York Times Editors' Choice selection An American Library Association Best Fiction for Young Adults selection A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book selection "Featuring ingenious magic (complete with profuse chalk-drawing-style diagrams and illustrations from McSweeney), feisty characters, and a complex plot... this high-spirited, exciting story will appeal to readers of all ages." -Publishers Weekly (starred review) MORE THAN ANYTHING, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as chalklings. They arc humanity's only defense against the wild chalklings-merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students learn the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing-kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery, one that will change Rithmatics- and their world-forever. "Fantasy readers should devour this well-crafted mix of action and setup... capped by a distinctly unsettling twist." -Kirkus Reciews (starred review)