The Shadow Cadets of Pennyroyal Academy: Pennyroyal Academy, Book 2

Parents need to know that The Shadow Cadets of Pennyroyal Academy, the second installment in M.A. Larson's Pennyroyal Academy series, covers the second-year adventures of four friends and princesses-in-training at a magical academy: protagonist Evie, who finds herself dealing with fame and fans after her feats in Book 1; Demetra, wealthy and titled royal; smart, conscientious Maggie; and Basil, whose mom gave up on having girls and sent her 22nd son to princess training. Fighting and killing (often horrific-looking) witches, who in turn kill many others, is a central theme, and there's a lot of violence, from magic spells to swordplay. Characters die, often violently. But there's a lot of light in the darkness, including humor. Along with relatable moments galore (such as the friends dealing with changes in their relationship and trying to be true to themselves and their bonds), author Larson delivers a raft of positive messages about friendship, family, loyalty, and kindness, often from unlikely sources. Expect a couple of brief, sweet kisses between two young characters.