This was my favorite book series when I was younger, and now that I'm in college I decided to read them again for the fun of it. It's definitely not a challenging read, but it's a great story. It lets imagination run wild, and it's definitely a different style than the Harry Potter series... but in a good way I think. A Fun, easy, and imaginative read. If you (or your child) is a fan of Bruce Coville, the "Eragon" series, or "The Dragon Riders of Pern", this would be a most enjoyable read.
Eleven-year-old Jason, an orphan who lives with his stepparents, is all set to spend the summer at soccer camp-until the school bully slams into him and he sprains his ankle. Afraid that he will be condemned to a boring stay with his grandmother, Jason eagerly accepts an alternative offer to Camp Ravenwyng. This rather dilapidated facility turns out to have an odd assortment of campers and counselors who (surprise!) are there to develop their skills as "magickers" in an effort to defeat the forces of darkness currently lining up in conflict for the fate of the world.