Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky by Will Kostakis

Title: Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky

Author: Will Kostakis

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 1^st September 2026

Format: Paperback

Pages: 160

Price: $17.99

Synopsis: Otis Ottley is an ordinary boy who yearns to go to the magic school in the sky. And he will stop at nothing to make it happen. A funny and warm middle-grade novel about finding the magic in everyday life, from a much-loved, award-winning Australian author.

Otis Ottley lives in the shadow of the Manor School for Magic. Literally. It’s an island hovering over his town, and he’s determined to reach it.

While many kids dream of roaming the prestigious institution’s halls, casting spells and conjuring spectacles, Otis has a specific mission: to seek magical help remembering something extremely important.

The odds are stacked against him, but Otis will break into magic school. Or at the very least, he will break a few rules trying.

A wonderful middle-grade novel, brimming with magic, from a much-loved Prime Minister’s Literary Award–winning author.

Perfect for:
– Readers aged 9+ seeking an entertaining read with a touch of magic
– Young readers who wish they could go to magic school
– Teachers and librarians seeking a fun and heartwarming middle grade fiction novel with meaningful themes for upper primary, lower secondary

~*~

Otis Ottley lives in a world where magic exists, where everyone knows about the magic school, but not everyone likes it. Otis is desperate to go, yet his family can’t afford it. So he has to contend with living in its shadow, all whilst knowing that he can’t attend, but that Manor School has something he desperately needs.

He is trying to remember something very important, and he feels like he needs magical help to do so. Everything back home with Dad is also changing. There’s a new ice cream shop that is creating competition. Dad seems to be spending a lot of time with the baker, Zadie, and Otis is unsure of what is going on, and doesn’t want things to change.

Poor Otis – everything is working against him every time he tries to get into the school. And even his friend LJ, whose father is staunchly anti-magic and wants to destroy everything he can get his hands on about magic, is determined to help Otis. Albeit with constant warnings about what could and what will go wrong. But who could let their best friend down in such a time of need?

Will Kostakis is best known for his fabulous young adult books. Otis Ottley is his first middle grade book, which has different themes to his usual fare, or at least what I have read from him in the past, as I am sure there are some of his I haven’t had a chance to read yet. It was a delightful surprise, this magical yet realistic world. It felt like a fictionalised town in Australia, that had the essence of magic. In most fantasy books, the magical world is hidden in a wardrobe or in a boarding school. Maybe through a magical portal at the boarding school. I have seen this done in so many ways. All that has to happen really, is for the kids to be away from their parents.

Not so here, as the parents are present and aware, but the bulk of the story revolves around the kids. Otis’s dad didn’t know what he was doing, and I loved the way Will explained this through his dad’s work and relationships outside of being a father. It worked well so he was still present, but Otis could still go off and try to get into the magic school to get the solution he needs.

It’s funny, it’s emotional and it’s fast-paced, with short chapters that keep the story moving so readers who don’t like long books, reluctant readers or readers just looking for something a bit lighter if they have been reading a lot of longer stuff can enjoy it. It’s great to see so many different ways of telling stories and many different kinds of books out there these days because everyone has different preferences, and the more choices people have, the more they will read and engage with books.

It’s one that I think many readers will enjoy and find something to engage with, and like with Will’s other books I have read, there is a sense of seriousness, a gravitas running through that shapes the story and makes Otis the character he is. It helps us as readers understand him and connect to him, and for readers who may have gone through what he has, it is a solid and meaningful reminder that they are not alone in the world and what they might be going through.

I think Will pulled this one off wonderfully, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing him do something different to his previous books. It’s funny, and full of heart, which is something I adore about his books and many Australian kids’ books that are coming out now. It’s a delightful book and one I hope younger readers enjoy.