When Izzy O'Donnell saved the students at Miss Posterity's Academy for Practical Magic, her courage caused the Mayor of New York to allow new "kindling schools" to open--and to any child who wanted to apply, regardless of family income level. That is how Maeve O'Donnell ended up with her older sister at the Manhattan School for Magic, but unlike Izzy, Maeve is terrified of magic. Maeve feels its wildness and fears that she will never be able to control it. When Maeve's magic goes rogue, it will take both sisters, and the help of the school house dragon, to stave off complete disaster.