Joel wants so badly to be a Rithmatist. What's that, you ask? A person who can draw circles and lines with chalk, that will defend against chalkings. Which are chalk drawings that can and will eat you alive. WHAT?
First of all, it doesn't get much more original as far as ideas for a story go. Between each chapter, the illustrator maps out one of the defensive strategies used by Rithmatists. By the end of the book, you know the rules of this world so well, you basically feel like you could defend against the wild chalklings. And you would, if it wasn't so darn scary.
Joel goes to an Academy where Rithmatists and regular students alike attend. He's been sneaking into Rithmatist-only classes for a long time, though. Even though he knows he missed his chance to become one for real, he wants to know everything he can about them. When Rithmatic students start to disappear, and only drops of blood remain in their chewed up defensive drawings, he knows he has the tools and the knowledge to help. He just has to convince someone to let him.
I was drawn into (ha, ha) this book immediately, and was so absorbed I swear I was thinking in chalk drawings. Scary, mysterious, and totally fascinating. Really and truly different from anything I've ever read.
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