In her childhood, Dhonielle Clayton had the opportunity to see more of the world than many people do in a lifetime. As a bestselling author from Maryland, she traveled to various places where her father had lived due to his military background, such as Guam, Korea, and Germany. Summers were spent visiting her grandparents in Mississippi or participating in exchange programs across Europe. Clayton fondly recalls these experiences, stating, “I would just have my calling card, my books, and my suitcase. [My father] would ship me off, and it was great. I got to meet so many different kinds of people from all over the world, and it helped shape my worldview.”
These childhood adventures, combined with her love for classic novels like A Wrinkle in Time and The Hobbit, played a significant role in inspiring Clayton’s popular middle-grade fantasy series, the Conjureverse. The third installment, The Deadly Fates, was released on March 4 through Henry Holt and Co.
However, the inception of the Conjureverse series was also influenced by an encounter in Clayton’s New York City home. During her time as a school librarian in East Harlem, a fourth-grade student requested a book featuring a “magic school for all kids,” including American students and students of color. Clayton took this challenge seriously, believing that every child deserved access to magic and a magical school, regardless of their background.
Set at the Arcanum Training Institute, a school in the sky for children worldwide with magical abilities, the series follows young protagonist Ella Durand. Originally hailing from New Orleans, Ella is the first Conjuror enrolled at the institution, previously exclusive to Marvellors.
Despite facing initial skepticism when pitching the series, which began with The Marvellers in 2022 and continued with The Memory Thieves in 2023, Clayton persisted. She encountered doubts from those who questioned the need for another magical school story. Reflecting on this pushback, Clayton emphasizes the importance of representation in literature, noting, “When you don’t see yourself on the pages of books…you believe that you don’t belong. How do we inspire the next generation of readers and writers if we don’t include them?”
Author Dhonielle Clayton discusses the challenge of understanding the perspective of young readers, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting with the childlike wonder and emotions that adults tend to lose over time. She reflects on her own childhood journals to remember the things that once mattered to her and how children today are navigating a complex world.
Clayton’s dedication to uplifting diverse voices is evident in her work and through her involvement in organizations like We Need Diverse Books and Authors Against Book Bans. She emphasizes the need to ensure that diverse stories reach the hands of readers and educators, advocating for the right to access a wide range of literature.
Through her writing, Clayton aims to create inclusive universes where everyone can see themselves reflected, fostering a sense of belonging and wonder for readers of all ages.
The Deadly Fates book can now be found at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, and it is accessible wherever books are sold. Check out the original article on People for more information about the book and its themes of childlike wonder.
