Elias of Elderberry - Sons of Elderberry series, #1

Elias Rey, a fifteen-year-old student at Penquis Valley High School, is skinny, has a chipped tooth, and a bad case of acne. His favorite pastime is drawing dragons and his room is plastered with his renditions. Tested out as a genius, he should be in college instead of high school, but he chooses to be with the only family he's ever known, his foster sister Lizzie, and his best friend Jaron. Life is good, except for one thing, Brute, the meanest student at PVHS. Elias considers moving to get rid of Brute's constant bullying.
Until one fated day when a strange boy pushes a leather pouch into his hands and then mysteriously disappears, leaving Elias to wonder who he was. Shortly thereafter, Elias discovers that the pouch contains Ilesar, an ancient Papyrus that can give him anything his heart desires. He isn't going to be pushed around. Ever. Again. At least, not by the school bully. I love this story! Elias of Elderberry is a cross between Harry Potter, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland, with a hint of Lord of the Rings.
- Sarah Beggs