Magyk by Angie Sage (2005)

Now here's a wonderful fantasy book for young adults (i.e. the main characters are kids and nothing too too awful happens.) Yes we have a new world, new social structure of wizards and non-wizards, some weird creatures, but they are introduced slowly, so we can get used to them and get to like them or hate them, depending on whether they were aligned with good or bad guys. Jenna grows up in the Heap family of wizards, the only girl amongst 6 boys. Boy 412 grows up in the army. My only slight complaint was the use of two very well know terms from the Harry Potter series: Bogart and Trelawny. Otherwise, I can't wait to read the next one, and I'll have to wait for the release of the third.