The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

If you enjoy steampunk stories involving brave, intelligent kids, you will enjoy The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson. Joel wants to be a Rithmatist, the chalk weilding people who have special powers with the circles they draw, and are able to fight the wild chalklings in Nebrask who threaten the livelihoods of the citizens living in the American isles.

But as skilled as he is with drawing circles, he doesn't have the same powers that Rithmatists have. So how can he help when a mysterious figure starts kidnapping kids who are Rithmatists, spiriting them away unseen and unheard in the night? Can he and his friend Melody who is a Rithmatist, and kindly Professor Fitch find out what's happening before their entire school, Armedius Academy is attacked?