Reviews

Like A Charm by Elle McNicoll

missjeann's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

evamadera1's review against another edition

4.5

I loved this book! As soon as I saw the tagline on the cover, I knew I would like the story; I'm so happy that the narrative lived up to my expectations. McNicoll does not shy away from difficult realities in this narrative, combining the magical with the real in a way that affirms Ramya without trying to "solve" her dyspraxia. I also really enjoyed the way McNicoll incorporated magic as well as her choice of Edinburgh as the setting.

mekeisha's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mcready_face's review against another edition

5.0

Another masterpiece.

mariefoxprice's review against another edition

5.0

I really loved this novel. It puts a fresh spin on some classic fantasy tropes, and the heroine is fun and engaging. More importantly, she is neurodiverse, something I have rarely seen. I have never seen Ramya's specific neurodiversity, dyspraxia, represented in fiction. As a dyspraxic myself, once I discovered this book's existence, I knew I had to read it. I wish it had existed when I was diagnosed in the 1990s.

While the magical elements are wonderful, it was Ramya's struggles with her dyspraxia that resonated with me the most. She experiences a lot of thoughts and feelings I have experienced, and often continue to experience as an adult who doesn't quite fit the neurotypical mould.

I would recommend this book to dyspraxics and neurodiverse people of all kinds, anyone who wants to learn about neurodiversity, and fans of YA fantasy fiction. There's apparently a sequel coming some time this year as well.

leedlebobeedle's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

5.0

charlotte_s's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

rafaestla's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

michellehenriereads's review against another edition

5.0

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers. I'm voluntarily leaving this review.

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade Fantasy, Neurodiverse Fantasy
Language: There are a couple incidents of using God's name that might make gatekeepers frown.
Representation: Multiple creatures of fairyland *wink* There are different races and neurodiversity

I adored this book!

Ramya never feels like she fits in because of dyspraxia—motor skills aren't her strong suit because of the way her brain works (things like manipulating a pencil and stairs). But there's more to it than that. Her parents seem disconnected, and the one person who understood her (grandfather) has been banned from their lives after an incident with a mysterious person, who seemed to compile others to do her will.

This is fast-paced and will keep kids guessing what is going to happen next. It's delightful to meet a shy vampire and evil fae. And the kelpies are among my favorites!

sees the otherworld because her brain works differently. It's super-power adjacent—and I"m glad it's not the actual superpower. I thought this worked so well because so many of us work around how we see the world that doesn't make accommodations for us but expects us to conform to their ways. Rather ridiculous as --points out, since if neurodiverse brains were the norm, it would be the non-diverse people who would be forced into adapting.

In addition to a frolicking fantasy, this book has a soft sell on acceptance of others.

I highly recommend this book!

Happy reading!

braidyn's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.5