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strovao1995's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wow! This book was very unexpected! Has great lessons to be learned.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
5.0
A book that will leave you thinking for awhile. This layered story of abuse and having something that is desired by all, is one that will leave readers talking about what it all really means. A good book club choice.
I think this is Haydu’s best writing to date.
I think this is Haydu’s best writing to date.
openmypages's review against another edition
5.0
"Except that's not quite exactly what was wrong to begin with. The thing I'm most scared of in my family was never that they might split up. It's that they might always stay together like this."
"My father is a hundred wonderful things. But he is also a few not-wonderful things."
"Magic can only fix the surface of things. Magic can change what you see, but it can't change anything deep down."
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Imagine your father is one of the most famous magic gatherers in the world and he has high hopes for your first magic gathering. All of your life he has spent preparing you for the glory of this day and your chance to carry on his legacy. He's even given you a nickname, 'Little Luck.' But when that day comes, after the magic has disappeared, you have only gathered only one jar.
This is Rose Alice's fate. Suddenly her life is thrown into turmoil when her father's lifelong dreams for her are not realized. She begins to see how her father has always treated her mother and brother, like an average person not capable of greatness, she sees this because this is now how he treats her.
This story covers some very serious topics around self-esteem and touches on domestic violence. Not the overwhelming domestic violence you think about when you see families on the news but the more subtle type that can be just as dangerous and much easier to hide. The dedication is beautiful: "To everyone who thought they had to be someone better, stronger, faster, more. To everyone who helped them understand they were enough just as they were."
I wish this book was on the shelves when I was Rose's age. It would have helped me understand that my dad's anger and violent outbursts were not my fault. That his expectations for my behavior did not define my worth. This is a great middle grade read with a powerful message. Don't assume by its fun cover that it is just about whimsical magic, there is so much more to the narrative.
Thank you to Katherine Tegen books for an advanced copy and allowing me to read and provide my honest opinion.
"My father is a hundred wonderful things. But he is also a few not-wonderful things."
"Magic can only fix the surface of things. Magic can change what you see, but it can't change anything deep down."
--------------------------------
Imagine your father is one of the most famous magic gatherers in the world and he has high hopes for your first magic gathering. All of your life he has spent preparing you for the glory of this day and your chance to carry on his legacy. He's even given you a nickname, 'Little Luck.' But when that day comes, after the magic has disappeared, you have only gathered only one jar.
This is Rose Alice's fate. Suddenly her life is thrown into turmoil when her father's lifelong dreams for her are not realized. She begins to see how her father has always treated her mother and brother, like an average person not capable of greatness, she sees this because this is now how he treats her.
This story covers some very serious topics around self-esteem and touches on domestic violence. Not the overwhelming domestic violence you think about when you see families on the news but the more subtle type that can be just as dangerous and much easier to hide. The dedication is beautiful: "To everyone who thought they had to be someone better, stronger, faster, more. To everyone who helped them understand they were enough just as they were."
I wish this book was on the shelves when I was Rose's age. It would have helped me understand that my dad's anger and violent outbursts were not my fault. That his expectations for my behavior did not define my worth. This is a great middle grade read with a powerful message. Don't assume by its fun cover that it is just about whimsical magic, there is so much more to the narrative.
Thank you to Katherine Tegen books for an advanced copy and allowing me to read and provide my honest opinion.
yapha's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't love this one. Alice's discomfort with herself made me uncomfortable the whole time I read it. Which is excellent writing, but not the story for me. Also I worry that the descriptions of the father were too vague and cloaked. For grades 4 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
readersareleaders's review against another edition
challenging
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
caityree's review against another edition
5.0
First up, let me say I don’t think books should have trigger warnings on the covers.
But this is a book which raises issues of trauma and safety. It was triggering for me, as an adult trauma survivor. Yes, there were (American) resources aimed at the target middle school audience, listed in the back of the book. I hope in other editions wider resources are listed.
On to the story itself: the world building is very believable, and the ideas of magic are well incorporated.
But this is a book which raises issues of trauma and safety. It was triggering for me, as an adult trauma survivor. Yes, there were (American) resources aimed at the target middle school audience, listed in the back of the book. I hope in other editions wider resources are listed.
On to the story itself: the world building is very believable, and the ideas of magic are well incorporated.
librarylandlisa's review against another edition
2.0
Avoid if you're into books about magic. Recommend if you are looking for books about domestic violence that can educate. I disliked this book but thought the message was good. I think the author could have delivered this with approximately 400 fewer "jars of magic"
eclecticlittlefeline's review against another edition
5.0
A complex and important story told in a very simple way. We love to see it
thebookscript's review against another edition
3.0
This was probably one of the most quirky and interesting books I’ve read this year. I’m new to this author and find that she has a very interesting writing style that was sometimes hard for me to read and follow along.
This is a heavy story. Don’t be deceived that because it is a story about jars of magic that it will be a light and fun one. Our main character lives in a town that values magic. Her dad is the best at capturing magic and never fails to let his family and everyone else in the town know that he is the “chosen one”.
When his daughter isn’t cut out for capturing magic it leads down a path of verbal and sometimes physical abuse. There are other themes of bullying and isolation in tangent with the domestic abuse that make this read even heavier. I feel like the light doesn’t come until the very end which didn’t redeem the darkness in the book for me.
A unique premise but not a middle grade favorite.
Thank you to Harper Collins for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This is a heavy story. Don’t be deceived that because it is a story about jars of magic that it will be a light and fun one. Our main character lives in a town that values magic. Her dad is the best at capturing magic and never fails to let his family and everyone else in the town know that he is the “chosen one”.
When his daughter isn’t cut out for capturing magic it leads down a path of verbal and sometimes physical abuse. There are other themes of bullying and isolation in tangent with the domestic abuse that make this read even heavier. I feel like the light doesn’t come until the very end which didn’t redeem the darkness in the book for me.
A unique premise but not a middle grade favorite.
Thank you to Harper Collins for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.