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cjrayl's review against another edition
4.0
This is a strange book that supposedly targets young readers, ages 11 on up. I struggled to decide between a 3 or a 4 and ultimately selected 4 as an adult reader. If I was reviewing this for children, maybe a 3 on a good day. Personally, there is no way that this book will attract older elementary/middle school readers. Maybe I'm wrong but.... I don't think so. The writing is great, the main character believable, even the fantastical events are well done yet the underlying tension and ultimate problem in the story may well be missed by young readers. By the author not creating a unity in approach between all aspects of a novel, readers might miss a wonderful story of loss and gains but for those lucky few mature readers, this is a decent story that is great for discussion and thought.
jennvreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I did not like this book for a multitude of reasons. I was hoping that it would be much more 'magical' and it just wasn't. I also thought that the domestic violence was done in such a way that it could potentially be a difficult read for the intended age group. The world building was lacking, as was the character development.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
kristinakg's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
scostner's review against another edition
4.0
What is it like to be a child about to reach your 12th birthday and have impossible expectations thrust upon you by your father and, by extension, your hometown? Rose Alice Anders was born on New Year’s Eve the year that her father captured the most jars of magic anyone had ever heard of. Since that time he has called her Little Luck and continually told her that she will be just as magical as he is.
But is magic such a good thing? Should all life’s problems be solved by applying a magical bandaid? Worried about football tryouts? Open a jar of magic. Want a different hair color? Open a jar of magic. Yet, with all the jars crowding their house, Rose isn’t sure that their family is happy. If magic is so important and special, she wonders why things aren’t easier.
As Rose and the reader learn, magic isn’t a cure-all. It can’t help you hold onto friends that are growing up and growing apart. It can’t keep loved ones from dying. It can’t hold families together. But maybe there is something better than magic. Maybe human efforts and skills that have gone unappreciated in the town of Belling Bright are more important than the townsfolk have been willing to admit. And maybe one jar of magic is enough.
This is a great story for anyone who is feeling the pressure of conforming, meeting unreasonable expectations, or questioning all the books about magic that don’t show a downside. Without giving away a big spoiler, I just want to say that there are young readers who are going to identify strongly with Rose and will appreciate the additional information in the author’s note.
But is magic such a good thing? Should all life’s problems be solved by applying a magical bandaid? Worried about football tryouts? Open a jar of magic. Want a different hair color? Open a jar of magic. Yet, with all the jars crowding their house, Rose isn’t sure that their family is happy. If magic is so important and special, she wonders why things aren’t easier.
As Rose and the reader learn, magic isn’t a cure-all. It can’t help you hold onto friends that are growing up and growing apart. It can’t keep loved ones from dying. It can’t hold families together. But maybe there is something better than magic. Maybe human efforts and skills that have gone unappreciated in the town of Belling Bright are more important than the townsfolk have been willing to admit. And maybe one jar of magic is enough.
This is a great story for anyone who is feeling the pressure of conforming, meeting unreasonable expectations, or questioning all the books about magic that don’t show a downside. Without giving away a big spoiler, I just want to say that there are young readers who are going to identify strongly with Rose and will appreciate the additional information in the author’s note.
booksbeyondtime's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ajaubrey1's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
skundrik87's review against another edition
4.0
Got what I expected in a very fantasy novel, but also about unsafe homes and abusive parents. I love the realistic themes intertwined with the fantasy settings. Will definitely buy this for my school library.
kateteaching7and8's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Harper Collins Childrens for sharing an advance copy of One Jar of Magic by Corey Ann Haydu with the #KidLitExchange Network. This middle grades novel is set to be released in February 2021. All opinions are my own.
Belling Bright may just be the most magical place in the world, and Rose Alice Anders is the daughter of the most magical man in Belling Bright. Rose's father refers to her as Little Luck and believes that she is destined for greatness and that she will catch more magic than any other twelve-year-old during her first capturing on New Year's Day. When the special day arrives, though, Rose captures only one jar of magic. Now, her friendships have crumbled, and her father isn't speaking to her. When Rose learns about people who aren't meant for magic, her father becomes even angrier and Rose begins to question where she belongs and who she is.
One Jar of Magic is beautifully written. At first glance, once would assume that this would be a fun and magical read about growing up, but while there is magic, this book is not necessarily fun and light. Haydu masterfully balances the difficult topic of parental abuse with a hopeful and empowering message. Her novel focuses on the idea that we often want to pretend away life's difficulties, but that this isn't healthy. Rose slowly begins to realize that her father's behavior is not only not normal, but not okay. While the novel deals with a very serious and heavy topic, the overall message is one of hope. That there is a light at the end of the tunnel; there are people around you willing to help; you are not alone. It helps us learn to see what we've tried to pretend wasn't present and do something about it. This is a book that needs to be read and should be included in classroom libraries. It is a book that should be discussed, so readers and students know that they can speak up, reach out, and seek help if they need.
Belling Bright may just be the most magical place in the world, and Rose Alice Anders is the daughter of the most magical man in Belling Bright. Rose's father refers to her as Little Luck and believes that she is destined for greatness and that she will catch more magic than any other twelve-year-old during her first capturing on New Year's Day. When the special day arrives, though, Rose captures only one jar of magic. Now, her friendships have crumbled, and her father isn't speaking to her. When Rose learns about people who aren't meant for magic, her father becomes even angrier and Rose begins to question where she belongs and who she is.
One Jar of Magic is beautifully written. At first glance, once would assume that this would be a fun and magical read about growing up, but while there is magic, this book is not necessarily fun and light. Haydu masterfully balances the difficult topic of parental abuse with a hopeful and empowering message. Her novel focuses on the idea that we often want to pretend away life's difficulties, but that this isn't healthy. Rose slowly begins to realize that her father's behavior is not only not normal, but not okay. While the novel deals with a very serious and heavy topic, the overall message is one of hope. That there is a light at the end of the tunnel; there are people around you willing to help; you are not alone. It helps us learn to see what we've tried to pretend wasn't present and do something about it. This is a book that needs to be read and should be included in classroom libraries. It is a book that should be discussed, so readers and students know that they can speak up, reach out, and seek help if they need.
engpunk77's review against another edition
5.0
I was caught off guard with this book, and because of the reader I am, I embraced the dissonance. I expected a light, magical, whimsical adventure because I had never heard of the book and picked it based on its cover alone. Whoah! It's not about magic, yet the word magic or magical is probably on every page. It's about abuse, dsyfunctional families, friendship, awakening, middle school, money, unfair parent expectations. In fact, I'd enjoy discussing what "magic" represented in our real world with a group of readers! To me, it was money. It could also have been just any parent fantasy imposed upon their children, like the dream that they become the football star/beauty pageant winner that the parent was or almost was....
I say that I appreciated this because of the reader I am. I personally prefer fiction that has familial turmoil or any other real life problem that kids who live it find underrepresented in fiction. Unlike with [b:Free Lunch|43726584|Free Lunch|Rex Ogle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555688327l/43726584._SY75_.jpg|68053706], this one does it right and tells readers that they deserve to feel safe at home and what to do about it if they don't, providing the advice to tell a trusted friend or adult and it provides resources. That's how to do it.
The book is a brilliant, gripping, realistic coming of age novel, even though it feels like a parable, and it's important. It's not going to be for everyone. If you want your fiction light and fluffy and shallow, this is not for you. It is not escape fiction. I loved it.
I say that I appreciated this because of the reader I am. I personally prefer fiction that has familial turmoil or any other real life problem that kids who live it find underrepresented in fiction. Unlike with [b:Free Lunch|43726584|Free Lunch|Rex Ogle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555688327l/43726584._SY75_.jpg|68053706], this one does it right and tells readers that they deserve to feel safe at home and what to do about it if they don't, providing the advice to tell a trusted friend or adult and it provides resources. That's how to do it.
The book is a brilliant, gripping, realistic coming of age novel, even though it feels like a parable, and it's important. It's not going to be for everyone. If you want your fiction light and fluffy and shallow, this is not for you. It is not escape fiction. I loved it.