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mari_escapeinabook's review against another edition
3.0
I must admit that I felt a bit fooled by the summary of this book, I thought this was a story about a teenage witch when really it isn't, at lest not the paranormal kind like I expected. There is some magic here but the kind of magic that's Kestrel stopping to listen to the universe, finding out what it wants her to do.
This is a author Douglas Rees has created a good story about coming to age with a witty main character. This is also a novel who reminds you to try to see people for who they really are behind their outer and protective shell, I liked that. Young people behaving badly has isn't necessary bad people but quite often they have problems but no one to turn to for help.
Kestrel, her mum and her dad loved each other but they were an dysfunctional family, the parents were never there for Kestrel. It was quite the change for Kestrel moving to her aunt Ariel, Ariel supported and guided Kestrel in the right direction whenever Kestrel needed her.
The entire story is written like a book in a book, Kestrel is writing a book about magic(or Majix as she calls it) for the coming generations - it's kind of a diary. I think the book would have worked out just fine with Kestrel just telling the story from her point of view without the "I write a book" part, it's getting a bit old because it is mentioned quite a few times.
Kestrel finally gains some new friends, well written supporting characters which I come to love. I would have liked to know each and everyone of them a bit better, but perhaps Rees will explores this characters further in another novel? If that happens I would love to read more about Kestrel, her family and friends.
The cover:
I think the cover is awesome, I love the afternoon sun shining through the trees and the crows flying in the background.
This is a author Douglas Rees has created a good story about coming to age with a witty main character. This is also a novel who reminds you to try to see people for who they really are behind their outer and protective shell, I liked that. Young people behaving badly has isn't necessary bad people but quite often they have problems but no one to turn to for help.
Kestrel, her mum and her dad loved each other but they were an dysfunctional family, the parents were never there for Kestrel. It was quite the change for Kestrel moving to her aunt Ariel, Ariel supported and guided Kestrel in the right direction whenever Kestrel needed her.
The entire story is written like a book in a book, Kestrel is writing a book about magic(or Majix as she calls it) for the coming generations - it's kind of a diary. I think the book would have worked out just fine with Kestrel just telling the story from her point of view without the "I write a book" part, it's getting a bit old because it is mentioned quite a few times.
Kestrel finally gains some new friends, well written supporting characters which I come to love. I would have liked to know each and everyone of them a bit better, but perhaps Rees will explores this characters further in another novel? If that happens I would love to read more about Kestrel, her family and friends.
The cover:
I think the cover is awesome, I love the afternoon sun shining through the trees and the crows flying in the background.
kblincoln's review against another edition
4.0
Kestrel (actually Susan, but she didn't like that it meant "lily" and so changed it) is in Jurupa, California living with her Aunt Ariel, a hippy-dippy white witch after she is sent away because her father needs time to recover from a heart attack.
In Jurupa, Kestrel, black-wearing and a huge chip on her shoulder, immedaitely attracts the wrong kind of attention from the Richard Milhouse Nixon High School's in crowd.
Hazing and Bullying ensue. While Kestrel started out as a white witch, she is now tempted to ask the universe for bad things to happen to her enemies.
But when she follows Ariel's advice by looking underneath the bad behaviors for deeper motives, she finds the universe itself is there waiting to bring her friends: Jose, a tactiturn incredible artist, Laura a friend interested in witchcraft, and Blake Crump, bully-turned-protector.
Kestrel's voice is fun and engaging, her problems cringe-worthy, and her slow gathering of friends truly wholesome and psychology-wise new agey good.
However, I wasn't completely satisfied by the all story threads tied up neatly in a perfect package ending. I felt the happy ending didn't quite do justice to the unfair and difficult relationship she had with her parents, or the wonderful and romantic relationship her Aunt develops with her friend Jose's older brother.
In otherwords, the ending was rushed and I wanted all these wonderful characters to have time to play out their stories.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Bread and Butter Pickles for the compulsive fun of reading the story, but for feeling a little bit like something wasn't quite satisfied by the ending.
In Jurupa, Kestrel, black-wearing and a huge chip on her shoulder, immedaitely attracts the wrong kind of attention from the Richard Milhouse Nixon High School's in crowd.
Hazing and Bullying ensue. While Kestrel started out as a white witch, she is now tempted to ask the universe for bad things to happen to her enemies.
But when she follows Ariel's advice by looking underneath the bad behaviors for deeper motives, she finds the universe itself is there waiting to bring her friends: Jose, a tactiturn incredible artist, Laura a friend interested in witchcraft, and Blake Crump, bully-turned-protector.
Kestrel's voice is fun and engaging, her problems cringe-worthy, and her slow gathering of friends truly wholesome and psychology-wise new agey good.
However, I wasn't completely satisfied by the all story threads tied up neatly in a perfect package ending. I felt the happy ending didn't quite do justice to the unfair and difficult relationship she had with her parents, or the wonderful and romantic relationship her Aunt develops with her friend Jose's older brother.
In otherwords, the ending was rushed and I wanted all these wonderful characters to have time to play out their stories.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Bread and Butter Pickles for the compulsive fun of reading the story, but for feeling a little bit like something wasn't quite satisfied by the ending.
dukesangel002's review against another edition
3.0
Majix is the engaging journey of a teen girl. She's being forced out of her home and into the home of an aunt she never met before. She's angry and frustrated, and tries to use her magic to get revenge. But through-out her journey in this new city, she will soon discover that the universe has another plan in mind. This was a fun light-hearted tale, that will teach Kestrel that the universe really does have her best interests at heart, and that even the most unexpected people can end up doing a lot of good for your life.
This book was definitely written for a younger target audience, but I still really enjoyed going back to those awkward days of high school, and I can't help but wish that I had an awesome aunt like hers to help me along the way. There really was some great characters in this book. There was fun references to the occult, other religions, and other's practices, but all handled tastefully.
There was times the book seemed a little bland to me, but I was still engaged with what was happening to the characters, and it all came together well in the end. It was a quick read that would be fun for middle school aged children to dive into.
This book was definitely written for a younger target audience, but I still really enjoyed going back to those awkward days of high school, and I can't help but wish that I had an awesome aunt like hers to help me along the way. There really was some great characters in this book. There was fun references to the occult, other religions, and other's practices, but all handled tastefully.
There was times the book seemed a little bland to me, but I was still engaged with what was happening to the characters, and it all came together well in the end. It was a quick read that would be fun for middle school aged children to dive into.
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