A review by thebiasedbibliophile
Just A Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

When I heard Alechia Dow was writing her first middle grade book, I was stoked! Just a Pinch of Magic is the perfect combination of spookiness and adorableness that will give you all the fall vibes you need this season. While I don’t read a whole lot of middle grade, this book is by far my favorite in that age range.

The novel follows Wini, a young enchanter who is willing to do anything to save her family’s bakery, and Kal, an enchanter who moves to a magical town in hopes of finding a new start. But everything is not as it seems. The two girls form a budding friendship, but will it be enough to stop the evil that has come to their town?

I adored absolutely everything about this story! First off, the incorporation of recipes and the theme of food was cozy. I often felt like I could hear Wini’s chapters in Alechia’s voice because the passion for baking came through so vividly. I will certainly be trying some of the recipes included in the story, and I appreciated the way the theme was tied into family and making memories. 

I feel like some authors, especially middle grade authors, avoid incorporating themes of food because it can be such a complex topic, so I really loved the way the characters had healthy relationships with food. Different types of food were not depicted as “bad” or “good,” and it was shown as something that is joyful, not simply something we need to stay alive. Also, the fact that Wini understands that hot chocolate is the superior warm beverage was a major selling point for me. 

Furthermore, the representation in the novel was not only refreshing but also added depth to the story. Wini is fat, and I liked that her physical appearance was never tied to food in the story. Yes, she enjoys indulging in food, but her physical appearance is not necessarily a reflection of that; they can be two separate things about her. I wish this was depicted in novels more often, especially in those that will be read by children and teens.

Additionally, Kal has bipolar disorder, which significantly impacts her life but does not define who she is. Again, I loved that this representation was included, not just because mental health rep is important but because BPD is often overlooked in mental health rep. It was encouraging to see that Kal’s story is not about the start of her journey with BPD, but the start of her journey in finding a new normal. I think we need both kinds of stories, but there are so many stories that depict characters in a downward spiral due to their mental health. It’s easy to forget that we need the stories of coming back from that just as much.

Finally, the magic and humor in the story were wonderfully done. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times, and the magic system was intriguing, especially considering the book is urban fantasy. I could go on for days about this fantastic story, but do yourself a favor and pick up a copy for this spooky season!