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A review by silveroxide_
A Gift of Magic by Lois Duncan
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I read this for the nostalgia and was not disappointed. It’s still a good 70s YA story, with a vibe somewhere between Nancy Drew and Judy Blume. This is the least creepy of Duncan’s YA books. Just ESP and teen angst, nothing horrific. Some plot points in this book feel trope-y now, but would have felt fresh in the 70s. I didn’t find the protagonist as compelling as I did at age 12, but the supporting characters had way more dimension than expected.
Lois Duncan wrote YA gothic and horror novels long before Christopher Pike, R L Stine, or Buffy were popular. I never expect deep literature in this genre, but Duncan deserves props for being better than most, and for writing strong female protagonists. She drew stylistic inspo from Stephen King and Shirley Jackson, but dialled the scare-factor down to PG13. The result is a delightfully creepy brand of YA that’s aged gracefully.
I enjoyed revisiting this book, and will read Down a Dark Hall whenever I find a copy.
Lois Duncan wrote YA gothic and horror novels long before Christopher Pike, R L Stine, or Buffy were popular. I never expect deep literature in this genre, but Duncan deserves props for being better than most, and for writing strong female protagonists. She drew stylistic inspo from Stephen King and Shirley Jackson, but dialled the scare-factor down to PG13. The result is a delightfully creepy brand of YA that’s aged gracefully.
I enjoyed revisiting this book, and will read Down a Dark Hall whenever I find a copy.