One Jar of Magic
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
From the critically acclaimed author of Eventown comes a hopeful and empowering tale set in an enchanting world of magic and mysterious family secrets—perfect for fans of Anne Ursu, Rebecca Stead, and Wendy Mass.
Magic is like a dream. Delightful. Terrifying. Unreal.
Rose Alice Anders is Little Luck. Lucky to be born into the Anders family. Lucky to be just as special and magical as the most revered man in town—her father. The whole town has been waiting for Rose to turn twelve, when she can join them in their annual capturing of magic on New Year’s Day and become the person she was born to be.
But when that special day finally comes, Rose barely captures one tiny jar of magic. Now Rose’s dad won’t talk to her anymore and her friendships have gotten all twisted and wrong. So when Rose hears whispers that there are people who aren’t meant for magic at all, she begins to wonder if that’s who she belongs with.
Maybe if she’s away from all the magic, away from her dad telling her who she’s meant to be, who she has to be, Rose can begin to piece together what’s truly real in a world full of magic.
* An SLJ Best Book of the Year * A CCBC Choices Pick of the Year *
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
With taut underlying tension and a sympathetically flawed protagonist, Haydu's (Ever Cursed) middle grade novel literalizes magic's effects on a family and community. Rose Alice Anders has looked forward to this upcoming New Year's Eve, her 12th birthday, for as long as she can remember. In Belling Bright, the anniversary means she's old enough to join her family at TooBlue Lake, catching magic on New Year's Day. To Rose's father, the town's most celebrated magic-catcher, it means that she his "Little Luck" will finally follow in his footsteps. But despite encouragement from her less magically inclined brother, who takes after their mother, Rose catches only one jar of magic angering their volatile father, leading her to question her destiny, and resulting in social fallout. Using insightful flashbacks to reveal Rose's conflicted feelings about her dad and her desire to fulfill his dream, Haydu deftly, and with startling clarity, portrays the presence and devastating effect of abuse on a family. The sweet protectiveness of older brother Lyle, Rose's gradual awareness and acceptance of herself, and the hope that families and people can heal offer further thoughtfully rendered touches. Ages 8 12.
