A Snicker of Magic

A Snicker of Magic

by Natalie Lloyd

Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart.

Felicity and her family move back to Midnight Gulch, knowing that they probably won’t live there very long. Felicity and her younger sister start at a new school with a bunch of strangers who give them funny looks as they walk down the hallways. Felicity doesn't really care about the looks as she uses her special gift with words to help her sister feel calm.

Much to Felicity’s surprise, she makes a friend at her new school. Jonah is a boy in her class who secretly performs good deeds to help different members of the community. While in class Jonah and Felicity learn about the magical past of Midnight Gulch and Felicity is determined to bring the magic back. Maybe she can convince her mother to stay in town just long enough to break the curse.

What I loved about this book is the use of unconventional characters. Jonah is in a wheelchair, but by no means is that the central part of his character. Other characters have different disabilities, but it does not define them. These characters made the book even more powerful. I could not put the book down while I was reading it – I just had to know what was going to happen next. The author integrated the variety of characters so that they are each integral to the plot. Every character has a unique role in what makes that community special – just like real life.