Author: Corey Ann Haydu
Genre: Magical realism
Similar books: Savvy by Ingrid Law
All the Answers by Kate Messner
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): 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.
My opinion: Going into this book, I was anticipating a story about having to readjust when life doesn't go according to plan, when your expectations are not met. And that is certainly a part of this book. But it quickly becomes apparent that it's even more about parental expectations. The thin veneer of appearance and expectation that holds up an abusive household. It's clear pretty early on that the dad is at least emotionally abusive. There are references to needing to keep the house calm and quiet, to do things exactly as he wants them. It's a disturbing family dynamic. As the book progresses we see how toxic the relationship actually is, both towards the family and in the community at large. Haydu is exploring these ideas of perfection and what we should really expect out of life. Being a story mainly of emotional growth and shift, there isn't a great deal of action. The final scene are almost anti-climactic, just a series of smaller changes as characters chose new paths.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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