Magic or Madness

The first of three books, this story follows a young girl discovering her family's secret, the need for true friends and the awareness that adults are not perfect. The plot takes place in present day Australia and New York. The differences between the cultures makes for an enjoyable read. A perfect book for young teens, of both sexes, and adults. Justine Larbalestier is a wonderful talented new author. You won't be disappointed starting this series.

As the father of a twelve year old girl who is just starting High School, I found this book an absolute delight to share with her. The teenage characters come across as strong and believable; positively drawn without resorting to any of the pop-psychology-laden 'you go girl!' stereotypes that plagues so much young adult fiction these days. The Newtown/East Village environs in Sydney and New York are gorgeously and accurately evoked, and the story is fast paced and imaginatively constructed.

Despite the fact that I was utterly disappointed to find out that this book is the first in a trilogy (I didn't find out till the cliffhanger ending and I like to read series books all together), I really enjoyed this book. The chapters alternate perspectives between Reason, Tom (the evil/not evil grandmother's apprentice) and Jay-Tee (Reason's friend/enemy in NY City). The 3 teens often contradict each other which makes the different points of view all the more real. Reason has spent her whole life hiding from her grandmother who is a witch. R's mother doesn't believe in magic and raises her believe only in the rational. When her mother goes insane, R is taken by the authorities and placed with her grandmother. R quickly finds out that magic is real when she steps through a door in her grandmother's house and finds herself in New York City. The book is fast paced and mysterious. It is difficult to figure out who is on Reason's side and who is plotting against her, even to the end of the book. The teen characters are authentic and well developed and while the adult characters are a little more shallow (fairly typical in teen books) there is the promise that they will become more developed in the coming books.

My daughter is now old enough that she enjoys reading some of the classics of my youth -- the Judy Blumes and the Roald Dahls and the Susan Coopers -- which we read together and she also reads by herself. I'm happy to share these books with her, but I also hope that she'll have books and authors she'll claim for her own. After reading Magic & Madness, I have a good feeling that Justine Larbalestier is one of the authors who she will adopt -- the book combines the reality of being young and in trouble with a world of magic one would love to explore (even as a grown up!); it's true fantasy that works because it doesn't skimp on being real. I've put the book in my daughter's room; I'm looking forward to having her tell me she wants to read it to me.

THis is a gorgeous book. I'm not a young adult (just a regular old one, I fear) but this book made me wish I could have found this story when I was a 13 year-old girl -- I would have loved it. The blending of magic with real-world adolescent issues creates a memorable, delicious story -- easy to read (impossible not to, in fact) in one sitting. I can't wait for the sequel. In the meanwhile, I'm buying it for every young girl I know...