A Snicker of Magic

Folklore, magic, and a little but of hope are some of the ingredients Felicity will need to prove to her nomadic mom, that Midnight Gulch is indeed home. If Felicity, who sees words everywhere she looks (words that express feelings, knowledge, and wonderings) can break the spell that looms over Midnight Gulch and heal the heart of her mom at the same time, a snicker of magic will be just what it takes to make everything just the way it really should be. A sweet little story with likable characters and interesting magical folklore sprinkled throughout. I think the book could have been written with about 30 less pages, but over all I think it is a quality book that readers in 5th-8th grade would enjoy.

half a chance

Even the most experienced photographer can't always capture common moments in life; the ones defining, shaping, and significant from the lens of the one experiencing it. And even the most amazing photograph, can't always reveal the true story unfolding or the half a chance each narrative offers. Cynthia Lord has the reader present and having an interaction with the smallest of moments. With a little ant scampering across the sun dried tip of a kayak, in the middle of the lake and away from where he was suppose to be. Lord will have you pause and reflect each time Lucy does, and the tension will feel increasingly familiar.  Half a chance has a relevancy and warmth that reminds you how you come to trust and need more stories from the authors you love. During two moments in the book I shed a few well earned empathetic tears...the warm kind of tears that move slow and evaporate after a page. I highly recommend this book to realistic fiction fans. To my peers who grew up owning every Judy Blume book and building memories for loving reading because of her, you will have an added appreciation for what Lord offers young readers.