
River Magic
Ellen Booraem, Author
Dial Books for Young Readers, Fiction, Apr. 27, 2021
Suitable for ages: 10-13
Themes: River, Grief, Fantasy, Dragon, Neighbors, Greed, Friendships, Family
Book Jacket Synopsis:
Donna’s always loved her life by the river. Aunt Annabelle taught her there was more to the world than meets the eye, and the two of them built tiny shoreside houses for fantastical creatures Annabelle insisted were real. But now Annabelle has died in the very river she claimed was magic, and nothing feels wondrous to Donna anymore. Money is tight with Annabelle gone. Her mom, “Mim,” and sister, Janice, work all the time, and her best friend, Rachel, spends way more time with her basketball teammates than she does with Donna.
When a strange old woman moves in next door and needs help cleaning her filthy home, Donna figures this is the perfect opportunity to forget her friendship troubles and help her family. Especially since the woman pays in gold. Turns out, Donna’s new neighbor is an ancient, ornery thunder mage, and it doesn’t take muck to make her angry. Before Donna knows it, Rachel’s in danger and Donna’s family is about to lose their home. Even Annabelle’s voice, an unexpected guiding presence in Donna’s mind, can’t fend off disaster. To save the day, Donna will need the help of a caring new friend and the basket-ball team…plus the mysterious, powerful creature lurking in the river.
Why I like this book:
Ellen Booraem has written a compelling contemporary fantasy that is thrilling, dangerous, action-packed, realistic and humorous. Take a moment to look at the gorgeous book cover of Donna and her friend Hillyard. It makes you want to peek into that river with them.
There is a lot going on in the fast-paced plot — the death of a beloved aunt, a family on the brink of financial collapse, shifting friendships, an angry and greedy magical neighbor, and a cunning dragon living in the river behind the house. That being said, Booraem manages to pull it all together and create an exciting and believable magical adventure story for readers.
What makes this story strong is its cast of memorable characters who leap off the pages. Donna is a curious and resilient character who begins to hear dead Aunt Annabelle’s voice (in her head) guiding her. She share’s her aunt’s love of the river and believes in the magic surrounding it. So moving to live with Aunt Betty’s, is not a choice for Donna. She’s not old enough to get a real job. But one appears when a very odd woman, Vilma Bliksem, moves into the house next door. Things really start to get weird. Vilma is beguiling, greedy and dangerous. Donna also develops a relationship with a new quirky friend, Hillyard, who is the perfect side-kick for Donna. He sports unusual outfits, like a purple-and-pink tie-dyed T-shirt, leather vest, battered leather shoes laced on the side, and a brightly colored yellow scarf with orange strips wrapped around his neck. His hair is pulled back into a short pony tail. Being friends with Hillyard won’t be cool at school, but he is clever and helps Donna figure out how to outwit their wicked neighbor. Together they survive some dangerous moments and release some spells Vilma has cast.
I highly recommend this magical story to readers who are looking for an exciting adventure that will keep them glued to the pages and guessing what will happen next. I love not being able to guess the ending and I was careful not to give away any SPOILERS.
Ellen Booraem, born in Massachusetts, now lives in Downeast Maine. She is the author of The Unnameables (an ALA Best Book for Young Adults), Small Persons with Wings, and Texting the Underworld. All of Ellen’s books have been chosen by Kirkus Reviews as Best Books of the Year, among other awards. In addition to being a writer, Ellen is a writing coach at her local elementary school. She lives with a cat, a dog, and an artist in a house they (the humans) built with their own hands.
Greg Pattridge hosts Marvelous Middle Grade Monday posts on his wonderful Always in the Middle website. Check out the link to see all of the wonderful reviews by KidLit bloggers and authors.
*Reviewed from a library copy.
This sounds like a fantastic fantasy with a different plot line than you usually see. Glad you enjoyed it. I hope I can find it at my library.
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Teens will enjoy this fantasy! More contemporary with themes they can relate to, yet magical at the same time!
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The main charcter sounds great. Your review is compelling. I can think of a couple of young people who would like this book.
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It is a delightful read! Like that it is fantasy is also realistic and contemporary.
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I saw the cover for this book a few months ago but never knew what it was about. You covered all the plot points well and now I have it high on my list of future books to read. There sure is a lot going on and the characters sound quite engaging. Thanks for featuring on MMGM.
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Glad you enjoyed the review. I enjoyed spending time with this quirky group of characters. And who wouldn’t want to fly!
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This sounds like an excellent novel—I love that even though it’s a fantasy, it tackles a lot of contemporary/real-world issues as well! Grief and financial stress don’t often coexist in stories with mages and spells, but I can imagine there’s a way to make it work, and it sounds like this book does. Thanks so much for the thoughtful review!
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Yes, there is a lot going on in the plot, as it carries many real-life themes. But, the author manages to pull off an entertaining read.
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I don’t read much fantasy, but a fantasy novel set in contemporary times sounds interesting. Thanks for telling me about it. The cover is terrific.
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That’s what drew me to this story — real-life themes. And this quirky cast of characters add some charm.
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