An Older Kind Of Magic

Three Australian children discover ancient magical creatures living under the streets of the city.

In this “fun and flirty” debut, a shy scientist is swept off her feet by a rock star—but is it real romantic chemistry or just her love potion perfume (Night Owl Reviews)? Biochemist Eden Sinclair has no idea that the scent she spritzed on herself before leaving the lab is designed to enhance pheromones. Or that the cute guy she meets at her brother’s concert is the international rock god Adam Copeland. By the time she learns the truth, she’s already spent an unforgettable night in his bed . . . Now Eden, who’s more accustomed to disastrous dates set up by her mom, is going out with a gorgeous celebrity who loves how down-to-earth and honest she is. But for once, Eden isn’t being honest. She can’t bear to reveal that this overpowering attraction could be nothing more than seduction by science. And the only way to know how Adam truly feels is to ditch the perfume—and risk being ditched . . . “Sexy, engaging and original. I completely fell in love with Eden and Adam.” —Sydney Landon, New York Times–bestselling author

Amber Sand is not a witch. The Sand family magical gene somehow leapfrogged over her. But she did get one highly specific bewitching talent: she can see true love. As a matchmaker, Amber's pretty far down the sorcery food chain (even birthday party magicians rank higher), but after five seconds of eye contact, she can envision anyone's soul mate. Amber works at her mother's magic shop -- Windy City Magic -- in downtown Chicago, and she's confident she's seen every kind of happy ending there is: except for one--her own. (The Fates are tricky jerks that way.) So when Charlie Blitzman, the mayor's son and most-desired boy in school, comes to her for help finding his father's missing girlfriend, she's distressed to find herself falling for him. Because while she can't see her own match, she can see his -- and it's not Amber. How can she, an honest peddler of true love, pursue a boy she knows full well isn't her match? The Best Kind of Magic is set in urban Chicago and will appeal to readers who long for magic in the real world. With a sharp-witted and sassy heroine, a quirky cast of mystical beings, and a heady dose of adventure, this novel will have you laughing out loud and questioning your belief in happy endings.

Filmer argues that, in secular society, the psychological need to hope is met in the literature of fantasy. She illustrates her thesis using the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Peter Beagle, Susan Cooper, Madeleine L'Engle, George Orwell, Russell Hoban, James Thurber, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Alan Garner, Ursula LeGuin, and Patricia Wrightson. Paper edition (unseen), $13.95. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Four young misfits find themselves living in a strictly disciplined temple community where they become friends while also learning to do crafts and to use their powers, especially magic.

"A burgeoning literature for young-adult readers exists. Yet much of it depicts a despairing, disillusioned world, telling tales of teenagers suffering from family breakdown, violence, peer pressure, sexual abuse, and even suicide. But such bleakness need not translate into depression and fear for vulnerable adolescents. When we look at YA fiction form another perspective, what may emerge is a literature of great power an authenticity. Julia Kristeva argues that so long as human beings have love, we have hope. Taking up this theme, Martha Westwater reads six YA novelists--Aidan Chambers, Robert Cormier, Kevin Major, Jan Mark, Katherine Paterson, and Patricia Wrightson--through Kristevan theory to find a glimmer of hope amidst our cultural crises. A welcome addition to the undeservedly sparse literature on Young Adult fiction."--Publisher's description.