APRIL 2021 - AudioFile
Narrator Cassandra Morris establishes a youthful voice for Rose, who begins collecting magic now that she has turned 12 years old. Since her father was naturally gifted at the task, it is expected that it will come easy to Rose, too. When she struggles, she starts to question everything, including her father’s passion for magic and even magic itself. Morris captures the innocence and warmth in Rose’s voice, which contrasts with her father’s arrogance as his true character is revealed and domestic issues begin to surface. Listeners who enjoy rich character development and magic will be intrigued by Rose and her journey in this coming-of-age story. M.D. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
"The worldbuilding and magic system are enchanting and expertly crafted. The characters are richly developed and emotionally complex. Affecting and unforgettable." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Haydu’s story is a stunner. Its magic system is inventive and imaginative, and Rose and her world are drawn with care and compassion. A carefully crafted message of hope and the sometimes-painful beauty in forging an identity all your own.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Rose’s visceral pain and her hard-earned agency will be deeply felt. Readers who enjoy everyday magic, friendship stories, and family drama will be enchanted by this magic jar of a book.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
"Taut underlying tension and a sympathetically flawed protagonist. Haydu deftly, and with startling clarity, portrays the presence and devastating effect of abuse on a family." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Gently honest and emotionally astute." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Prepare to be blown away! One Jar of Magic has the power to bruise the heart, broaden the mind—and somehow, leave an astonishing glow. A wholly original tale." — Leslie Connor
“One Jar of Magic is a bittersweet tale of unmet expectations and complicated relationships, but most of all, it’s about finding magic inside yourself and trusting who you really are. A powerful and empowering story.” — Yamile Saied Méndez, author of On These Magic Shores
Praise for Eventown: “A wonderful and inventive story about being a kid in an imperfect world—beautiful, mysterious, and deeply satisfying.” — Rebecca Stead, author of When You Reach Me and Goodbye Stranger
“At once enchanting, heart-rending, and bittersweet.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“An emotionally complex and wonderfully told story.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“[A] thought-provoking novel... [A] memorable and brave heroine.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for The Someday Suitcase:
“Quietly superb prose...Haydu doesn’t romanticize illness, but she provides comfort through art, science, magic, love, and a purple suitcase.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Poignant and powerful. A heartbreaking story about the healing power of friendship amid human fragility.” — Booklist (starred review)
“In this moving, exquisitely written story, Corey Ann Haydu explores the thin line between science and magic within an intense bond of friendship.” — Shelf Awareness (starred review)
Praise for Rules for Stealing Stars: “A well-crafted blend of realism and fantasy.”
— School Library Journal (starred review)
“[A] lyrical story of love and loss. The way the sisters fight and love in equal measure, as well as their basic need for one another, rings poignantly true in this touching and heartwarming story, which contains a ‘tiny bit of magic, right here in the real world.” — Booklist (starred review)
Praise for Hand-Me-Down Magic #1: “Haydu, author of OCD Love Story and other compelling works, offers a pleasing setup in this first volume of a new series. Reading is swift and accessible, broken up by copious cheerful illustrations, and youngsters will long to share in the cousins’ idyllic family life while understanding the pitfalls of propinquity.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"A nuanced look at the girls’ friendship, emotions, and motivations. A transitional chapter book with unusual depth, good pacing, and a loving, supportive Latinx family. Libraries should find space on their shelves for this new series." — Booklist
"This series debut is a sweet tale about friendship, family, and being the new kid on the block... The line-drawing illustrations throughout give a glimpse of the street where the girls live... Put this book in the hands of kids who enjoy series like Annie Barrows’s “Ivy and Bean” or Megan McDonald’s “Judy Moody.”" — School Library Journal
Booklist (starred review)
Haydu’s story is a stunner. Its magic system is inventive and imaginative, and Rose and her world are drawn with care and compassion. A carefully crafted message of hope and the sometimes-painful beauty in forging an identity all your own.
Yamile Saied Méndez
One Jar of Magic is a bittersweet tale of unmet expectations and complicated relationships, but most of all, it’s about finding magic inside yourself and trusting who you really are. A powerful and empowering story.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Gently honest and emotionally astute."
Rebecca Stead
Praise for Eventown: “A wonderful and inventive story about being a kid in an imperfect world—beautiful, mysterious, and deeply satisfying.
Leslie Connor
"Prepare to be blown away! One Jar of Magic has the power to bruise the heart, broaden the mind—and somehow, leave an astonishing glow. A wholly original tale."
Booklist
"A nuanced look at the girls’ friendship, emotions, and motivations. A transitional chapter book with unusual depth, good pacing, and a loving, supportive Latinx family. Libraries should find space on their shelves for this new series."
Shelf Awareness (starred review)
In this moving, exquisitely written story, Corey Ann Haydu explores the thin line between science and magic within an intense bond of friendship.
Booklist
"A nuanced look at the girls’ friendship, emotions, and motivations. A transitional chapter book with unusual depth, good pacing, and a loving, supportive Latinx family. Libraries should find space on their shelves for this new series."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Praise for Hand-Me-Down Magic #1: “Haydu, author of OCD Love Story and other compelling works, offers a pleasing setup in this first volume of a new series. Reading is swift and accessible, broken up by copious cheerful illustrations, and youngsters will long to share in the cousins’ idyllic family life while understanding the pitfalls of propinquity.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for Hand-Me-Down Magic #1: “Haydu, author of OCD Love Story and other compelling works, offers a pleasing setup in this first volume of a new series. Reading is swift and accessible, broken up by copious cheerful illustrations, and youngsters will long to share in the cousins’ idyllic family life while understanding the pitfalls of propinquity.”
Yamile Said Méndez
One Jar of Magic is a bittersweet tale of unmet expectations and complicated relationships, but most of all, it’s about finding magic inside yourself and trusting who you really are. A powerful and empowering story.
APRIL 2021 - AudioFile
Narrator Cassandra Morris establishes a youthful voice for Rose, who begins collecting magic now that she has turned 12 years old. Since her father was naturally gifted at the task, it is expected that it will come easy to Rose, too. When she struggles, she starts to question everything, including her father’s passion for magic and even magic itself. Morris captures the innocence and warmth in Rose’s voice, which contrasts with her father’s arrogance as his true character is revealed and domestic issues begin to surface. Listeners who enjoy rich character development and magic will be intrigued by Rose and her journey in this coming-of-age story. M.D. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2020-11-17
Rose Alice Anders learns magic can’t fix everything, despite what her father has always told her.
The daughter of the most magical man in town, Rose is destined to follow in his footsteps. When she turns 12, she can finally join the rest of her community and participate in the annual capturing of magic on New Year’s Day. But when the day arrives, she only manages to catch one measly jar of magic. Her father is furious, and to make things worse, her relationship with her best friend is falling apart. Rose feels like an utter failure until she learns that some people are “Not Meant for Magic,” an option she never knew existed. As she begins to question who she’s truly meant to be, she also starts to acknowledge the painful truth about her father. The worldbuilding and magic system are enchanting and expertly crafted, but the core of this gorgeously written story isn’t magic at all: It’s abuse—and it’s absolutely heartbreaking and completely realistic. While the abuse is never downplayed, this heavy subject is approached through Rose’s first-person narration in a way that is fitting for its intended audience. The characters are richly developed and emotionally complex; a beautiful, tender sibling relationship stands out, showing mutual understanding and emotional support in ways both large and small. The ending is empowering and plausibly hopeful. Characters are White by default.
Affecting and unforgettable. (author's note, resources) (Fiction. 9-13)
