Magic Lessons (Magic or Madness) - Hardcover

Larbalestier, Justine

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1595140549 ISBN 13: 9781595140548

Publisher: Razorbill, 2006

Synopsis

Having to choose between using her powers and dying young or not using them and losing her mind, Reason is immediately forced to deal with the challenging decision when she is left alone in New York City to face down a threat that will affect her very existence.

About this title

About the Author:

Justine Larbalestier lives in Sydney, Australia and New York City.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 8 Up–This sequel to Magic or Madness (Penguin, 2005) opens with 15-year-old Reason Cansino reminiscing about her early life with her mother, bringing new readers and fans of the first book up to speed. A magical golem-type creature comes in through the door that links her grandmother's house in Australia and New York City and attacks the magically talented teen and her similarly gifted friends, Tom and Jay-Tee. When Reason is pulled through the door and lands in Manhattan, she turns to Jay-Tee's brother, Danny, for shelter. After determining that the attacks come from Old Man Cansino, one of her ancestors, she has to figure out what he's trying to teach her, and how he's been able to survive for hundreds of years, since most magic users either die very young from using their power or go insane if they do not. Reason has sex with Danny and, at the end of this installment, she is pregnant and is charged with saving the others from their seemingly no-win situations. Larbalestier creates complex relationships among her characters, and their realistic flaws, combined with the sense of danger throughout, make this a good choice for even reluctant readers. Details about how Reason and her friends perceive and use magic add to the realism and immediacy of the story. Australian terms are defined in a somewhat humorous glossary but are generally understandable from context clues.–Beth L. Meister, Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin, WI
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About this edition

• Publisher: Razorbill
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1595140549
• ISBN 13: 9781595140548
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288