A Snicker of Magic

  There are very few books that are happy without being overly sappy or saccharine. A Snicker of Magic, Natalie Lloyd's debut middle grade novel, is a book you would definitely pick up if you looking to lose yourself in a book. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. Many thanks to Scholastic and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced reader's copy of this book.

Description: Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart.
  But when she arrives in Midnight Gulch, Felicity thinks her luck's about to change. A "word collector," Felicity sees words everywhere---shining above strangers, tucked into church eves, and tangled up her dog's floppy ears---but Midnight Gulch is the first place she's ever seen the word "home." And then there's Jonah, a mysterious, spiky-haired do-gooder who shimmers with words Felicity's never seen before, words that make Felicity's heart beat a little faster.
  Felicity wants to stay in Midnight Gulch more than anything, but first, she'll need to figure out how to bring back the magic, breaking the spell that's been cast over the town . . . and her mother's broken heart.

Review: A Snicker of Magic is a delightful, inspiring, and heartwarming book. Felicity Pickle along with her mother and little sister Frannie Jo, live like nomads moving from town to town in their battered van thanks to Felicity's mother's wandering heart. For the first time, Midnight Gulch feels like home, and not just because it's where Mama grew up but because there just might be magic.
  There are many things that I loved about this book. I love how the author uses words as magic and not fairy dust or the occult. The writing is magical and it easily stirs up your emotions which clearly demonstrates the love for words. I also really enjoyed the setting of Midnight Gulch, which reminded me a lot of Stars Hollow in my favorite tv show Gilmore Girls where everybody knew everybody in this quirky town. Though there is a large cast of characters, I felt as if I got to know everyone such as the gruff yet soft Aunt Cleo, Oliver and Ponder, the vendors of unusual ice cream and baked goods, respectively, which have to ability to invoke memories, Jewell Pickett, hair-stylist and auto-mechanic extraordinaire; and her son Jonah, my favorite secondary character, who has the amazing ability to make things better for anybody, despite his own difficulties. And of course there is our adorable, spunky, Felicity, who sees words everywhere and uses them in remarkable ways. She's a girl who loves deeply and openly, and who creates her own kind of magic. As if these were not enough to make me enjoy A Snicker of Magic, there are folkloric backstories about feuding brothers, intrigue, doomed romances, mysterious do-gooders, lost children, and a curse.
  A Snicker of Magic is not to be missed and can be enjoyed by younger and older readers alike. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy books that have magical realism or those who are a bit reluctant to try a fantasy read. This book is guaranteed to make you smile the all the way through and feel great. It's definitely one my favorites from this year. 

Rating: 5 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book try: Savy by Ingrid Law, A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff