ISBN: 0-441-00975-1 Order from: Amazon.com
A charming tale full of magic, fear and hope, and relationships with magical and mundane beings.
Reviewed by David on January 17, 2003
Genre: Fantasy (Coming of Age)
Synopsis: The LaZelles are a magical family. The children go through a stressful transition in their early teens, and gain the ability to perform spells. Gypsum, one of three sisters, is mostly resigned to having no special powers—much like her beloved and mundane father.
Subject of familial pity and magical pranks, Gypsum is ill prepared for an unusual gift that descends to her. Her childhood dreams of magic have come back to haunt her. Is any power better than none?
Full Review: Gypsum, the firs-person narrator is an appealing protagonist. She combines kindness and envy, hope and fear. The way she deals with the overwhelming power of others—and the dangers inherent in magic—is interesting and sometimes poignant.
The author explores the themes present in her other books. One is the unthinking abuse that the powerful but childlike magicians can heap on their victims. Another is the redeeming power of insight and kindness, and the attraction of love and friendship, that can serve as a powerful balance to the temptations of power.
This is a pleasant, even captivating coming-of-age story with appealing characters and colorful, unusual magic.
Overall: 6.5; Plot: 5; Characters: 6.5; Style: 7; World-building: 6; Originality: 7.5;
Copyright date 2002, Berkley Publishing Group (Ace), November 2002, Cloth, 353 pages
ISBN: 0-441-00975-1 Order from: Amazon.com