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A review by rorikae
Just A Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
'Just a Pinch of Magic' by Alechia Dow is a delightful middle grade novel about friendship and magic.
Wini's family's bakery is in trouble and so she devises a spell to help that will draw on love. But the spell goes wrong and a woman appears in town from the Enchantment Bureau. Fearing that she will get in trouble for her spell, Wini teams up with the new girl in town, Kal to see how they can fix what went wrong. Kal is searching for her place in the town while also dealing with her anxiety and a grandfather that has suddenly appeared. She believes she has found a friend in Wini. Together, the girls will have to figure out how to save the town and put things right.
What a cute middle grade novel. Dow does a great job of creating a fun world and filling it with enchanting characters. I love the magic as well, especially the infusion of baking and word magic. There are recipes inserted between some of the chapters, which I found not only immersive but also an added bonus amidst all of the mouth-watering descriptions and metaphors. A certain aspect of the plot was quite easy to figure out but I think it would still work well for its intended audience. I hope that Dow writes more middle grade in the future because this was pure delight.
Wini's family's bakery is in trouble and so she devises a spell to help that will draw on love. But the spell goes wrong and a woman appears in town from the Enchantment Bureau. Fearing that she will get in trouble for her spell, Wini teams up with the new girl in town, Kal to see how they can fix what went wrong. Kal is searching for her place in the town while also dealing with her anxiety and a grandfather that has suddenly appeared. She believes she has found a friend in Wini. Together, the girls will have to figure out how to save the town and put things right.
What a cute middle grade novel. Dow does a great job of creating a fun world and filling it with enchanting characters. I love the magic as well, especially the infusion of baking and word magic. There are recipes inserted between some of the chapters, which I found not only immersive but also an added bonus amidst all of the mouth-watering descriptions and metaphors. A certain aspect of the plot was quite easy to figure out but I think it would still work well for its intended audience. I hope that Dow writes more middle grade in the future because this was pure delight.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Confinement