When Desis mother mysterious disappears, she and her cat-turned-human must fend for themselves. Check out Kidzworlds review of Unfamiliar Magic by R.C. Alexander.
Title: Unfamiliar Magic
Authors: R.C. Alexander
Ages: 9+
Rating:
Desi was born a witch. The only trouble is that her mother won’t teach her how to use magic. She always says that she’ll teach her when she gets older. But now she is older! She’s 12 and she is still denied her birth right—to learn and practice magic. If only Desi’s father were still around. Then he could teach her. But he isn’t around. In fact, Desi has never met her father.
The Human Cat
One day, Desi’s mother mysteriously disappears, leaving their cat (which her mother has turned into a human) in charge. Unfortunately, their cat, who conveniently goes by the name Cat, doesn’t know how to act like a human. Now that they’re hanging out with the two neighbor boys, Cat needs to learn human tendencies fast.
The Magic Shop
While at the mall with Cat and the boys, Desi discovers a magic shop. And when she sees the magician perform, she knows his tricks are more than just illusions. They’re real magic. Desi decides to confide in him, and hopefully he will mentor her in the art of magic.
The Bottom Line
Unfamiliar Magic is a hard book to get into. The prologue is fast-paced and exciting. But it slows down after that, leaving you unsure of whether or not to continue. The storyline and writing style are a little too young for the audience, and at first the cat’s character seems way too over the top. But as the story progresses, the characters become more believable, and you start to see how perfect the cat-turned-human really is. The author uses a cat’s personality traits and thought processes to look at and deal with the human world. And it blends very well. By the climax, you’ll be hooked. So Unfamiliar Magic is definitely worth reading.
