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Ordinary Magic
In Abby’s world, magic isn’t anything special: it’s a part of everyday life. So when Abby learns that she has zero magical abilities, she’s branded an “Ord”—ordinary, bad luck, and quite possibly a danger to society.
The outlook for kids like Abby isn’t bright. Many are cast out by their families, while others are sold to treasure hunters (ordinary kids are impervious to spells and enchantments). Luckily for Abby, her family enrolls her in a school that teaches ordinary kids how to get around in a magical world. But with treasure-hunting kidnappers and carnivorous goblins lurking around every corner, Abby’s biggest problem may not be learning how to be ordinary—it’s whether or not she’s going to survive the school year!
The outlook for kids like Abby isn’t bright. Many are cast out by their families, while others are sold to treasure hunters (ordinary kids are impervious to spells and enchantments). Luckily for Abby, her family enrolls her in a school that teaches ordinary kids how to get around in a magical world. But with treasure-hunting kidnappers and carnivorous goblins lurking around every corner, Abby’s biggest problem may not be learning how to be ordinary—it’s whether or not she’s going to survive the school year!
277 pages, Hardcover
First published May 8, 2012
46 people are currently reading
4297 people want to read
About the author
Caitlen Rubino-Bradway
4 books85 followersCaitlen Rubino-Bradway is the author of Ordinary Magic and the co-author of Lady Vernon and Her Daughter, which she wrote with her mother. Caitlen lives and writes in New York City.
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June 13, 2016
Review posted on Fafa's Book Corner !
Beware spoilers ahead!
This book was recommended to me by Sierra! Click on her name to read her review.
I heard about this through Twitter. Sierra was doing one of those 1 click= 1 book and out of curiosity I looked at the thread. Out of 50 plus reccomendation's Ordinary Magic caught my eye. I love reading Middle Grade especially books with magic in them! I was happy to see that this was in my library. While this wasn't what I was expecting I still enjoyed it!
The book begins with Abby and her family getting ready for her Judging. Abby has been looking forward to this day. She can finally practice magic! She's a bit nervous about the level she'll be and the Judging in general. Luckily her whole family are going to support her.
Once Abby and her family reach the place where she'll be Judged they go their separate ways. Abby to be Judged and her family to wait. Abby is told that she needs to step through a barrier and then her test will begin. She does so but nothing happens. Abby doesn't feel any difference. The people Judging her look shocked and ask her to walk around the barrier several times. They inform Abby that she is and Ord. She has no magic in her whatsoever. Abby is in shock and really upset.
Her parents are called in and they in just as much shock as Abby is. The man informs Abby's parents that because she is an Ord they will need to get rid of her. Her parents deny doing so and leave. Her siblings are in shock as well but quickly try to cheer Abby up. When they leave the building word has gotten out and everyone is avoiding Abby's family.
They arrive home to have a party for Abby nonetheless. Abby remains upset because none of her friends came and some of her other family members didn't come. Her aunt left early and her parents told her that if she was going to leave early then she shouldn't come back. Abby's family make sure that she has a good day.
The next day Abby wakes up to her family having a heated discussion. Abby joins her family and asks what's going on. Her oldest sister Alexa say's that their counsel has requested buying Abby. Abby then asks her parents whether they are going to sell her to anyone. Her family replies with a firm 'No'. Alexa then mentions that as her work for the King there is a school for Ord's. And that they are going to enroll Abby in it. Abby is quite shocked when she hears this as Alexa doesn't mention her work. But she's willing to give it a go seeing as she's not sure what to do with her life.
I was expecting to love this book. But nonetheless I did enjoy it! I really liked the writing style. The author did a good job of writing about a 12 year old. This book is written in first person in Abby's point of view.
Now when I saw Sierra mention this book the only thing that I remembered about it was that it had magic and that Abby was an Ord. I didn't realize just how brutal this book was going to be! I was so surprised and angry when I read about how Ord's are typically treated. Normally they are sold off to basically anyone asking for them. Simply because they have no means of survival in society. Most people treat Ord's as objects and avoid them like their contagious. I'm not even exaggerating. This book was also action packed! Surprisingly so.
The family aspect was amazing! I loved reading about their interactions with one-another! I always had a huge grin on my face whenever Abby's family came in! I liked Abby's friends Fran and Fred. And I kind of liked Peter. I also liked Abby. And while Abby still didn't really stand up for herself she did grow.
Once Abby gets to school she's not well liked. Quite a few people are jealous of her because her family cares about her. People also don't like the fact that Abby talks a lot about her family. They always seemed to forget that Peter also had his mother. But that might just be because Peter's mother is an Ord and Ord's seem to stick together. The ending was bitter sweet but realistic.
I had 5 problems with Ordinary Magic. I felt that the book started to loose it's appeal once Abby started attending school. I also felt that while Abby went through character development the other characters did not. I would've liked to read more about Peter just to understand his character. I really did not like the way Cook Bella treated Abby. She was unfair through-and-through. I think that it may have been her way of teaching Abby. I never felt that Abby ever became one of the kitchen staff. It seems that it is implied but I never felt it.
Overall this was a good book! I recommend to anyone looking for a standalone fantasy middle grade book.
Beware spoilers ahead!
This book was recommended to me by Sierra! Click on her name to read her review.
I heard about this through Twitter. Sierra was doing one of those 1 click= 1 book and out of curiosity I looked at the thread. Out of 50 plus reccomendation's Ordinary Magic caught my eye. I love reading Middle Grade especially books with magic in them! I was happy to see that this was in my library. While this wasn't what I was expecting I still enjoyed it!
The book begins with Abby and her family getting ready for her Judging. Abby has been looking forward to this day. She can finally practice magic! She's a bit nervous about the level she'll be and the Judging in general. Luckily her whole family are going to support her.
Once Abby and her family reach the place where she'll be Judged they go their separate ways. Abby to be Judged and her family to wait. Abby is told that she needs to step through a barrier and then her test will begin. She does so but nothing happens. Abby doesn't feel any difference. The people Judging her look shocked and ask her to walk around the barrier several times. They inform Abby that she is and Ord. She has no magic in her whatsoever. Abby is in shock and really upset.
Her parents are called in and they in just as much shock as Abby is. The man informs Abby's parents that because she is an Ord they will need to get rid of her. Her parents deny doing so and leave. Her siblings are in shock as well but quickly try to cheer Abby up. When they leave the building word has gotten out and everyone is avoiding Abby's family.
They arrive home to have a party for Abby nonetheless. Abby remains upset because none of her friends came and some of her other family members didn't come. Her aunt left early and her parents told her that if she was going to leave early then she shouldn't come back. Abby's family make sure that she has a good day.
The next day Abby wakes up to her family having a heated discussion. Abby joins her family and asks what's going on. Her oldest sister Alexa say's that their counsel has requested buying Abby. Abby then asks her parents whether they are going to sell her to anyone. Her family replies with a firm 'No'. Alexa then mentions that as her work for the King there is a school for Ord's. And that they are going to enroll Abby in it. Abby is quite shocked when she hears this as Alexa doesn't mention her work. But she's willing to give it a go seeing as she's not sure what to do with her life.
I was expecting to love this book. But nonetheless I did enjoy it! I really liked the writing style. The author did a good job of writing about a 12 year old. This book is written in first person in Abby's point of view.
Now when I saw Sierra mention this book the only thing that I remembered about it was that it had magic and that Abby was an Ord. I didn't realize just how brutal this book was going to be! I was so surprised and angry when I read about how Ord's are typically treated. Normally they are sold off to basically anyone asking for them. Simply because they have no means of survival in society. Most people treat Ord's as objects and avoid them like their contagious. I'm not even exaggerating. This book was also action packed! Surprisingly so.
The family aspect was amazing! I loved reading about their interactions with one-another! I always had a huge grin on my face whenever Abby's family came in! I liked Abby's friends Fran and Fred. And I kind of liked Peter. I also liked Abby. And while Abby still didn't really stand up for herself she did grow.
Once Abby gets to school she's not well liked. Quite a few people are jealous of her because her family cares about her. People also don't like the fact that Abby talks a lot about her family. They always seemed to forget that Peter also had his mother. But that might just be because Peter's mother is an Ord and Ord's seem to stick together. The ending was bitter sweet but realistic.
I had 5 problems with Ordinary Magic. I felt that the book started to loose it's appeal once Abby started attending school. I also felt that while Abby went through character development the other characters did not. I would've liked to read more about Peter just to understand his character. I really did not like the way Cook Bella treated Abby. She was unfair through-and-through. I think that it may have been her way of teaching Abby. I never felt that Abby ever became one of the kitchen staff. It seems that it is implied but I never felt it.
Overall this was a good book! I recommend to anyone looking for a standalone fantasy middle grade book.
March 19, 2013
Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers
Abby Hale leads a happy and normal life for a twelve year old - she goes to school every day and she's lucky enough to have a large, loving family and plenty of friends. And, just like anyone else her age, Abby cannot wait to be Judged, because Judgement means she will finally be an Adult and that she'll FINALLY be able to use magic (just like everyone else in the world). On the day of her Judgement, Abby is an excited mess of nerves and she wonders what rating she'll receive - most kids get a Judgement of 5 or so (although Abby's eldest sister, Alexa, got a nearly unheard-of 9 rating!). But Abby doesn't even pass her first test, and she is Judged as having absolutely zero magical potential.
In other words, Abby is an Ord - that is, she's "Ordinary" therefore impervious to magic and anathema to society.
You see, in Abby's world, everything relies on magic, from the rooms in her family's house to the shortcake that Abby's mother conjures in her bakery. Ords are a danger because they can see through any spells and cannot be affected by magic, and reviled - they are treated as though their Ord-ness is a contagious disease (it's not), and their basic human rights are stripped away. For instance Ords, especially Ord children, are often sold as slaves to traveling Adventurers (who find it useful to have someone impervious to magic on hand to walk through magical booby traps in the pursuit of treasure).
Abby soon learns all of this, as she's kicked out of school, her supposed friends keep their distance, and a pair of brutal Adventurers show up at her family's doorstep looking to purchase Abby for their next adventure. At least Abby has her family who stand by her and love her just as much as if she had been proclaimed an immensely powerful young mage. And just when all seems lost, Abby learns that her life is not without hope and opportunity - her eldest sister, Alexa, works a top secret job in Education for the kingdom, and it turns out she (and newly coronated King Stephen) has been a champion for Ords for years, protecting a school for Ordinary children in the heart of the kingdom's capitol city. Soon enough, Abby is whisked away to Margaret Green School in Rothmere, where she learns that she is one of many Ords, where she makes new friends, and learns how to protect herself and use her Ordinariness to her advantage. Of course, danger abounds (what with redcaps and desperate Adventurers about), but with the help of her family and her friends, Abby may just be able to make it through her first year of school alive.
Well, thank you Stephanie Burgis! Ordinary Magic is EVERY bit as wonderful as promised - there's nothing ordinary about it. The core premise of the book is simple, but brilliant in its simplicity; Abby's world is like a reverse Harry Potter, in which the entire universe is magical, except for a very small subset of folks that are despised for their non-magical-ness. Instead of going to a school for the gifted, Abby goes to a school where she can be safe and where she can learn how to live life in a world built for others (really, upon reflection, "Ords" and "Oridnary" seems a misnomer because Abby and her fellow Ords are not average or typical in the slightest - in fact they are very OUT of the ordinary). The revulsion that other characters feel for Abby and her new friends is a searing, believable examination of xenophobia, of racism, of the despicable fear of those who are different. I love the careful, considered examination of these issues in the book, in a way that never feels didactic or exploitative, and is seamlessly integral to the story.
I also love the consideration of the world itself, too. While I wonder where the fear and hatred for Ords came from (fodder for future books, right?), I love the distinction between ords being impervious to magic, but NOT impervious to normal things that would kill anyone. As one of Abby's teachers points out, ords are impervious to magical fire, but they will burn just like anyone else if a spell is cast that creates a non-magical, regular fire. We also get to see just how ingrained magic is in this world, as when Abby volunteers for kitchen duty, she - for the very first time in her life! - has to wash a dish (dirty dishes in the Hale household are magicked away and back into existence, clean as ever).
But you know what I loved most of all about this book? The characters, and the relationships between the characters. I adored the family dynamic between Abby, her sisters Olivia and Alexa, and her protective brothers Gil and Jeremy, and especially her parents. Instead of absentee parents, or cruel siblings, the Hale family is a tight-knit bunch that unconditionally loves its youngest member, Abby. I even love the realistic tension that emerges at Abby's school - because unlike other Ords, Abby is incredibly lucky to have a supportive family (so many other family's turn their children out or sell them when they are Judged to be Ords), to the resentment of other characters.
And then there's our heroine Abby, herself. Like Stephanie Burgis' Kat Stephenson books, I love that the novel follows Abby and not her older siblings - let's face it, the story of Alexa, who is a level 9 mage (that's 9 out of a possible - or rather, impossible - 10!) and selflessly devoted to improving the law and living conditions for Ords even before her sister was claimed one is an easy shoe-in for heroine of a YA or older fantasy series. That said, how predictable would that have been? I LOVE the perspective we get from Abby who is NOT powerful or particularly ingenius, but who has guts and the love of her family and friends to guide her. She's brave and resourceful, but the thing that is so awesome about Abby is her belief and trust in those she cares for. And that's just Abby! The other characters in this book are brilliantly detailed and fleshed out, from the curmudgeonly Peter (there's a sweet beginning of a romance here, handled beautifully) to the passionate ord self-defense teacher Becky.
What else can I say about Ordinary Magic? This is a fantastic book in a richly imagined and fascinating world. I loved Ordinary Magic very, very much, and I sincerely hope there will be more adventures of Abby and her fellow Ords in the very near future.
Abby Hale leads a happy and normal life for a twelve year old - she goes to school every day and she's lucky enough to have a large, loving family and plenty of friends. And, just like anyone else her age, Abby cannot wait to be Judged, because Judgement means she will finally be an Adult and that she'll FINALLY be able to use magic (just like everyone else in the world). On the day of her Judgement, Abby is an excited mess of nerves and she wonders what rating she'll receive - most kids get a Judgement of 5 or so (although Abby's eldest sister, Alexa, got a nearly unheard-of 9 rating!). But Abby doesn't even pass her first test, and she is Judged as having absolutely zero magical potential.
In other words, Abby is an Ord - that is, she's "Ordinary" therefore impervious to magic and anathema to society.
You see, in Abby's world, everything relies on magic, from the rooms in her family's house to the shortcake that Abby's mother conjures in her bakery. Ords are a danger because they can see through any spells and cannot be affected by magic, and reviled - they are treated as though their Ord-ness is a contagious disease (it's not), and their basic human rights are stripped away. For instance Ords, especially Ord children, are often sold as slaves to traveling Adventurers (who find it useful to have someone impervious to magic on hand to walk through magical booby traps in the pursuit of treasure).
Abby soon learns all of this, as she's kicked out of school, her supposed friends keep their distance, and a pair of brutal Adventurers show up at her family's doorstep looking to purchase Abby for their next adventure. At least Abby has her family who stand by her and love her just as much as if she had been proclaimed an immensely powerful young mage. And just when all seems lost, Abby learns that her life is not without hope and opportunity - her eldest sister, Alexa, works a top secret job in Education for the kingdom, and it turns out she (and newly coronated King Stephen) has been a champion for Ords for years, protecting a school for Ordinary children in the heart of the kingdom's capitol city. Soon enough, Abby is whisked away to Margaret Green School in Rothmere, where she learns that she is one of many Ords, where she makes new friends, and learns how to protect herself and use her Ordinariness to her advantage. Of course, danger abounds (what with redcaps and desperate Adventurers about), but with the help of her family and her friends, Abby may just be able to make it through her first year of school alive.
Well, thank you Stephanie Burgis! Ordinary Magic is EVERY bit as wonderful as promised - there's nothing ordinary about it. The core premise of the book is simple, but brilliant in its simplicity; Abby's world is like a reverse Harry Potter, in which the entire universe is magical, except for a very small subset of folks that are despised for their non-magical-ness. Instead of going to a school for the gifted, Abby goes to a school where she can be safe and where she can learn how to live life in a world built for others (really, upon reflection, "Ords" and "Oridnary" seems a misnomer because Abby and her fellow Ords are not average or typical in the slightest - in fact they are very OUT of the ordinary). The revulsion that other characters feel for Abby and her new friends is a searing, believable examination of xenophobia, of racism, of the despicable fear of those who are different. I love the careful, considered examination of these issues in the book, in a way that never feels didactic or exploitative, and is seamlessly integral to the story.
I also love the consideration of the world itself, too. While I wonder where the fear and hatred for Ords came from (fodder for future books, right?), I love the distinction between ords being impervious to magic, but NOT impervious to normal things that would kill anyone. As one of Abby's teachers points out, ords are impervious to magical fire, but they will burn just like anyone else if a spell is cast that creates a non-magical, regular fire. We also get to see just how ingrained magic is in this world, as when Abby volunteers for kitchen duty, she - for the very first time in her life! - has to wash a dish (dirty dishes in the Hale household are magicked away and back into existence, clean as ever).
But you know what I loved most of all about this book? The characters, and the relationships between the characters. I adored the family dynamic between Abby, her sisters Olivia and Alexa, and her protective brothers Gil and Jeremy, and especially her parents. Instead of absentee parents, or cruel siblings, the Hale family is a tight-knit bunch that unconditionally loves its youngest member, Abby. I even love the realistic tension that emerges at Abby's school - because unlike other Ords, Abby is incredibly lucky to have a supportive family (so many other family's turn their children out or sell them when they are Judged to be Ords), to the resentment of other characters.
And then there's our heroine Abby, herself. Like Stephanie Burgis' Kat Stephenson books, I love that the novel follows Abby and not her older siblings - let's face it, the story of Alexa, who is a level 9 mage (that's 9 out of a possible - or rather, impossible - 10!) and selflessly devoted to improving the law and living conditions for Ords even before her sister was claimed one is an easy shoe-in for heroine of a YA or older fantasy series. That said, how predictable would that have been? I LOVE the perspective we get from Abby who is NOT powerful or particularly ingenius, but who has guts and the love of her family and friends to guide her. She's brave and resourceful, but the thing that is so awesome about Abby is her belief and trust in those she cares for. And that's just Abby! The other characters in this book are brilliantly detailed and fleshed out, from the curmudgeonly Peter (there's a sweet beginning of a romance here, handled beautifully) to the passionate ord self-defense teacher Becky.
What else can I say about Ordinary Magic? This is a fantastic book in a richly imagined and fascinating world. I loved Ordinary Magic very, very much, and I sincerely hope there will be more adventures of Abby and her fellow Ords in the very near future.
February 5, 2012
I loved Ordinary Magic SO MUCH that it just makes me want to dance every time I think of it. Last night I tried talking about it to Patrick, but I was burbling so much - and I had to keep stopping to make squealing noises of excitement! - that it was hard to be coherent about it.
I love it THAT MUCH.
Ordinary Magic is an MG fantasy novel set in a secondary world that feels very 21st-century - just another modern MG setting except that, oh, yes, people use magic for almost everything...and it was only 6 years ago that the new king finally made it officially illegal for the very rare non-magical humans (Ords) to be bought and sold.
Unfortunately, he wasn't able to make bigotry illegal, and a lot of criminal adventurers have no interest in the law, and plenty of motivation for kidnapping child Ords. So, when a twelve-year-old's magic is officially Judged, on his or her twelfth birthday, if they're found to be an Ord, they're viewed by the majority of society with distrust and horror. A lot of parents give them away (or sell them, despite the law), they're all in immense danger...
...and so a new school has been set up to try to keep them safe and teach them life skills - both marketable skills, for trying to find real jobs as adults, and self-defense skills, to protect them against kidnappers and the various terrifying magical creatures, like red cap goblins, who consider Ords to be their favorite snack.
Rubino-Bradway does a great job working with the awful realities of how social bigotry works, using a fantasy setting - without ever making it a direct parallel to any real-world bigotry, she makes the way people behave very emotionally true, and the danger is intense and real.
But what makes this book, and what made me LOVE it from page one, is the voice, combined with the fabulous characters and the sheer charm and fun of it all.
Abby Hale is a 12-year-old who finds out in Chapter One, with shock and horror, that she's an Ord. So, that's the fantasy element to her character. However, and more importantly, she's also the youngest in a big, noisy, loving, annoying, wonderful family, all of whom - combative though they might be in other circumstances - come together in her defense when her magical Judgment puts her in real life-threatening danger.
The family members are all just fabulous, every one of them distinct and funny and great, and the dynamics are spot-on perfect. I loved them all so much, I wondered if it would be disappointing when she headed off to school...
...but it totally wasn't, because I loved her school, and much more than that, I LOVED the characters there, including Peter, an extremely smart, grumpy, stand-offish boy (for completely understandable reasons) who becomes the perfect focus for a very, very sweet romance subplot. (It's muted, as is totally appropriate for their age, but still totally sigh-worthy, and I can't wait to see it develop in later books.)
This book is just plain fun to read in every way, and that includes fabulous magical action scenes, intense excitement - and simple charm, which it has in spades.
Ordinary Magic comes out on May 8th of this year. I read an e-ARC through Netgalley, but I will DEFINITELY be buying a published paper copy to read and re-read, and I cannot wait for its sequels. I have no idea how many there will be - selfishly, I hope for TONS. This is my very favorite MG fantasy discovery in a very long time, and so far, this and Jenn Reese's Above World are my two very favorite MG novels of 2012.
I LOVED it.
I love it THAT MUCH.
Ordinary Magic is an MG fantasy novel set in a secondary world that feels very 21st-century - just another modern MG setting except that, oh, yes, people use magic for almost everything...and it was only 6 years ago that the new king finally made it officially illegal for the very rare non-magical humans (Ords) to be bought and sold.
Unfortunately, he wasn't able to make bigotry illegal, and a lot of criminal adventurers have no interest in the law, and plenty of motivation for kidnapping child Ords. So, when a twelve-year-old's magic is officially Judged, on his or her twelfth birthday, if they're found to be an Ord, they're viewed by the majority of society with distrust and horror. A lot of parents give them away (or sell them, despite the law), they're all in immense danger...
...and so a new school has been set up to try to keep them safe and teach them life skills - both marketable skills, for trying to find real jobs as adults, and self-defense skills, to protect them against kidnappers and the various terrifying magical creatures, like red cap goblins, who consider Ords to be their favorite snack.
Rubino-Bradway does a great job working with the awful realities of how social bigotry works, using a fantasy setting - without ever making it a direct parallel to any real-world bigotry, she makes the way people behave very emotionally true, and the danger is intense and real.
But what makes this book, and what made me LOVE it from page one, is the voice, combined with the fabulous characters and the sheer charm and fun of it all.
Abby Hale is a 12-year-old who finds out in Chapter One, with shock and horror, that she's an Ord. So, that's the fantasy element to her character. However, and more importantly, she's also the youngest in a big, noisy, loving, annoying, wonderful family, all of whom - combative though they might be in other circumstances - come together in her defense when her magical Judgment puts her in real life-threatening danger.
The family members are all just fabulous, every one of them distinct and funny and great, and the dynamics are spot-on perfect. I loved them all so much, I wondered if it would be disappointing when she headed off to school...
...but it totally wasn't, because I loved her school, and much more than that, I LOVED the characters there, including Peter, an extremely smart, grumpy, stand-offish boy (for completely understandable reasons) who becomes the perfect focus for a very, very sweet romance subplot. (It's muted, as is totally appropriate for their age, but still totally sigh-worthy, and I can't wait to see it develop in later books.)
This book is just plain fun to read in every way, and that includes fabulous magical action scenes, intense excitement - and simple charm, which it has in spades.
Ordinary Magic comes out on May 8th of this year. I read an e-ARC through Netgalley, but I will DEFINITELY be buying a published paper copy to read and re-read, and I cannot wait for its sequels. I have no idea how many there will be - selfishly, I hope for TONS. This is my very favorite MG fantasy discovery in a very long time, and so far, this and Jenn Reese's Above World are my two very favorite MG novels of 2012.
I LOVED it.
July 16, 2012
Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway
Pages: 288
Release Date: May 8th, 2012
Date Read: 2012, February 24th - March 1st
Received: ARC via NetGalley
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Recommended to: 10+
SUMMARY -
Abby is about to be tested for magic - will she be a Level 5? A 6? She comes from a very prominent family, where everyone uses magic well; her older sister tested at Level 9! But when Abby is discovered to be an Ord, a non-magical human, she is cast out by the society around her. Ords are unnatural - they are usually sold to Adventurers or the Guild. Abby's parents, of course, refuse to sell her, and find a place for her at Margaret Green School, a place where where Ords learn how to protect themselves and live in a magical society. When Adventurers strike, seeking slaves, and the students are in danger, Abby and her friends muster all the courage and wit they possess to outsmart the enemy.
MY THOUGHTS -
Already I have the winner for the "CUTEST book of 2012"!! This is is, ladies and gents! Ordinary Magic is stinking adorable. And not only that - it had me laughing out loud all the time, and loving every second. The way Caitlen Rubino-Bradway portrays everything through stellar writing and her brilliant story-telling style had me applauding for more.
While absolutely everything about Ordinary Magic was just adorable, my favorite thing about it was the humor. In character, in conversation, in their way of life - I still giggle when I think about Gil, or Abby's hilarious sarcasm, etc., etc.
CHARACTER NOTES -
Abby, her family, the mages, her friends at school, the Adventurers, the King - all brilliantly done! There was no need to tell the reader who all these people were because the reader is shown from page 1 with crystal clear imagery. Because of this, I want to say each and every one is my favorite and tell you why, but that simply can't be done.
Abby's voice is realistic and funny. I love her. Like, want-to-be-best-buds love her. She's spunky, determined, and totally sweet. She can have a bit of temper but is really mature. Talk about perfect character building...
Peter, Fran and Fred were awesome. I love that Fran always speaks in a whisper, Fred is everyone's buddy, and Peter can be a total jerk, but deep down is a totally great guy trying to figure things out. I'm hoping, in maybe another book - romance for Abby and Peter? :)
Mom and Dad, Abby's parents, are some of the most hilarious parents I've ever read about in Lit. I could relate to them on a personal level because they remind me of my parents. Not in every way, but enough to make me love them even more than I would have originally. They were SO funny, always teasing their kids and making jokes.
But. My favorite. He would have to be Gil, Abby's older brother. Oh, my gosh. He's such a riot!! I was NOT expecting such hilariousness from him, and about him from his family, but he proved to be the biggest source of laughter for me. I. LOVE. HIM. The twist about him in the end just made me burst into hysterical laughter! I'm cracking up just thinking about it!!
STORY NOTES -
Think: fun, adventure, magic, kinds, bad guys, and lots of wit. I love when kids have to outsmart the bad guys ("Home Alone" style!), and Ordinary Magic had plenty of that. There were a few scenes that were a bit slower than the rest, but never boring. The pace is otherwise consistent and actually pretty fast. (It took me a bit longer than typical due to a crazy week, but normally I could've finished a book like this in 2 days!)
Every scene has a purpose. I love that about Ordinary Magic: nothing is unimportant or out of place. I also love the originality of the idea. Instead of a magician surrounded by non-magical people, it's the other way around. And it's just as fascinating to read about!
I also love the mix of cultures. Kings and castles mixed with boarding schools, mixed with city life and fairs and magic carpets. (I LOVE magic carpets!) It's flipping awesome!
SUMMING IT UP -
What's not to love? This book is all sorts of awesome fun. There's no reason why you shouldn't have this on your TBR. Add it now - you won't be sorry!
Recommended 10+
Read more reviews at Yearning to Read!
Pages: 288
Release Date: May 8th, 2012
Date Read: 2012, February 24th - March 1st
Received: ARC via NetGalley
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Recommended to: 10+
SUMMARY -
Abby is about to be tested for magic - will she be a Level 5? A 6? She comes from a very prominent family, where everyone uses magic well; her older sister tested at Level 9! But when Abby is discovered to be an Ord, a non-magical human, she is cast out by the society around her. Ords are unnatural - they are usually sold to Adventurers or the Guild. Abby's parents, of course, refuse to sell her, and find a place for her at Margaret Green School, a place where where Ords learn how to protect themselves and live in a magical society. When Adventurers strike, seeking slaves, and the students are in danger, Abby and her friends muster all the courage and wit they possess to outsmart the enemy.
MY THOUGHTS -
Already I have the winner for the "CUTEST book of 2012"!! This is is, ladies and gents! Ordinary Magic is stinking adorable. And not only that - it had me laughing out loud all the time, and loving every second. The way Caitlen Rubino-Bradway portrays everything through stellar writing and her brilliant story-telling style had me applauding for more.
While absolutely everything about Ordinary Magic was just adorable, my favorite thing about it was the humor. In character, in conversation, in their way of life - I still giggle when I think about Gil, or Abby's hilarious sarcasm, etc., etc.
CHARACTER NOTES -
Abby, her family, the mages, her friends at school, the Adventurers, the King - all brilliantly done! There was no need to tell the reader who all these people were because the reader is shown from page 1 with crystal clear imagery. Because of this, I want to say each and every one is my favorite and tell you why, but that simply can't be done.
Abby's voice is realistic and funny. I love her. Like, want-to-be-best-buds love her. She's spunky, determined, and totally sweet. She can have a bit of temper but is really mature. Talk about perfect character building...
Peter, Fran and Fred were awesome. I love that Fran always speaks in a whisper, Fred is everyone's buddy, and Peter can be a total jerk, but deep down is a totally great guy trying to figure things out. I'm hoping, in maybe another book - romance for Abby and Peter? :)
Mom and Dad, Abby's parents, are some of the most hilarious parents I've ever read about in Lit. I could relate to them on a personal level because they remind me of my parents. Not in every way, but enough to make me love them even more than I would have originally. They were SO funny, always teasing their kids and making jokes.
But. My favorite. He would have to be Gil, Abby's older brother. Oh, my gosh. He's such a riot!! I was NOT expecting such hilariousness from him, and about him from his family, but he proved to be the biggest source of laughter for me. I. LOVE. HIM. The twist about him in the end just made me burst into hysterical laughter! I'm cracking up just thinking about it!!
STORY NOTES -
Think: fun, adventure, magic, kinds, bad guys, and lots of wit. I love when kids have to outsmart the bad guys ("Home Alone" style!), and Ordinary Magic had plenty of that. There were a few scenes that were a bit slower than the rest, but never boring. The pace is otherwise consistent and actually pretty fast. (It took me a bit longer than typical due to a crazy week, but normally I could've finished a book like this in 2 days!)
Every scene has a purpose. I love that about Ordinary Magic: nothing is unimportant or out of place. I also love the originality of the idea. Instead of a magician surrounded by non-magical people, it's the other way around. And it's just as fascinating to read about!
I also love the mix of cultures. Kings and castles mixed with boarding schools, mixed with city life and fairs and magic carpets. (I LOVE magic carpets!) It's flipping awesome!
SUMMING IT UP -
What's not to love? This book is all sorts of awesome fun. There's no reason why you shouldn't have this on your TBR. Add it now - you won't be sorry!
Recommended 10+
Read more reviews at Yearning to Read!
April 18, 2012
Originally reviewed here.
I tried with Ordinary Magic, I really did. I read every word of this book even though I kind of wanted to add it to the DNF pile long before the last page. I was so disgusted, appalled, and confused by the world that Caitlen Rubino-Bradway built that I could not click with Ordinary Magic at all. When I first saw this title pop up on NetGalley, I decided to try it because I love middle grade, and it sounded cute. To me, I was imagining that it would be like “Story of a Squib”—the tale of an unmagical kid born into a magical world. I didn’t realize how abhorrent the story would be.
Here’s the deal: “ords” in this society are nothing. They’re worse than just a disappointment to their families, because most of the time, they’re no longer even considered people. This made zero sense to me. I get that you could compare it to some families’ reactions to finding out their kid is homosexual, or compare it to how slaves were treated in this country’s early history, but none of that could really add up for me. I can’t understand how an entire society could find it acceptable to treat ord kids—kids they had raised and loved as friends, siblings, children until the age of 12—like worthless property. It was generally accepted that these children could be sold, used for dangerous tasks, and they were despised to the point of people not touching them as if they were catching—this later treatment reminding me of the horrible way those with AIDS can be treated. I guess I see what Caitlen Rubino-Bradway was doing here in turning these children into social pariahs, but I just don’t buy that these extremes could ever crop up, particularly in a society that seems very modern.
And that’s another thing I didn’t get about this book. When it is determined that Abby is an ord, at her Judging at age 12, her family has to drain magic from the house so that she can access things (like the sink) without help, since all of these things are usually controlled by magic. This makes no sense given that prior to finding out, she wasn’t allowed to use magic and would need help for these same things…so she was 12 and could never get a box of cereal from the cupboard or wash her hands after she peed? Right…
Then there’s the reality that magic can not directly affect ords. It can affect things around them (aka, you could light their clothing on fire), but not them. And you can buy magic-proof clothing. So essentially, all of these magic people are running around with no idea how to fight physical fights, and the ords could kick their butts handily, but don’t. I get the whole, they’re the vast minority, and society represses them in part because they are scared thing, but again…it doesn’t add up for me. If a society has become this advanced, there’s a pretty good chance that such an oppressed group with such potential power would have at some point banded together and rebelled.
I thought the school could be fun and cute, but honestly I found it rather boring. The only highlight being that they taught kids to kick the crap out of one another. It seemed as if there should have been a storyline developing from Abby working in the kitchen, but it never really came to anything. In fact, I expected Abby and the other ord children to find some inner power and strength that was magical in its own right, but I didn’t really feel like they ever did.
I was glad to see that this society was changing, that the King had outlawed the selling of ords and the authorities seemed like good people, but I just expected more from this story. I will say that Abby’s family was fantastic and the best part of this book. Her parents loved unconditionally, and she had four older siblings—two sisters, two brothers (just like me!) that were all fun, unique, and invested in their little sister. I think my favorite thing about Ordinary Magic was Abby’s brother Gil, who wrote popular romance novels under a woman’s name.
I tried with Ordinary Magic, I really did. I read every word of this book even though I kind of wanted to add it to the DNF pile long before the last page. I was so disgusted, appalled, and confused by the world that Caitlen Rubino-Bradway built that I could not click with Ordinary Magic at all. When I first saw this title pop up on NetGalley, I decided to try it because I love middle grade, and it sounded cute. To me, I was imagining that it would be like “Story of a Squib”—the tale of an unmagical kid born into a magical world. I didn’t realize how abhorrent the story would be.
Here’s the deal: “ords” in this society are nothing. They’re worse than just a disappointment to their families, because most of the time, they’re no longer even considered people. This made zero sense to me. I get that you could compare it to some families’ reactions to finding out their kid is homosexual, or compare it to how slaves were treated in this country’s early history, but none of that could really add up for me. I can’t understand how an entire society could find it acceptable to treat ord kids—kids they had raised and loved as friends, siblings, children until the age of 12—like worthless property. It was generally accepted that these children could be sold, used for dangerous tasks, and they were despised to the point of people not touching them as if they were catching—this later treatment reminding me of the horrible way those with AIDS can be treated. I guess I see what Caitlen Rubino-Bradway was doing here in turning these children into social pariahs, but I just don’t buy that these extremes could ever crop up, particularly in a society that seems very modern.
And that’s another thing I didn’t get about this book. When it is determined that Abby is an ord, at her Judging at age 12, her family has to drain magic from the house so that she can access things (like the sink) without help, since all of these things are usually controlled by magic. This makes no sense given that prior to finding out, she wasn’t allowed to use magic and would need help for these same things…so she was 12 and could never get a box of cereal from the cupboard or wash her hands after she peed? Right…
Then there’s the reality that magic can not directly affect ords. It can affect things around them (aka, you could light their clothing on fire), but not them. And you can buy magic-proof clothing. So essentially, all of these magic people are running around with no idea how to fight physical fights, and the ords could kick their butts handily, but don’t. I get the whole, they’re the vast minority, and society represses them in part because they are scared thing, but again…it doesn’t add up for me. If a society has become this advanced, there’s a pretty good chance that such an oppressed group with such potential power would have at some point banded together and rebelled.
I thought the school could be fun and cute, but honestly I found it rather boring. The only highlight being that they taught kids to kick the crap out of one another. It seemed as if there should have been a storyline developing from Abby working in the kitchen, but it never really came to anything. In fact, I expected Abby and the other ord children to find some inner power and strength that was magical in its own right, but I didn’t really feel like they ever did.
I was glad to see that this society was changing, that the King had outlawed the selling of ords and the authorities seemed like good people, but I just expected more from this story. I will say that Abby’s family was fantastic and the best part of this book. Her parents loved unconditionally, and she had four older siblings—two sisters, two brothers (just like me!) that were all fun, unique, and invested in their little sister. I think my favorite thing about Ordinary Magic was Abby’s brother Gil, who wrote popular romance novels under a woman’s name.
January 25, 2013
Ordinary Magic, extraordinarily dreamed up and written by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway, introduces readers to a world where magic is the norm-- everyone has it, uses it, lives with it. Except "Ords." Ords are, for those of us who are Harry Potter fans, Squibs: non-magical people born from magic folk. However, unlike in the world of J.K. Rowling, ords become "its," less than human, looked at by people as expendable, the shame of one's family, nameless things to be bought and sold into servitude (even though King Steve made ord slavery illegal) or simply forgotten.
However, having no magic also means that ords are IMMUNE to magic, making them valuable to "adventurers"-- men and women in search of treasures or relics or monsters to kill. Ords can bypass magical traps, spells, whatever, but are unable to benefit from magical healing and being saved if they fall off a cliff. Bummer.
On page one we meet Abby Hale, the youngest of five children born to a magical baker (or bake-ess, if you will) and flying carpet maker (that's how they travel-- awesome!). Abby is on her way to the Judging, a ceremony for 12 year olds to have their magic level evaluated for school.... I think you see where this is going.
Abby, it turns out, is completely devoid of any magic and one hundred percent "ordinary." At this point, society expects Abby's family to cast her out, sell her to the local Guild, or auction her to traveling adventurers. Instead, the Hales are a loving, tight-knit family who will do everything in their power to protect their daughter. Fortunately, Abby's eldest sister, Alexa-- a bada** witch-- runs a private school for ords in the city of Rothermere, where she can be educated on self-defense, survival, history, math, literature, and how to wash dishes. She meets friends along the way, runs into a couple sketchy adventurers, and has to learn a new way of life.
Ordinary Magic has a well-paced story with dimensional characters and heart-warming relationships, creating a world to which I'm excited to return. It's for anyone who loves fantasy, YA novels, a great story, and especially Harry Potter fans who are always on the hunt for another book to read after finishing that series. While the story centers around these ordinary children, the magical world is charming and open for even further development in future books.
I absolutely loved this book! Abby is a wonderful, witty girl with spunk, honesty, and a big heart; she's not perfect though: I found myself appropriately frustrated at her naivety and handling of certain situations.... but she's 12! Not only do I love and relate to Abby, but I also connected to the community surrounding our main character. The teachers, especially Becky, have mysterious backstories I'm still waiting to discover, and I'm interested to see how her friends Fran, Peter, and Fred develop. Oh and I love King Steve. He's just awesome.
Rich themes and an engaging story and characters left me wanting more, more, MORE! I was sad to leave Abby's world, wanting so much to continue my ordinary journey.
However, having no magic also means that ords are IMMUNE to magic, making them valuable to "adventurers"-- men and women in search of treasures or relics or monsters to kill. Ords can bypass magical traps, spells, whatever, but are unable to benefit from magical healing and being saved if they fall off a cliff. Bummer.
On page one we meet Abby Hale, the youngest of five children born to a magical baker (or bake-ess, if you will) and flying carpet maker (that's how they travel-- awesome!). Abby is on her way to the Judging, a ceremony for 12 year olds to have their magic level evaluated for school.... I think you see where this is going.
Abby, it turns out, is completely devoid of any magic and one hundred percent "ordinary." At this point, society expects Abby's family to cast her out, sell her to the local Guild, or auction her to traveling adventurers. Instead, the Hales are a loving, tight-knit family who will do everything in their power to protect their daughter. Fortunately, Abby's eldest sister, Alexa-- a bada** witch-- runs a private school for ords in the city of Rothermere, where she can be educated on self-defense, survival, history, math, literature, and how to wash dishes. She meets friends along the way, runs into a couple sketchy adventurers, and has to learn a new way of life.
Ordinary Magic has a well-paced story with dimensional characters and heart-warming relationships, creating a world to which I'm excited to return. It's for anyone who loves fantasy, YA novels, a great story, and especially Harry Potter fans who are always on the hunt for another book to read after finishing that series. While the story centers around these ordinary children, the magical world is charming and open for even further development in future books.
I absolutely loved this book! Abby is a wonderful, witty girl with spunk, honesty, and a big heart; she's not perfect though: I found myself appropriately frustrated at her naivety and handling of certain situations.... but she's 12! Not only do I love and relate to Abby, but I also connected to the community surrounding our main character. The teachers, especially Becky, have mysterious backstories I'm still waiting to discover, and I'm interested to see how her friends Fran, Peter, and Fred develop. Oh and I love King Steve. He's just awesome.
Rich themes and an engaging story and characters left me wanting more, more, MORE! I was sad to leave Abby's world, wanting so much to continue my ordinary journey.
April 11, 2012
There are so many reasons why Rubino-Bradway's Ordinary Magic is now one of my favorite middle grade books to recommend. Rubino-Bradway created a world that, while built entirely upon magical inventions and a thriving absolute monarchy, is still recognizable as a contemporary society. I really enjoyed having the world slowly revealed to me--always feeling familiar, but with interesting magical quirks. Rubino-Bradway turned the typical plot of a middle grade fantasy on its head: here is a world full of magic, and, rather than being exceptionally gifted or special, our heroine turns out to be completely ordinary. She then goes on to show that one can be completely "ordinary" and still be smart, brave and strong; that you don't have to have "special" gifts to be the heroine of your story!
Rubino-Bradway's characters are all interesting in their own ways. I think it is sometimes hard to write a large family--not to mention a full cast of characters in a boarding school--and have each member maintain believable and distinct personalities, by she does it with aplomb. Abby's family was just wonderful. I love that they are supportive, loving, and present. I am so tired of absent parent syndrome! I also appreciated the way Rubino-Bradway handled the parents for each of the ordinary children a little differently. Naturally, not everyone would be supportive if they discovered their child was a social pariah--but there are varying degrees of how supportive or un-supportive they could be. I like that (though some parents did completely abandon their children) some parents still tried to support their children financially, or made sure a kindly neighbor took them in. I also liked how, though some parents were equally supportive on a personal level, Rubino-Bradway shows that the family's power and relative position in society can vastly change how helpful that support can be. It was a very frank look at bigotry for a middle grade novel!
Rubino-Bradway also handled the friendships between the ordinary children beautifully. The varying degrees of intimacy based on both personality and interactions felt very authentic. (And, can I just say, I am getting a very Anne-Gilbert vibe from Abby and Peter?) Most importantly, though, Ordinary Magic was a fun, engaging read. Rubino-Bradway writes with such charm that I was not only caught up in the story immediately, but felt at-home, and was sad to have it end. It was scary and exciting and funny. This is a book that I will own, and I can't wait for her next.
Rubino-Bradway's characters are all interesting in their own ways. I think it is sometimes hard to write a large family--not to mention a full cast of characters in a boarding school--and have each member maintain believable and distinct personalities, by she does it with aplomb. Abby's family was just wonderful. I love that they are supportive, loving, and present. I am so tired of absent parent syndrome! I also appreciated the way Rubino-Bradway handled the parents for each of the ordinary children a little differently. Naturally, not everyone would be supportive if they discovered their child was a social pariah--but there are varying degrees of how supportive or un-supportive they could be. I like that (though some parents did completely abandon their children) some parents still tried to support their children financially, or made sure a kindly neighbor took them in. I also liked how, though some parents were equally supportive on a personal level, Rubino-Bradway shows that the family's power and relative position in society can vastly change how helpful that support can be. It was a very frank look at bigotry for a middle grade novel!
Rubino-Bradway also handled the friendships between the ordinary children beautifully. The varying degrees of intimacy based on both personality and interactions felt very authentic. (And, can I just say, I am getting a very Anne-Gilbert vibe from Abby and Peter?) Most importantly, though, Ordinary Magic was a fun, engaging read. Rubino-Bradway writes with such charm that I was not only caught up in the story immediately, but felt at-home, and was sad to have it end. It was scary and exciting and funny. This is a book that I will own, and I can't wait for her next.
June 24, 2012
Okay so I was intrigued by the other reviews, which is why I picked this book up. A fan girl of Harry Potter, it was an interesting comparison to read the reviews calling it, "Harry Potter in reverse". That was the first mistake.
While it is, indeed, a story about a magical world dealing with modern social undercurrents, I felt like the story itself lacked something. I could never really pin it down to just one thing. Character development could definitely be meatier. I understand why it couldn't be, what with the first person limited narrative from an angsty preteen girl, but I was hoping for a bit more from characters like Peter and Becky. We need to connect with the characters for them to really be sympathetic ones, even a character seemingly as important to the mood of the ending as Fran was.
Speaking of ending, I wasn't a big fan of it. I get that it had to end on a happier note (especially with the YA genre), but it felt forced and a little awkward to me. I got the feeling that, like movies that basically tell you there will be a sequel, this book could potentially become a series? But I prefer something more final in a story. Though HP was a series, the endings of each book were at least a finale of that particular story.
To offer more comparisons to HP would be an injustice to this story and Rowling's. Is it in "reverse"? If by reverse, you mean a far cry from the HP story you would be correct. Proceed with caution...but since we're just ORDS, I think the magic of this book might not affect us.
While it is, indeed, a story about a magical world dealing with modern social undercurrents, I felt like the story itself lacked something. I could never really pin it down to just one thing. Character development could definitely be meatier. I understand why it couldn't be, what with the first person limited narrative from an angsty preteen girl, but I was hoping for a bit more from characters like Peter and Becky. We need to connect with the characters for them to really be sympathetic ones, even a character seemingly as important to the mood of the ending as Fran was.
Speaking of ending, I wasn't a big fan of it. I get that it had to end on a happier note (especially with the YA genre), but it felt forced and a little awkward to me. I got the feeling that, like movies that basically tell you there will be a sequel, this book could potentially become a series? But I prefer something more final in a story. Though HP was a series, the endings of each book were at least a finale of that particular story.
To offer more comparisons to HP would be an injustice to this story and Rowling's. Is it in "reverse"? If by reverse, you mean a far cry from the HP story you would be correct. Proceed with caution...but since we're just ORDS, I think the magic of this book might not affect us.
September 19, 2012
This was a fun read and made me want more. It was fun to see ordinary people as the unusual. I Hope there are more to come.
Read
March 6, 2013One of those books which divide me in response. "Ordinary Magic" has a lot going for it - it's fast-paced with a fascinating premise, a really strong sense of place and a more-ish voice. I think a lot of people would like it.
However, I found the huge amount of snappy patter conversation a bit like wandering onto the set of a Marx Brothers movie, and as I read, I kept being niggled to death by issues with the world-building.
This is a world full to the brim with magic. Everyone uses magic for everything - food is conjured, magic carpets are the main mode of transportation, prisons have magical doors - even the showers are turned on and off with magic. And a tiny percentage of the population is born with no magic at all - Ords. They can't use magic and magic can't be worked on them.
At the age of 12, all children are officially tested on their level of magic. Before that they're not allowed to try and use it, and they're not allowed to have it used on them. Which I guess means for the first twelve years of their life, children must be having someone else turn the shower on and off for them and (given the way everything else depends on magic) presumably someone flushes the toilet for them too. This age testing thing makes little to no sense given the sheer ubiquity and reliance on magic in this world - let alone the likelihood of any child refraining from trying to use magic for 12 whole years. It's simply a device to have a big dramatic judging, life-changed-forever start to the novel.
And dramatic it is, since upon being judged an Ord, the child is apparently completely dropped from society, ostracised, treated as non-human and hated and feared.
The hatred was given little foundation and was particularly difficult to believe in. Ords are demonstrably not 'contagious' and live completely mildly in society for 12 years and then suddenly are apparently frightening? What are they going to do that they haven't been doing in the previous 12 years? The negative attitude toward Ords is so complete that almost all families abandon their children or want nothing to do with them, they are referred to as "It", addressed only as "Ord" and sold to adventurers as useful trap-clearing tools. [At least until King Steve came along and started trying to change this.]
Main character Abby is slightly different in that her family is deep-down nice and refuse to stop loving her. This (perfectly normal) reaction is apparently so unusual that when Abby goes to Ord-school, the other students resent her for having a family that doesn't hate her. While overall Abby comes across as an extrovert and occasional chatterbox, she also has a touch of virtuous martyr about her (seen both in this attitude toward her in school, her wanting to share her room because of trouble sleeping but not actually telling anyone, and most especially the weird victimisation of Abby by the cook which seemed to occur purely so Abby could stoically refuse to complain about it or resent it).
[I was also very confused as to why Ord school doesn't seem to have any general lessons on cooking, cleaning, sewing - all the things that other people do by magic which Ords will need to accomplish the hard way. Instead they get the standard history, maths, etc, plus self-defence, running away, and magic identification classes.]
Anyway - a very readable story which I wasn't able to fully enjoy because I was distracted by the world building.
However, I found the huge amount of snappy patter conversation a bit like wandering onto the set of a Marx Brothers movie, and as I read, I kept being niggled to death by issues with the world-building.
This is a world full to the brim with magic. Everyone uses magic for everything - food is conjured, magic carpets are the main mode of transportation, prisons have magical doors - even the showers are turned on and off with magic. And a tiny percentage of the population is born with no magic at all - Ords. They can't use magic and magic can't be worked on them.
At the age of 12, all children are officially tested on their level of magic. Before that they're not allowed to try and use it, and they're not allowed to have it used on them. Which I guess means for the first twelve years of their life, children must be having someone else turn the shower on and off for them and (given the way everything else depends on magic) presumably someone flushes the toilet for them too. This age testing thing makes little to no sense given the sheer ubiquity and reliance on magic in this world - let alone the likelihood of any child refraining from trying to use magic for 12 whole years. It's simply a device to have a big dramatic judging, life-changed-forever start to the novel.
And dramatic it is, since upon being judged an Ord, the child is apparently completely dropped from society, ostracised, treated as non-human and hated and feared.
The hatred was given little foundation and was particularly difficult to believe in. Ords are demonstrably not 'contagious' and live completely mildly in society for 12 years and then suddenly are apparently frightening? What are they going to do that they haven't been doing in the previous 12 years? The negative attitude toward Ords is so complete that almost all families abandon their children or want nothing to do with them, they are referred to as "It", addressed only as "Ord" and sold to adventurers as useful trap-clearing tools. [At least until King Steve came along and started trying to change this.]
Main character Abby is slightly different in that her family is deep-down nice and refuse to stop loving her. This (perfectly normal) reaction is apparently so unusual that when Abby goes to Ord-school, the other students resent her for having a family that doesn't hate her. While overall Abby comes across as an extrovert and occasional chatterbox, she also has a touch of virtuous martyr about her (seen both in this attitude toward her in school, her wanting to share her room because of trouble sleeping but not actually telling anyone, and most especially the weird victimisation of Abby by the cook which seemed to occur purely so Abby could stoically refuse to complain about it or resent it).
[I was also very confused as to why Ord school doesn't seem to have any general lessons on cooking, cleaning, sewing - all the things that other people do by magic which Ords will need to accomplish the hard way. Instead they get the standard history, maths, etc, plus self-defence, running away, and magic identification classes.]
Anyway - a very readable story which I wasn't able to fully enjoy because I was distracted by the world building.
May 12, 2012
Originally posted here.
This book is so freaking cute and clever. I just adored it right from the beginning. It's a little bit Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and a bit Harry Potter and a bit ordinary. Now, please do not take too much away from the HP comparison. The plot isn't HP at all; it's more the atmosphere and the cast of quirky characters, and the boarding school setting.
In Abby's world, magic is normal. The weird people are those without any magical powers. On her Judging day, where her level of magical abilities will be determined, she's not worried at all, because everyone in her family is crazy talented. Besides, ords (ordinary, magicless people) are RARE. She's never met one. Until she learns she IS one. I just loved this concept. I love when what is ordinary is turned on its head.
The plot was the only thing that was a bit weak, very middle grade. Basically, ords can be useful for a couple of things, so they are generally sold as slaves to adventurers who use them to break into places guarded by magic, which doesn't affect ords. The big bads of the book are some adventurers determined to capture Abby and make her their little ord slave. While the concept is fascinating, they just do not have the evilness of a good villain, and I was never particularly concerned about what would happen.
What made this book completely awesome were the characters. There really wasn't a character I was not entertained by, except perhaps Trixie. Everyone is unique and funny and just bursting with life. The writing is full of humor. My favorite character was probably Peter, because I have a soft spot for people who are hard on the outside buy squishy soft on the inside.
I want to share a bit with you as a perfect example of the tone of the book. This was one of my favorite parts. On her first day at the ord boarding school, the headmaster delivers this delightfully sarcastic speech:
" 'Well, I see you're all here. Again.' Her brisk, warm voice carried through the crowd 'Now, you know I don't like to give speeches'—someone choked off a laugh—'but this is an extraordinary occasion. I could not let it go by without saying...how disappointed I am.' Everyone at my table sat up straight, darting quick, worried glances at each other, but all around us the other kids were smiling. 'Yes, another year has started, and we have exactly the same number of students as last year. Not one single student was lost.' "
Isn't that just the best? The headmaster gives a hilarious, ironic speech to scare the newbies. I was much amused. The speech continues to relate all the ways in which the students DIDN'T manage to die.
Ordinary Magic is fresh and fun. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes stories full of magic, even if the characters aren't. Based on the ending, I suspect more are on the way, and I hope that that is the case.
This book is so freaking cute and clever. I just adored it right from the beginning. It's a little bit Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and a bit Harry Potter and a bit ordinary. Now, please do not take too much away from the HP comparison. The plot isn't HP at all; it's more the atmosphere and the cast of quirky characters, and the boarding school setting.
In Abby's world, magic is normal. The weird people are those without any magical powers. On her Judging day, where her level of magical abilities will be determined, she's not worried at all, because everyone in her family is crazy talented. Besides, ords (ordinary, magicless people) are RARE. She's never met one. Until she learns she IS one. I just loved this concept. I love when what is ordinary is turned on its head.
The plot was the only thing that was a bit weak, very middle grade. Basically, ords can be useful for a couple of things, so they are generally sold as slaves to adventurers who use them to break into places guarded by magic, which doesn't affect ords. The big bads of the book are some adventurers determined to capture Abby and make her their little ord slave. While the concept is fascinating, they just do not have the evilness of a good villain, and I was never particularly concerned about what would happen.
What made this book completely awesome were the characters. There really wasn't a character I was not entertained by, except perhaps Trixie. Everyone is unique and funny and just bursting with life. The writing is full of humor. My favorite character was probably Peter, because I have a soft spot for people who are hard on the outside buy squishy soft on the inside.
I want to share a bit with you as a perfect example of the tone of the book. This was one of my favorite parts. On her first day at the ord boarding school, the headmaster delivers this delightfully sarcastic speech:
" 'Well, I see you're all here. Again.' Her brisk, warm voice carried through the crowd 'Now, you know I don't like to give speeches'—someone choked off a laugh—'but this is an extraordinary occasion. I could not let it go by without saying...how disappointed I am.' Everyone at my table sat up straight, darting quick, worried glances at each other, but all around us the other kids were smiling. 'Yes, another year has started, and we have exactly the same number of students as last year. Not one single student was lost.' "
Isn't that just the best? The headmaster gives a hilarious, ironic speech to scare the newbies. I was much amused. The speech continues to relate all the ways in which the students DIDN'T manage to die.
Ordinary Magic is fresh and fun. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes stories full of magic, even if the characters aren't. Based on the ending, I suspect more are on the way, and I hope that that is the case.
October 24, 2015
I finally pulled Ordinary Magic off my shelf after three years (eek!) and couldn't wait to finally dive in: in an entirely magical world, a girl discovers she can't do magic. That sounds pretty awesome, right??
Unfortunately, Ordinary Magic is a story that sounds fantastic and that's about it. Naturally my first thought was Harry Potter, only a bizarro, backwards version. Instead of discovering she's a witch, Abby finds out she has no magical ability whatsoever and her town loses its collective mind. You see, Ords (aka Squibs, to keep the HP theme going) are seen as contagious, disgusting, non-humans to the point where families will disown 12-year-old children or simply sell them off to the highest bidder. Because magic doesn't affect Ords (for example, magic fire could burn their clothes, but not the actual person) adventurers seek them out to hunt down treasure, etc.
So here we have an entire society willing to kick children to the curb despite having cared for and loved them the previous eleven years of their lives. Of course, Abby's families couldn't imagine selling her or forcing her to leave - this is actually so out of the norm that her classmates (at an Ord school) are jealous. I could see what the author was trying to do, the tension she was hoping to build, but there were gaping holes in the logic. After Abby's Judging, the entire house had to be stripped of magic...which is fine and dandy until you realize that doing so was pointless: prior to Judging, children aren't allowed to do magic and must be helped to pretty much do anything. Opening cupboards, washing dishes, turning on the faucet to shower, this is all done with magic. Removing the magic from their house after Abby found out she's an Ord is pointless.
Ordinary Magic ends in a way that practically requires a sequel (though some storylines were forgotten about, so who knows!) yet it's been three years and still no word on whether or not there will be a second book. I wanted so much more from this story than I got. Enjoyable for a chapter or two, but then I got bored and ended up setting it aside for a few days...but never felt compelled to return. This would have been a DNF had I not been so close to the end.
Unfortunately, Ordinary Magic is a story that sounds fantastic and that's about it. Naturally my first thought was Harry Potter, only a bizarro, backwards version. Instead of discovering she's a witch, Abby finds out she has no magical ability whatsoever and her town loses its collective mind. You see, Ords (aka Squibs, to keep the HP theme going) are seen as contagious, disgusting, non-humans to the point where families will disown 12-year-old children or simply sell them off to the highest bidder. Because magic doesn't affect Ords (for example, magic fire could burn their clothes, but not the actual person) adventurers seek them out to hunt down treasure, etc.
So here we have an entire society willing to kick children to the curb despite having cared for and loved them the previous eleven years of their lives. Of course, Abby's families couldn't imagine selling her or forcing her to leave - this is actually so out of the norm that her classmates (at an Ord school) are jealous. I could see what the author was trying to do, the tension she was hoping to build, but there were gaping holes in the logic. After Abby's Judging, the entire house had to be stripped of magic...which is fine and dandy until you realize that doing so was pointless: prior to Judging, children aren't allowed to do magic and must be helped to pretty much do anything. Opening cupboards, washing dishes, turning on the faucet to shower, this is all done with magic. Removing the magic from their house after Abby found out she's an Ord is pointless.
Ordinary Magic ends in a way that practically requires a sequel (though some storylines were forgotten about, so who knows!) yet it's been three years and still no word on whether or not there will be a second book. I wanted so much more from this story than I got. Enjoyable for a chapter or two, but then I got bored and ended up setting it aside for a few days...but never felt compelled to return. This would have been a DNF had I not been so close to the end.
May 15, 2012
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publisher Type: Traditional
My Rating: * * * * *
My Review:
Ever since Harry Potter, readers of all ages have been scouring bookstores' middle grade shelves looking for the next great magical adventure and Ordinary Magic is it! Two words to describe it? Crazy Fun!
I really can't help but continue on the Harry Potter thread here because if you took HP and turned it inside out and upside down, the results would be Ordinary Magic. Here we are introduced to a world spilling over with magic. So common is it that people don't know how to function without it. Magic can negatively affect children, so families are careful to avoid their children being touched by magic until they are twelve. At that point their level of magic is tested. And the worst thing ever is discovered. Abby is without magic. She is labeled an Ordinary. With the social stigmatization of being diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, Abby's family is encouraged to toss Abby out like trash or sell her like property. She is considered a curse, less than human, maybe dangerous, treated as contagious. Luckily, much unlike the Durselys, Abby's family loves her and views her as they always have, an adored daughter and sister.
It would be easy for me to continue on telling you of the plot. It's such a fantastic story!!! Alas, this is a review not an extended synopsis. Sigh.
So onto the review...
Incredibly well written, the OM world is vividly described and every character has depth and personality. Even our antagonists are well-rounded and not merely BAD. I love, love, love Abby's family. Each member is unique and special and I really want to know them more. Abby is a brave and tough, but in a very twelve-year-old way. There's lots of adventure and suspense and a few hints of romance. I enjoyed every moment of this book and would happily stand in line (as I did for Harry Potter) for the sequel.
Cover Art:
I'm sort of indifferent to this cover. I don't know that it would grab my attention enough to pick it up at a bookstore. I was actually drawn to the title most of all.
See more of my reviews at: http://knowntoread.blogspot.com
Publisher Type: Traditional
My Rating: * * * * *
My Review:
Ever since Harry Potter, readers of all ages have been scouring bookstores' middle grade shelves looking for the next great magical adventure and Ordinary Magic is it! Two words to describe it? Crazy Fun!
I really can't help but continue on the Harry Potter thread here because if you took HP and turned it inside out and upside down, the results would be Ordinary Magic. Here we are introduced to a world spilling over with magic. So common is it that people don't know how to function without it. Magic can negatively affect children, so families are careful to avoid their children being touched by magic until they are twelve. At that point their level of magic is tested. And the worst thing ever is discovered. Abby is without magic. She is labeled an Ordinary. With the social stigmatization of being diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, Abby's family is encouraged to toss Abby out like trash or sell her like property. She is considered a curse, less than human, maybe dangerous, treated as contagious. Luckily, much unlike the Durselys, Abby's family loves her and views her as they always have, an adored daughter and sister.
It would be easy for me to continue on telling you of the plot. It's such a fantastic story!!! Alas, this is a review not an extended synopsis. Sigh.
So onto the review...
Incredibly well written, the OM world is vividly described and every character has depth and personality. Even our antagonists are well-rounded and not merely BAD. I love, love, love Abby's family. Each member is unique and special and I really want to know them more. Abby is a brave and tough, but in a very twelve-year-old way. There's lots of adventure and suspense and a few hints of romance. I enjoyed every moment of this book and would happily stand in line (as I did for Harry Potter) for the sequel.
Cover Art:
I'm sort of indifferent to this cover. I don't know that it would grab my attention enough to pick it up at a bookstore. I was actually drawn to the title most of all.
See more of my reviews at: http://knowntoread.blogspot.com
May 15, 2012
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. “Charming” doesn’t even begin to cover the magical delight that is ORDINARY MAGIC. From a fascinating magical world to laugh-out-loud character interactions, there is nothing ordinary about this book at all!
ORDINARY MAGIC is as good as a Pixar movie in terms of having both kid and adult appeal. Young readers will be fascinated by the colorful, yet familiar, world that Rubino-Bradway creates, replete with magic carpets, boarding schools, and kickass family members.
What makes ORDINARY MAGIC truly extraordinary, however, is its rare quality of appealing to a wide age range of readers. The story zips back and forth with witty banter, and it is the more experienced reader that will be delighted with how Rubino-Bradway mashes together so many almost stereotypical features of magical worlds to create one that is unique and not at all stereotypical. There are a whole bunch of cute romantic undercurrents throughout the story that will make you squeel with suppressed glee.
Readers will surely get a heck of an experience out of ORDINARY MAGIC. This is truly one of the most memorable middle-grade novels I’ve read in recent years.
ORDINARY MAGIC is as good as a Pixar movie in terms of having both kid and adult appeal. Young readers will be fascinated by the colorful, yet familiar, world that Rubino-Bradway creates, replete with magic carpets, boarding schools, and kickass family members.
What makes ORDINARY MAGIC truly extraordinary, however, is its rare quality of appealing to a wide age range of readers. The story zips back and forth with witty banter, and it is the more experienced reader that will be delighted with how Rubino-Bradway mashes together so many almost stereotypical features of magical worlds to create one that is unique and not at all stereotypical. There are a whole bunch of cute romantic undercurrents throughout the story that will make you squeel with suppressed glee.
Readers will surely get a heck of an experience out of ORDINARY MAGIC. This is truly one of the most memorable middle-grade novels I’ve read in recent years.
August 13, 2016
Really good read. Those who are having withdrawal symptoms from a lack of Harry Potter, the new story notwithstanding, should read this book. It's a little bit the opposite of the Potter books, in that the oddballs are those who have no magic. The normal people have magic, the ordinary people-- ords-- do not. And the main character in this story does not. She heads off to a school her sister gets her into, and the adventures begin. It's really, seriously a good book. You should read it.
December 20, 2017
I didn't really know what to expect going into this book but I quite enjoyed it. It's too bad that there isnt any sequel as I would have been interested to find out what happens next.
March 4, 2017
4.5*
Very good! Reminded me a lot of Kat, Incorrigible and for some reason the Dark Lord of Derkholm and Year of the Griffin.
Well-written, funny, fairly original premise, and I really liked the characters.
Definitely want to find the sequel!
Very good! Reminded me a lot of Kat, Incorrigible and for some reason the Dark Lord of Derkholm and Year of the Griffin.
Well-written, funny, fairly original premise, and I really liked the characters.
Definitely want to find the sequel!
December 9, 2021
This book was such a thrilling adventure! I was quite confused in the beginning of the book but after a couple chapters I couldn't put it down! I would read non stop, there was always something going on and so many different adventures all packed in one book. A major fan of Jessica Day George and after I read all her books I was looking for similar ones and found this one. It's just as amazing as all my favs! I so wish there was a sequel to it! I'm also a huge lover of fantasy and the magic and imagination put into this book was incredible! I recommend this book to ALL fantasy lovers especially girls from 11-14.
I'm going to say it again, SOO GOOD!!!!!
I'm going to say it again, SOO GOOD!!!!!
February 5, 2019
I read this aloud to my class and I think it’s safe to say that we lost interest in it pretty quickly. It started out strong, but fizzled about a quarter of the way through. Didn’t care for the author’s writing style and especially didn’t like the ending.
Read
February 6, 2015Also check out my guest post with author Caitlen Rubino-Bradway on World Building and an awesome interview with cover designer Donna Mark!
ORDINARY MAGIC may be a middle-grade novel, but it's super-easy to sink into and get immersed in. Interestingly, the novel was original aiming to be for teens, but was reworked as MG. Caitlen Rubino-Bradway's voice is fresh and will pull readers along for the ride. I loved the way the main character, Abby, narrated, and felt the voice was lively and amusing. Her world building is also innovative; if you missed yesterday's guest post featuring how she put everything together, check it out now because you're in for a treat!
The world of ORDINARY MAGIC turns everything we think we know upside-down and inside-out, creating a topsy-turvy world where magic is part of everyday life. Simple things such as turning on the shower, cooking breakfast, and opening up a dresser to get dressed in the morning are made easy with magic. When citizens turn twelve, they undergo Judging to determine how powerful their magical abilities are. This in turn determines where they go to school. If they're really powerful, they'll go to schools the equivalent of Harvard, Oxford, etc.
As the novel opens, Abby is really excited about going to her Judging. Unfortunately, she's declared an "Ord," an ordinary person without a lick of magic. Ords are often treated unfairly and sold or stolen; they often die young. Treasure hunters often want them because Ords can walk through magical traps unaffected. Ords are also able to walk into banks and people's houses in order to rob them because they're unaffected by the spells that keep everyone else out, so they're also considered dangerous. As soon as Abby is labeled an Ord, she's discriminated against. She's kicked out of school and her town advertises her availability to treasure hunters. Her family, however, refuses to give her over to a harsher lifestyle and sends her away to a school designed exclusively for Ordinary citizens, one that's hidden away and seldom heard about. Once there, Abby finds herself adjusting to life in new ways, while still managing to have her own adventures.
One of my favorite aspects of ORDINARY MAGIC (aside from Rubino-Bradway's amazing use of voice) is the way she showcases the family unit. There are so few books out there with a strong, caring family unit. The Hale family really reminds me of the Weasley family from the HARRY POTTER series. Everyone's close-knit and genuinely cares about one another. I loved seeing such a positive message in the novel. I also liked the way the book looked at prejudices and showcased one pre-teen's journey to accepting her differences and finding ways to fit in and belong. This book is great on so many levels, and there are so many interesting characters that readers will encounter in Abby's world. I'm really hoping that Rubino-Bradway and Bloomsbury grant us a sequel!
ORDINARY MAGIC may be a middle-grade novel, but it's super-easy to sink into and get immersed in. Interestingly, the novel was original aiming to be for teens, but was reworked as MG. Caitlen Rubino-Bradway's voice is fresh and will pull readers along for the ride. I loved the way the main character, Abby, narrated, and felt the voice was lively and amusing. Her world building is also innovative; if you missed yesterday's guest post featuring how she put everything together, check it out now because you're in for a treat!
The world of ORDINARY MAGIC turns everything we think we know upside-down and inside-out, creating a topsy-turvy world where magic is part of everyday life. Simple things such as turning on the shower, cooking breakfast, and opening up a dresser to get dressed in the morning are made easy with magic. When citizens turn twelve, they undergo Judging to determine how powerful their magical abilities are. This in turn determines where they go to school. If they're really powerful, they'll go to schools the equivalent of Harvard, Oxford, etc.
As the novel opens, Abby is really excited about going to her Judging. Unfortunately, she's declared an "Ord," an ordinary person without a lick of magic. Ords are often treated unfairly and sold or stolen; they often die young. Treasure hunters often want them because Ords can walk through magical traps unaffected. Ords are also able to walk into banks and people's houses in order to rob them because they're unaffected by the spells that keep everyone else out, so they're also considered dangerous. As soon as Abby is labeled an Ord, she's discriminated against. She's kicked out of school and her town advertises her availability to treasure hunters. Her family, however, refuses to give her over to a harsher lifestyle and sends her away to a school designed exclusively for Ordinary citizens, one that's hidden away and seldom heard about. Once there, Abby finds herself adjusting to life in new ways, while still managing to have her own adventures.
One of my favorite aspects of ORDINARY MAGIC (aside from Rubino-Bradway's amazing use of voice) is the way she showcases the family unit. There are so few books out there with a strong, caring family unit. The Hale family really reminds me of the Weasley family from the HARRY POTTER series. Everyone's close-knit and genuinely cares about one another. I loved seeing such a positive message in the novel. I also liked the way the book looked at prejudices and showcased one pre-teen's journey to accepting her differences and finding ways to fit in and belong. This book is great on so many levels, and there are so many interesting characters that readers will encounter in Abby's world. I'm really hoping that Rubino-Bradway and Bloomsbury grant us a sequel!
September 19, 2012
You know a book is good when as soon as you finish it, you immediately try to find out if there's a sequel, then begin crying and pounding at your desk when there isn't.
The fact that there isn't deeply upsets me for many reasons, not the least of which being we still haven't found Fran and the other missing students!
A lot of people have described it as Harry Potter in reverse but I found it more like taking Harry Potter and making the life of Squibs a hundred times worse. This book is at once adorable, disturbing, exciting and funny. The voice of Abby is so authentic, at once childish and shockingly mature. Every single character is so full of life, so realistic. They all feel like real people, despite the absolute fantasy of their surroundings. Even the villains of the story, especially Barbarian Mike. Even if you don't feel sorry for Mike or Trixie, you can at the very least admire their love and dedication to each other.
This book is definitely a page-turner, and every time you think they couldn't possibly top the horror of what Abby has just gone through, something else springs up. My heart broke for that little girl tied up in a dirty abandoned building, trying to work herself free all night long. It pounded for the attack on the school. Every side-character (or Trixie) treating ords with disdain made me bristle with anger, further disgusted because there are people in the real world who do actually treat others as less than human.
There were some very heavy themes in this book, including discrimination, acceptance and staying strong in the face of adversity. One thing that I will always remember about this book is the use of families. On the one hand, we have Abby's family. They actually reminded me of the Weaseley family with how big of a family they were, though not as poor. This family is full of warmth, affection and love, so much so that it spreads to those around them. By the end of the book, they've practically adopted Fred. Then, there are the other ord children's parents, the ones who don't want their own children to come home from school, the ones who would even go so far as to sell their children to adventurers. While disgusted, I was unfortunately not shocked that parents could do such a thing to their own child, having heard enough horror stories from my mother, a case worker for children's services. The fact that so many parents of ord children no longer wanted anything to do with them spoke volumes of the stigma ords faced very early on in the book.
I loved this book so much. I will definitely be reading it to my future children and recommending it to friends. What initially drew me to it was that it was a fantasy novel with a female lead and what kept me going was Abby's charm, Fred's humor, the Hale family's warmth, the entirely new and creative magical world and many, many other things.
The fact that there isn't deeply upsets me for many reasons, not the least of which being we still haven't found Fran and the other missing students!
A lot of people have described it as Harry Potter in reverse but I found it more like taking Harry Potter and making the life of Squibs a hundred times worse. This book is at once adorable, disturbing, exciting and funny. The voice of Abby is so authentic, at once childish and shockingly mature. Every single character is so full of life, so realistic. They all feel like real people, despite the absolute fantasy of their surroundings. Even the villains of the story, especially Barbarian Mike. Even if you don't feel sorry for Mike or Trixie, you can at the very least admire their love and dedication to each other.
This book is definitely a page-turner, and every time you think they couldn't possibly top the horror of what Abby has just gone through, something else springs up. My heart broke for that little girl tied up in a dirty abandoned building, trying to work herself free all night long. It pounded for the attack on the school. Every side-character (or Trixie) treating ords with disdain made me bristle with anger, further disgusted because there are people in the real world who do actually treat others as less than human.
There were some very heavy themes in this book, including discrimination, acceptance and staying strong in the face of adversity. One thing that I will always remember about this book is the use of families. On the one hand, we have Abby's family. They actually reminded me of the Weaseley family with how big of a family they were, though not as poor. This family is full of warmth, affection and love, so much so that it spreads to those around them. By the end of the book, they've practically adopted Fred. Then, there are the other ord children's parents, the ones who don't want their own children to come home from school, the ones who would even go so far as to sell their children to adventurers. While disgusted, I was unfortunately not shocked that parents could do such a thing to their own child, having heard enough horror stories from my mother, a case worker for children's services. The fact that so many parents of ord children no longer wanted anything to do with them spoke volumes of the stigma ords faced very early on in the book.
I loved this book so much. I will definitely be reading it to my future children and recommending it to friends. What initially drew me to it was that it was a fantasy novel with a female lead and what kept me going was Abby's charm, Fred's humor, the Hale family's warmth, the entirely new and creative magical world and many, many other things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2012
Every once in a while I read an MG inbetween my YA and adult historical romances and I usually end up smiling my way through them. Ordinary Magic was no exception! It was adorable and I kept just wanting to hug pretty much all of the characters!
Also, I loved how Caitlen Rubino-Bradway dealt with the issue of Abby being an Ord. It's generally not accepted and people even go as far as selling their children when they find out about it. The prejudice against Ords was just mindblowing. In my mind I kept comparing it to how people react to someone being gay or of a different nationality or skin color or religion because it is THE SAME. And it needs to stop! It's sick how much the treatment of Ords reminded me of those issues, especially with them being afraid they'd 'catch' it and generally not caring if something happened to them because they were 'just Ords'.
I loved how Caitlen Rubino-Bradway handled such a tough subject in a MG novel and managed to make it fun and something to think about at the same time.
I really liked Abby, she's a lovely girl and can I just say how much I loved her family?? I mean, she had an amazing loving family and especially after discovering how people usually react to their kid being an Ord I loved them for how they didn't treat her differently. The family is so close and I just loved the dynamics between the siblings. Also, I LOVED that one of Abby's brothers wrote historical romance! I mean: THAT IS SO COOL! And her big sister Alexa is pretty kickass awesome.
I loved the teachers and everyone at the school. And I really enjoyed the interaction between Abby and the other kids, especially the complicated relationship/friendship/whatever she had with one of the boys, Peter. There's some romantic tension brewing there and I liked that while there's probably something there, the author didn't go there with 12-year-olds.
The only thing that I didn't like was that the last part of the book just sort of ebbed out and then it just stopped. Though the story could sort of be seen as finished, the place where it ended felt off to me. Also, I can't find anywhere if this is a series. DOES ANYONE KNOW??? Cause it felt like there should be a sequel (and maybe several more) because of a lot of unfinished business. There are so many questions that haven't been answered and so much I want to find out about the world Abby lives in!
This was a cute, quick read dealing with not only fun but also a heavier subject that can be compared to actual problems in our world. Caitlen Rubino-Bradway has created an amazingly colorful world and a wonderful set of characters that I am begging to meet again in a sequel!
My rating: 4,5 stars
Also, I loved how Caitlen Rubino-Bradway dealt with the issue of Abby being an Ord. It's generally not accepted and people even go as far as selling their children when they find out about it. The prejudice against Ords was just mindblowing. In my mind I kept comparing it to how people react to someone being gay or of a different nationality or skin color or religion because it is THE SAME. And it needs to stop! It's sick how much the treatment of Ords reminded me of those issues, especially with them being afraid they'd 'catch' it and generally not caring if something happened to them because they were 'just Ords'.
I loved how Caitlen Rubino-Bradway handled such a tough subject in a MG novel and managed to make it fun and something to think about at the same time.
I really liked Abby, she's a lovely girl and can I just say how much I loved her family?? I mean, she had an amazing loving family and especially after discovering how people usually react to their kid being an Ord I loved them for how they didn't treat her differently. The family is so close and I just loved the dynamics between the siblings. Also, I LOVED that one of Abby's brothers wrote historical romance! I mean: THAT IS SO COOL! And her big sister Alexa is pretty kickass awesome.
I loved the teachers and everyone at the school. And I really enjoyed the interaction between Abby and the other kids, especially the complicated relationship/friendship/whatever she had with one of the boys, Peter. There's some romantic tension brewing there and I liked that while there's probably something there, the author didn't go there with 12-year-olds.
The only thing that I didn't like was that the last part of the book just sort of ebbed out and then it just stopped. Though the story could sort of be seen as finished, the place where it ended felt off to me. Also, I can't find anywhere if this is a series. DOES ANYONE KNOW??? Cause it felt like there should be a sequel (and maybe several more) because of a lot of unfinished business. There are so many questions that haven't been answered and so much I want to find out about the world Abby lives in!
This was a cute, quick read dealing with not only fun but also a heavier subject that can be compared to actual problems in our world. Caitlen Rubino-Bradway has created an amazingly colorful world and a wonderful set of characters that I am begging to meet again in a sequel!
My rating: 4,5 stars
April 24, 2012
Ordinary Magic is an Middle-grade fantasy novel set in a secondary world that feels very 21st-century - except that in this world, people use magic for almost everything. Making beds, getting breakfast, getting dressed, everything.
It’s Judging Day for twelve-year-old Abby Hale. Her family – siblings, cousins, aunts, and more - have all come to celebrate the festivities. There’s the family dress to wear and her mother’s special necklace. When she heads to the Guild for the Judging, she’s filled with anticipation. Why shouldn’t she be? Once she’s been Judged, she’ll finally be able to use magic like an adult. There’ll be no more waiting for an adult to handle the most basic of things—getting clothes out of the drawers, making her bed, getting the kitchen to cook. Her siblings all did well on their Judging Days, all 5s or higher, with her oldest sister Alexa receiving a very rare 9.
Rubino-Bradway does a great job working with the awful realities of bigotry, bullies, slavery, and physical challenges all couched in a cute fantasy story. This is a fast-paced, good read about how families often have to cope with the very real struggles of children with challenges, even ones that happen later in their lives. It brings out ugly truths that most of us refuse to acknowledge, but exist in the shadows. It’s a great story – that is obviously part of a series since so many threads are left dangling – but still a good read.
It’s Judging Day for twelve-year-old Abby Hale. Her family – siblings, cousins, aunts, and more - have all come to celebrate the festivities. There’s the family dress to wear and her mother’s special necklace. When she heads to the Guild for the Judging, she’s filled with anticipation. Why shouldn’t she be? Once she’s been Judged, she’ll finally be able to use magic like an adult. There’ll be no more waiting for an adult to handle the most basic of things—getting clothes out of the drawers, making her bed, getting the kitchen to cook. Her siblings all did well on their Judging Days, all 5s or higher, with her oldest sister Alexa receiving a very rare 9.
Rubino-Bradway does a great job working with the awful realities of bigotry, bullies, slavery, and physical challenges all couched in a cute fantasy story. This is a fast-paced, good read about how families often have to cope with the very real struggles of children with challenges, even ones that happen later in their lives. It brings out ugly truths that most of us refuse to acknowledge, but exist in the shadows. It’s a great story – that is obviously part of a series since so many threads are left dangling – but still a good read.
September 23, 2014
Ordinary Magic is about a girl named Abby who lives in a world where everything is done with magic. Out of her entire large family, Abby is the only "ord" (ordinary), revealed when she is tested for magical gifts. She is immediately shunned by just about everyone she knows aside from her family (who are hilarious and adorable and lovely). She is then shipped off to a special school in the city dedicated to protecting ords and teaching them how to survive and protect themselves against magic users who, for the most part, hate them. Abby has had a pretty great childhood compared to many of her classmates, but the teachers and students bond and learn a lot and have to face off against bloody-thirsty Red Caps, ord-slavers, and discrimination of all kinds.
The world is fascinating. Everything is done by magic, so an ord is feared because a lack of magic is a horrifying possibility to most of the populace. The politics, with the various people standing for or against ords, was included enough in the story to make sense and stay interesting, without detracting from the more personal story of the characters (think of Harry Potter's wizarding world, if all the wizards decided to hunt down their non-magical relatives and enslave them).
The characters were, in fact, FABULOUS. I loved the protagonist, who is optimistic, idealistic, and loves her family. The novel is written in her voice, and it is solid throughout and very entertaining (a large part of why I started reading and couldn't stop). I also love her family, who don't care that she's an ord and commit themselves to helping her and kids like her. All of the teachers and students at the school have their own stories and fleshed out personalities. One of her classmates, Peter, is a perfect foil for Abby (and not just because he's a Pessimist and she's an Optimist).
Ordinary Magic is one of those perfect books where every page is not only necessary to the story that the author is telling, but entertaining and gripping as well. This is a Middle Grade book, but the story is still complex and deals with some pretty intense issues. It would be easy to read it strictly as an allegory of race/religion/sex discrimination, but there’s a really great story here, too.
I need more of this series immediately!
(review also posted on my blog, bahnree.blogspot.com)
The world is fascinating. Everything is done by magic, so an ord is feared because a lack of magic is a horrifying possibility to most of the populace. The politics, with the various people standing for or against ords, was included enough in the story to make sense and stay interesting, without detracting from the more personal story of the characters (think of Harry Potter's wizarding world, if all the wizards decided to hunt down their non-magical relatives and enslave them).
The characters were, in fact, FABULOUS. I loved the protagonist, who is optimistic, idealistic, and loves her family. The novel is written in her voice, and it is solid throughout and very entertaining (a large part of why I started reading and couldn't stop). I also love her family, who don't care that she's an ord and commit themselves to helping her and kids like her. All of the teachers and students at the school have their own stories and fleshed out personalities. One of her classmates, Peter, is a perfect foil for Abby (and not just because he's a Pessimist and she's an Optimist).
Ordinary Magic is one of those perfect books where every page is not only necessary to the story that the author is telling, but entertaining and gripping as well. This is a Middle Grade book, but the story is still complex and deals with some pretty intense issues. It would be easy to read it strictly as an allegory of race/religion/sex discrimination, but there’s a really great story here, too.
I need more of this series immediately!
(review also posted on my blog, bahnree.blogspot.com)
April 13, 2012
SUMMARY
Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway was very imaginatively written and was a fantastic story! Abigail Hale lives in a magical world--but that isn't extraordinary--and then, at her magic-power Judging she finds out that she is an "ord", a child without magic! There's lots of trouble that comes with being an ord: being looked down on by others, being wanted to be bought by adventurers and maybe stolen by them, and sometimes even being thrown out by your own family! Lucky for Abby, her parents don't want to sell her or kick her out, so they put her into a school just for ords--but it's not completely safe with carnivorous goblins and more treasure seekers skulking everywhere! Will Abby survive her wild, terror-filled school year?
AUTHOR'S BIOGRAPHY
Caitlen Rubino-Bradway holds a BA in English Literature and an MA in Publishing from Rosemont College. While in college, she interned with LeFrak Productions, Tor, and Jane Dystel Literary. She currently lives and works in New York City, where she has attended the Monday "day after" dissections, sponsored by the Jane Austen Society of North America, of the most recent series of Austen teleplays. [http://tinyurl.com/CRBs-bio]
MY OPINION
The book was very interesting and fast-paced! It got really exciting when Abby was running away from the red-caps and fighting them off! I loved the story, but it seemed like it didn't have a plot, it didn't seem to have a main conflict and resolution, it was just Abby's life as an ord...it looks like it needs a sequel, too--did they find Frances and all of the other kids?
**I received a copy of this eBook for free from Bloomsbury Children's Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I received no other compensation.**
Kristina
KC's Best Reviews & More
Kristina's Kid Reviews
Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway was very imaginatively written and was a fantastic story! Abigail Hale lives in a magical world--but that isn't extraordinary--and then, at her magic-power Judging she finds out that she is an "ord", a child without magic! There's lots of trouble that comes with being an ord: being looked down on by others, being wanted to be bought by adventurers and maybe stolen by them, and sometimes even being thrown out by your own family! Lucky for Abby, her parents don't want to sell her or kick her out, so they put her into a school just for ords--but it's not completely safe with carnivorous goblins and more treasure seekers skulking everywhere! Will Abby survive her wild, terror-filled school year?
AUTHOR'S BIOGRAPHY
Caitlen Rubino-Bradway holds a BA in English Literature and an MA in Publishing from Rosemont College. While in college, she interned with LeFrak Productions, Tor, and Jane Dystel Literary. She currently lives and works in New York City, where she has attended the Monday "day after" dissections, sponsored by the Jane Austen Society of North America, of the most recent series of Austen teleplays. [http://tinyurl.com/CRBs-bio]
MY OPINION
The book was very interesting and fast-paced! It got really exciting when Abby was running away from the red-caps and fighting them off! I loved the story, but it seemed like it didn't have a plot, it didn't seem to have a main conflict and resolution, it was just Abby's life as an ord...it looks like it needs a sequel, too--did they find Frances and all of the other kids?
**I received a copy of this eBook for free from Bloomsbury Children's Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I received no other compensation.**
Kristina
KC's Best Reviews & More
Kristina's Kid Reviews
August 7, 2012
After a strong start this magical story about a girl with no magic peters out to a steady but not terribly engaging conclusion. The premise of this first book in a new series is ingenious: in a world where 'normal' means magical, 'ords' (ordinary people without magical ability) form a lesser class. At the start of this story, Abigail learns that she is an ord, and initially, her family are devastated.
Until recently ords were unprotected in the kingdom, but the new young King has established a special school where they are educated in their own safety and protected from those who would sell them as slaves, as well as from goblins who would feed on them. Abigail's sister happens to work at this establishment (she has an inexplicable concern for the welfare of ords even before her sister is diagnosed), and she secures her sister a place.
The themes woven throughout the story are surprisingly noble, and yet I often felt they were undeveloped and generally unconvincing. Abigail has an unusually loving family; most ords are cast off by their families, but hers is determined to look after her. Every time she gets into a scrape (usually involving kidnapping) her family come running. Though they are usually too late to help her, there is no doubt that they love her. But there is no context or reason offered for why they are so different to everyone else in this regard.
The story sometimes also felt like a Christian parable about the Good King who is concerned for the smallest and weakest. This too is a noble theme, but we don't learn much about who the King is, or why he is so good. It's just given that he is.
While the dangers for the ords are nasty and real, some are resolved in ways that seem too sudden or unexplained, and others are inexplicably left hanging. And in my opinion characters are interesting only for what they do; one never really gets a sense of who they are.
However, in spite of the unengaging style and sketchy character development, avid readers looking for something new may be attracted to an original plot and an abundance of noble themes. www.GoodReadingGuide.com
January 6, 2014
3.5 stars.
It started off with family. So many books skip all the family aspect, most by completely writing out a family but the ones that annoy me the most are the ones where the main character has a family to be with and interact with and the reader gets short-changed by the author never bringing them up beside the once or making them all horrid. But in this you get some great sibling interaction, the parents are smart people and very present in their daughter's life, the whole family is very tight with one another and that was great to read. I esp. like when they find out Abby's an ord, someone with no magic, and they try to adjust life for her. And despite everyone trying to take her away or convince them what's best for them, the family, they aren't letting her go.
The friendship between Peter and Abby was adorable. More!!
The story was good But anyways, it was really cute and fun and a wonderful story.
It started off with family. So many books skip all the family aspect, most by completely writing out a family but the ones that annoy me the most are the ones where the main character has a family to be with and interact with and the reader gets short-changed by the author never bringing them up beside the once or making them all horrid. But in this you get some great sibling interaction, the parents are smart people and very present in their daughter's life, the whole family is very tight with one another and that was great to read. I esp. like when they find out Abby's an ord, someone with no magic, and they try to adjust life for her. And despite everyone trying to take her away or convince them what's best for them, the family, they aren't letting her go.
The friendship between Peter and Abby was adorable. More!!
"And you're just mean. That's okay, though," I reassured him, because at some point this teasing thing had become fun. "I'll still be your friend."
Peter sat up. "If you're going to be this annoying, I'll leave."
"No, you won't," I said, swallowing my laughter.
Peter glared at him for a full minute before he sniffed and defiantly lay back down, pulling the covers up around his shoulders. I waited until the quiet seeped back in, until he'd feel safe, then whispered quickly, "It's because we're friends."
He groaned and shoved the pillow over his head. "Abby! Go to sleep!"
With him there, I did.
The story was good But anyways, it was really cute and fun and a wonderful story.
June 14, 2012
This was a good, solid middle-grade series opener with a great number of lovely ideas and a well-introduced, if not well-rounded, cast of characters. While I enjoyed it, I felt it had a tone problem with some aspects (such as character names) undercutting the real menace of certain scenes.
There were also several moments that were just too lightly sketched to work (such as the relationship between Abby and her school-mate Peter), and I found the kitchen scenes at the school frankly baffling, with the Cook inexplicably rude to Abby, and the imbalance of work (with some students doing everything and most of the rest doing nothing) bizarre and unfair. I know how it was meant to come across (I think) -- showing Abby as helpful and selfless, but the whole thing just seemed ridiculously unbalanced to the point where one would expect some kind of conflict amongst the students over the situation.
Overall the ideas and characters are winning, and Abby's older sister Alexa (clearly destined to marry the king eventually) deserves her own spin-off, but some explanation as to why Abby's family is so very different in their reaction to her while the vast majority of Ords end up treated so horribly by their families (a premise I didn't really buy) and why Alexa is already so geared toward Ord rights before it becomes personal for her would have been helpful. Their perfect and correct behavior so sharply contrasts with what is apparently the norm for their world that it rings as false than that a rare disorder would turn almost all other loving parents into people who would sell off their Ord child.
There were also several moments that were just too lightly sketched to work (such as the relationship between Abby and her school-mate Peter), and I found the kitchen scenes at the school frankly baffling, with the Cook inexplicably rude to Abby, and the imbalance of work (with some students doing everything and most of the rest doing nothing) bizarre and unfair. I know how it was meant to come across (I think) -- showing Abby as helpful and selfless, but the whole thing just seemed ridiculously unbalanced to the point where one would expect some kind of conflict amongst the students over the situation.
Overall the ideas and characters are winning, and Abby's older sister Alexa (clearly destined to marry the king eventually) deserves her own spin-off, but some explanation as to why Abby's family is so very different in their reaction to her while the vast majority of Ords end up treated so horribly by their families (a premise I didn't really buy) and why Alexa is already so geared toward Ord rights before it becomes personal for her would have been helpful. Their perfect and correct behavior so sharply contrasts with what is apparently the norm for their world that it rings as false than that a rare disorder would turn almost all other loving parents into people who would sell off their Ord child.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2012
4 1/2 stars.
Ordinary Magic is kind of the anti-Harry Potter. Which isn't to say that I've got anything against Harry Potter (I think it's brilliant), nor that the author has (for the record, I have no idea what Rubino-Bradway's opinion is of Harry Potter). It's simply that if you imagined the set-up for Harry Potter and completely reversed it, you might have the set up of Ordinary Magic.
In this world, just about everyone is born with magical talent, and magic permeates everything in the world. But there are a few people -- shunned, ignored, or treated as sub-human -- who are born without a single bit of magical talent. These are the Ords. Ords are useful, though, because while they can't do magic, magic also doesn't affect them. Unscrupulous magicians with an ord as a slave can get past magical wards and defenses.
The hero of the book, Abby, is one of these ords. When her lack of magical talent is revealed, she is sent away to a secretive school for ords, where she can learn how to get by and survive in a world ruled by magic. That's if she can avoid kidnap by those who want to exploit her and the hazards presented by magical creatures.
If that makes it sound like a dark, grim book, it isn't. It's a book that sparkles with life and wit, with a high-spirited heroine and plenty of adventure.
I've taken off half a star from my rating, because I had a few issues with the world-building, and by the end, I was wishing that someone would rise up and depose the supposedly wonderful king and do away with his arbitrary abuses of power. But maybe that's just me.
This is a middle-grade book, but it's perfectly good for older readers too.
Ordinary Magic is kind of the anti-Harry Potter. Which isn't to say that I've got anything against Harry Potter (I think it's brilliant), nor that the author has (for the record, I have no idea what Rubino-Bradway's opinion is of Harry Potter). It's simply that if you imagined the set-up for Harry Potter and completely reversed it, you might have the set up of Ordinary Magic.
In this world, just about everyone is born with magical talent, and magic permeates everything in the world. But there are a few people -- shunned, ignored, or treated as sub-human -- who are born without a single bit of magical talent. These are the Ords. Ords are useful, though, because while they can't do magic, magic also doesn't affect them. Unscrupulous magicians with an ord as a slave can get past magical wards and defenses.
The hero of the book, Abby, is one of these ords. When her lack of magical talent is revealed, she is sent away to a secretive school for ords, where she can learn how to get by and survive in a world ruled by magic. That's if she can avoid kidnap by those who want to exploit her and the hazards presented by magical creatures.
If that makes it sound like a dark, grim book, it isn't. It's a book that sparkles with life and wit, with a high-spirited heroine and plenty of adventure.
I've taken off half a star from my rating, because I had a few issues with the world-building, and by the end, I was wishing that someone would rise up and depose the supposedly wonderful king and do away with his arbitrary abuses of power. But maybe that's just me.
This is a middle-grade book, but it's perfectly good for older readers too.
December 2, 2012
True rating: 4.5 stars.
A very enjoyable look at magic from the perspective of those who cannot work it and who aren’t affected by it. But the most magical thing about the tale is that it continues to grow on you right up until the final page. The characters become more and more interesting, and the plot slowly comes together until it explodes in full force. There is a warmth to the story also, due in large part to the author’s ability to make the reader care about her secondary characters, that makes the book feel like something more than ordinary. And it is. I would like to see the author do a bit better job at proofreading, however. There are several instances of unnecessary repetition (e.g., page 19: “...the worst part was how they all stopped talking after they heard”; then a few lines later: “I think that was the worst part; they were all so quiet...”) and the occasional error (page 240: “It was a dark and stormy night...”; same night, a few hours later: “It was a clear night...”; same night, shortly after: “It had stopped raining at some point” – stick this line before the second one (or eliminate the second) and the problem is fixed). So yes, the book’s not perfect, but its shortcomings are easy to ignore because it’s just plain a lot of fun. I truly hope there is a sequel in the works!
A very enjoyable look at magic from the perspective of those who cannot work it and who aren’t affected by it. But the most magical thing about the tale is that it continues to grow on you right up until the final page. The characters become more and more interesting, and the plot slowly comes together until it explodes in full force. There is a warmth to the story also, due in large part to the author’s ability to make the reader care about her secondary characters, that makes the book feel like something more than ordinary. And it is. I would like to see the author do a bit better job at proofreading, however. There are several instances of unnecessary repetition (e.g., page 19: “...the worst part was how they all stopped talking after they heard”; then a few lines later: “I think that was the worst part; they were all so quiet...”) and the occasional error (page 240: “It was a dark and stormy night...”; same night, a few hours later: “It was a clear night...”; same night, shortly after: “It had stopped raining at some point” – stick this line before the second one (or eliminate the second) and the problem is fixed). So yes, the book’s not perfect, but its shortcomings are easy to ignore because it’s just plain a lot of fun. I truly hope there is a sequel in the works!
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