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Paper Magic
A magical journey. Marina's legs might not work but she has clever hands. The park calls to Marina. It tugs at a place deep in her chest but the thought of meeting the children who play there sends her into a breathless panic. On the last day of the holidays, before starting at a new school, Nana arrives with a magical gift to change Marina's life.
98 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2013
4 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery E. Doherty
7 books7 followersJeffery E Doherty – (Bio)
I make up stuff, I’m arty and I’m a bit of a nerd.
I love telling stories. One of those stories starts with "No, when I was in the Wiggles they already had a Jeff so I had to use my middle name..." Whole bunches of kids at the school where I work believe I was once Eddie the Evil Wiggle. Writing stories down for others to read and enjoy is one of the most special thing anyone can hope to do.
Drawing and painting comes a close second. I have been an artist for a long time but I have only recently started doing cover art and children’s book illustrations. You might think being an artist and illustrator is basically the same thing but it’s not. Illustrating, like writing is all about telling a story. I have been lucky enough to find a publisher who allowed me to create the illustrations and design the cover art for Paper Magic. Usually the writer gets very little say in a books artwork.
I love reading books, especially children’s books. I’m a Whovian, a Trekky, I love Star Wars and any other science fiction or fantasy stuff. I dress-up any chance I get, sometimes as a medieval soldier, Scoobie Doo or Doctor Who (the Tom Baker one, mainly because I have a large, somewhat bent Tom Baker-ish nose). I tell really bad Dad jokes and I’m often an embarrassment to my children. I live in Bathurst with my Mad-Cat-Lady wife and seven and a half cats. Unfortunately I have to spend a lot of time pretending to be grown-up so I won’t get sacked from my non-writing jobs, where I work with special needs children.
If you would like to know more about me, you can visit my website www.jefferyedoherty.com or the website for my book, Paper Magic. www.papermagicbook.com
I make up stuff, I’m arty and I’m a bit of a nerd.
I love telling stories. One of those stories starts with "No, when I was in the Wiggles they already had a Jeff so I had to use my middle name..." Whole bunches of kids at the school where I work believe I was once Eddie the Evil Wiggle. Writing stories down for others to read and enjoy is one of the most special thing anyone can hope to do.
Drawing and painting comes a close second. I have been an artist for a long time but I have only recently started doing cover art and children’s book illustrations. You might think being an artist and illustrator is basically the same thing but it’s not. Illustrating, like writing is all about telling a story. I have been lucky enough to find a publisher who allowed me to create the illustrations and design the cover art for Paper Magic. Usually the writer gets very little say in a books artwork.
I love reading books, especially children’s books. I’m a Whovian, a Trekky, I love Star Wars and any other science fiction or fantasy stuff. I dress-up any chance I get, sometimes as a medieval soldier, Scoobie Doo or Doctor Who (the Tom Baker one, mainly because I have a large, somewhat bent Tom Baker-ish nose). I tell really bad Dad jokes and I’m often an embarrassment to my children. I live in Bathurst with my Mad-Cat-Lady wife and seven and a half cats. Unfortunately I have to spend a lot of time pretending to be grown-up so I won’t get sacked from my non-writing jobs, where I work with special needs children.
If you would like to know more about me, you can visit my website www.jefferyedoherty.com or the website for my book, Paper Magic. www.papermagicbook.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 27, 2015
This book was entered and was a RED RIBBON winner in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our young readers thought:
FEEDBACK
Author: Jeffery E Doherty
Title: Paper Magic
COVER: 4/10
Generally, our young readers thought the cover was ok or poor. Most of them thought the lettering was fun and they liked the butterfly. A few of them thought the cover was a little pale – sort of washed-out, and they thought the girl should be folding paper on the front cover. They also felt the blurb was rather poor because it didn’t discuss paper folding.
CONTENT 9/10
This book was very much enjoyed by our young readers (and teachers). They liked the central message – overcoming a problem and finding courage to face things – and they liked the way it was written and the drawings. One young reader (boy) put in his feedback, ‘It must be difficult not walking or running even but Marina’s very brave in the end. It was fun to read.’
The teachers were happy that there were a number of important subjects the book looks at which they could then discuss with the pupils: bullying, being handicapped, facing your problems and overcoming them, and even paper folding. They also liked the way the author showed how Nana believed in Marina, e.g. when she bought the girl a basketball hoop for the back garden.
Two of the readers, both boys, thought the book lacked excitement. (Note from Ed – I chatted to the teacher and she told me they were not into books with any sort of ‘sensitivity’. They liked monsters and shooting!)
EDITING 8/10
The readers discovered no problems with punctuation, grammar or spelling and they felt, in general, the pacing was good. Two (see above) thought it was too slow.
STYLE 9/10
The children enjoyed the style of the writing. They thought it was easy to follow and the characters and setting were well described. The teachers also thought the style was excellent. One teacher put in her feedback, ‘I liked the opening phrase: ‘Words ghost into the room through the open window.’ This sets the book up nicely. Not too long; not too short and not to many characters.’
TO SUM UP 30/40
STATS
Of the 19 readers:
6 liked the cover; 13 did not.
15 felt the best part was the central message of bullying and not giving up.
3 felt the best part was the style of writing.
17 would like to read another book by this author.
2 (both boys) felt the story lacked excitement! I think they enjoy monsters and UFOs
‘Wonderfully written with a powerful message. Highly recommended and a RED RIBBON winner.’ The Wishing Shelf Awards
FEEDBACK
Author: Jeffery E Doherty
Title: Paper Magic
COVER: 4/10
Generally, our young readers thought the cover was ok or poor. Most of them thought the lettering was fun and they liked the butterfly. A few of them thought the cover was a little pale – sort of washed-out, and they thought the girl should be folding paper on the front cover. They also felt the blurb was rather poor because it didn’t discuss paper folding.
CONTENT 9/10
This book was very much enjoyed by our young readers (and teachers). They liked the central message – overcoming a problem and finding courage to face things – and they liked the way it was written and the drawings. One young reader (boy) put in his feedback, ‘It must be difficult not walking or running even but Marina’s very brave in the end. It was fun to read.’
The teachers were happy that there were a number of important subjects the book looks at which they could then discuss with the pupils: bullying, being handicapped, facing your problems and overcoming them, and even paper folding. They also liked the way the author showed how Nana believed in Marina, e.g. when she bought the girl a basketball hoop for the back garden.
Two of the readers, both boys, thought the book lacked excitement. (Note from Ed – I chatted to the teacher and she told me they were not into books with any sort of ‘sensitivity’. They liked monsters and shooting!)
EDITING 8/10
The readers discovered no problems with punctuation, grammar or spelling and they felt, in general, the pacing was good. Two (see above) thought it was too slow.
STYLE 9/10
The children enjoyed the style of the writing. They thought it was easy to follow and the characters and setting were well described. The teachers also thought the style was excellent. One teacher put in her feedback, ‘I liked the opening phrase: ‘Words ghost into the room through the open window.’ This sets the book up nicely. Not too long; not too short and not to many characters.’
TO SUM UP 30/40
STATS
Of the 19 readers:
6 liked the cover; 13 did not.
15 felt the best part was the central message of bullying and not giving up.
3 felt the best part was the style of writing.
17 would like to read another book by this author.
2 (both boys) felt the story lacked excitement! I think they enjoy monsters and UFOs
‘Wonderfully written with a powerful message. Highly recommended and a RED RIBBON winner.’ The Wishing Shelf Awards
September 25, 2014
This book is a stunning piece of poetry to show children how to see the magic in life. It tells us how we are only limited by our imagination, not by what we are given. Doherty's writing is pure and picturesque, using the simplest of phrases to conjure up the most complex of images. I'm looking forward to reading more.
September 28, 2014
A tale of acceptance. Acceptance of self, and of others. Paper Magic will teach your child that it is OK to be different; to be you. There is a little magic in everyone, if only we all shared it.
April 5, 2014
Lyn is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. Any reviews or ratings offered by Lyn do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Aurealis Awards Panel or Committee.
I shall be rating this work once the awards are announced.
I shall be rating this work once the awards are announced.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews