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The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner
A girl whose anxiety disorder has been ruling her life since her father’s death unexpectedly has the story she’s written come alive in this adventurous and tender middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of Barbara Dee and Jamie Sumner.
Zoey Turner used to see magic everywhere. With a dad like Zoey’s, it was hard not to. Not only did they read The Magic of Ever After series together every day, they also used to create original stories together. Used to. Ever since her dad died unexpectedly last year, all Zoey sees is danger.
Fear has shrunk homeschooled Zoey’s life to the span of one block, where she keeps close to the people that she needs the most. Her mom is almost never out of sight, and Jada, the owner of Ever After Books, is always around to talk about their favorite fantasy trilogy. Zoey finally ventures outside her comfort zone for the chance to meet famed author Raven M. Wells, only for the outing to lead to a panic attack.
Instead of a signed book, Zoey ends up with a novelty pencil embossed with the phrase make your own magic that she uses to cope with her disappointment by writing a story like the ones she and her dad shared. The next day, Zoey is shocked to find her fantastical tale has come true. Emboldened by the pencil, Zoey takes risks she thought were long behind her in pursuit of her happy ending. But is she really in charge of how the story ends?
Zoey Turner used to see magic everywhere. With a dad like Zoey’s, it was hard not to. Not only did they read The Magic of Ever After series together every day, they also used to create original stories together. Used to. Ever since her dad died unexpectedly last year, all Zoey sees is danger.
Fear has shrunk homeschooled Zoey’s life to the span of one block, where she keeps close to the people that she needs the most. Her mom is almost never out of sight, and Jada, the owner of Ever After Books, is always around to talk about their favorite fantasy trilogy. Zoey finally ventures outside her comfort zone for the chance to meet famed author Raven M. Wells, only for the outing to lead to a panic attack.
Instead of a signed book, Zoey ends up with a novelty pencil embossed with the phrase make your own magic that she uses to cope with her disappointment by writing a story like the ones she and her dad shared. The next day, Zoey is shocked to find her fantastical tale has come true. Emboldened by the pencil, Zoey takes risks she thought were long behind her in pursuit of her happy ending. But is she really in charge of how the story ends?
Hardcover
First published January 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 19, 2025
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade fantasy about a young girl coping with anxiety disorder. I loved the intent, but perhaps the execution could have worked a little better. The themes are relevant but also somewhat lopsided. A decent read, but not a great one for me. This is an outlier review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Finding a magic implement to make changes in one’s life is a fairly common trope in middle-grade fantasy. Having a protagonist who is dealing with a mental health issue is also becoming a common theme, thanks to the many appreciable attempts at bringing inclusivity into this genre. When two of the main themes of the book are thus no longer that path-breaking, the book needs to work that much harder to impress. Unfortunately, this novel, though good, couldn’t really cross the line to ‘great’ for me.
There are quite a few things I enjoyed about this story. My favourite part was the focus on books and how much they impact our life choices and help us during challenging times. No bibliophile could hate such content! I also loved the setting of the Ever After shop, which feels like a quaint indie bookstore that knows its customers and its books equally well.
One thing that’s different this time about the trope of a magical future-altering object is that the writers of these alterations, Zoey and Derek, are avid fantasy fans. So they use their knowledge of fantasy adventures to guess the path to be taken. Kids who enjoy fantasy will enjoy their discussions on this genre and its common tropes. Of course, the magic is not really the highlight of the book, so despite what that stunning cover indicates, the core content is more like a dramatic adventure than a fantastical one.
Zoey as a protagonist evoked mixed feelings in me. While I liked the portrayal of her grief over the loss of her dad, her struggle to accept the changes in her life, her anger over her mother’s apparent decision to move on, and her anxiety that manifests in frustrating ways, I didn’t like how she was somewhat self-centred at times, refusing to see the picture from the other characters’ eyes. She didn’t communicate with her mother, she kept secrets and even lied about her whereabouts when she had to venture on her quest for an interaction with Raven. She also participated in name-calling and teasing. (“Bullying the bully is right” isn’t a lesson that MG fiction ought to propagate. It turns into a vicious cycle.) All this might be realistic behaviour indicative of today’s middle-graders, but it's not what I want to read in children's fiction. I'm still old-school and I want such books to teach good values to kids.
Zoey’s friend Lena is somewhat better sketched. Unfortunately, her arc is a bit inconsistent as she enters and exits Zoey’s life quite randomly. (A part of the blame for this lies with Zoey.) The other main child character is Derek, who is, as typical, an “enemy turned friend”. His personality seems the most consistent of the trio. The remaining kids have limited roles, either as friends or bullies, no in-between. The adults are in minimal roles, and appear only as and when needed.
Zoey’s mental health struggles get a prime focus in the plot. However, the depiction is a bit cluttered. Zoey is said to have anxiety disorder, which manifested after her father’s passing. In the story, Zoey does exhibit anxiety (and its related common symptoms such as struggling to go in a crowd or feeling panicky or worrying too much over trivial reasons), but she also shows other unusual tendencies such as an obsession with sanitising every surface/object she has to touch or a habit of poring over scary stats of various possible causes of death. I think the symptoms, no matter how accurate they are, should have been restricted to the common ones rather than spreading the net so wide. Kids might misunderstand Zoey’s OCD about germs and hygiene to be a part of anxiety disorder, which isn’t necessarily true. Moreover, if any children who face similar anxiety issues read this book, either they'll feel heard or they'll freak out at her scary data and enhance their own anxiety.
The book began a bit slowly, but it still held my attention. However, once it incorporated a few tropes that I am not too fond of, my interest started waning.
😕 I am never a fan of middle-grade books bringing up the idea of crushes. This one even declares, “"It's seventh grade. You have to like somebody!" Thankfully, this isn't said by Zoey and she seems to be more against the idea, but when a “cool girl” makes such claims, little readers might take it seriously.
😕 I am bored of the now common trope about being suddenly ditched by your best friend and finding a new bestie in your nemesis. The first part is still fine, but why does a new connection have to involve someone who hurt you before, and that too, to an extent where this new “friend” knows more than all other friends and even parents about your secret plans? Shouldn’t kids learn to rely on someone more familiar and trustworthy than to count only on the new entrants in their life to provide assistance?
😕 I hate the depiction of Zoey’s mother’s potential new romance. Why was this necessary for a story, especially when Zoey’s father passed away just nine months earlier? Why can’t grieving be normalised, instead of showing it as something to be surpassed as soon as possible?
😕 Furthermore, almost every main character in the story, whether adult or young, has a tragedy in their past. This is annoying and unnecessary. The focus should have stayed on Zoey’s (and her mom’s) grief and anxiety – these were potent enough to carry the plot. Why should every character be dealing with equally difficult psychological problems?
😕 I am disappointed by how easily Zoey could overcome most of her mental struggles by the end of the book. In children’s fiction, a happy ending is the norm. However, anxiety cannot be brushed away within just a couple of days or weeks; overcoming it is a long process that takes constant efforts. This easy resolution isn’t helpful for youngsters who might be struggling with the same issues.
😕 Lastly, the representation of male characters. There are no good (alive) dads in the story, though we see three active moms. Why are dads the bad guys so often in MG fiction?
Of course, many of my negatives are thanks to personal preferences, so these might not bother all readers.
All in all, I did like many things about this book, but I feel like it trod too closely on the formulaic path. None of the plot points set it apart from other middle-grade novels dealing with similar theme. It is still a decent story, but its greater potential isn’t fulfilled.
Recommended, but not too vehemently. Perhaps, this could be a good one-time read borrowed from the library. Then again, mine is an outlier review, so please do look at other opinions and take a more informed decision.
2.75 stars.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and Aladdin for providing the DRC of “The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Zoey had loved spending time with her dad, discussing their favourite fantasy series by author Raven M. Wells. But after his death nine months ago in a freak accident, Zoey finds herself alone, struggling to interact with anyone else except her mom, her best friend Lena, and Jada – the owner of her favourite bookstore.
When Zoey learns that Raven M. Wells is arriving at another bookstore for a signing, she decides to go beyond her comfort zone in order to secure an autograph. However, due to some unforeseen events, Zoey ends with a novelty pencil embossed with the word: “Make Your Own Magic.” On the next day, to Zoey’s surprise, she discovers that the story she wrote with the pencil has come true. Does Zoey now have control over future events? Can she use the pencil to write some happiness into her life?
The story comes to us in Zoey’s first-person perspective.
Finding a magic implement to make changes in one’s life is a fairly common trope in middle-grade fantasy. Having a protagonist who is dealing with a mental health issue is also becoming a common theme, thanks to the many appreciable attempts at bringing inclusivity into this genre. When two of the main themes of the book are thus no longer that path-breaking, the book needs to work that much harder to impress. Unfortunately, this novel, though good, couldn’t really cross the line to ‘great’ for me.
There are quite a few things I enjoyed about this story. My favourite part was the focus on books and how much they impact our life choices and help us during challenging times. No bibliophile could hate such content! I also loved the setting of the Ever After shop, which feels like a quaint indie bookstore that knows its customers and its books equally well.
One thing that’s different this time about the trope of a magical future-altering object is that the writers of these alterations, Zoey and Derek, are avid fantasy fans. So they use their knowledge of fantasy adventures to guess the path to be taken. Kids who enjoy fantasy will enjoy their discussions on this genre and its common tropes. Of course, the magic is not really the highlight of the book, so despite what that stunning cover indicates, the core content is more like a dramatic adventure than a fantastical one.
Zoey as a protagonist evoked mixed feelings in me. While I liked the portrayal of her grief over the loss of her dad, her struggle to accept the changes in her life, her anger over her mother’s apparent decision to move on, and her anxiety that manifests in frustrating ways, I didn’t like how she was somewhat self-centred at times, refusing to see the picture from the other characters’ eyes. She didn’t communicate with her mother, she kept secrets and even lied about her whereabouts when she had to venture on her quest for an interaction with Raven. She also participated in name-calling and teasing. (“Bullying the bully is right” isn’t a lesson that MG fiction ought to propagate. It turns into a vicious cycle.) All this might be realistic behaviour indicative of today’s middle-graders, but it's not what I want to read in children's fiction. I'm still old-school and I want such books to teach good values to kids.
Zoey’s friend Lena is somewhat better sketched. Unfortunately, her arc is a bit inconsistent as she enters and exits Zoey’s life quite randomly. (A part of the blame for this lies with Zoey.) The other main child character is Derek, who is, as typical, an “enemy turned friend”. His personality seems the most consistent of the trio. The remaining kids have limited roles, either as friends or bullies, no in-between. The adults are in minimal roles, and appear only as and when needed.
Zoey’s mental health struggles get a prime focus in the plot. However, the depiction is a bit cluttered. Zoey is said to have anxiety disorder, which manifested after her father’s passing. In the story, Zoey does exhibit anxiety (and its related common symptoms such as struggling to go in a crowd or feeling panicky or worrying too much over trivial reasons), but she also shows other unusual tendencies such as an obsession with sanitising every surface/object she has to touch or a habit of poring over scary stats of various possible causes of death. I think the symptoms, no matter how accurate they are, should have been restricted to the common ones rather than spreading the net so wide. Kids might misunderstand Zoey’s OCD about germs and hygiene to be a part of anxiety disorder, which isn’t necessarily true. Moreover, if any children who face similar anxiety issues read this book, either they'll feel heard or they'll freak out at her scary data and enhance their own anxiety.
The book began a bit slowly, but it still held my attention. However, once it incorporated a few tropes that I am not too fond of, my interest started waning.
😕 I am never a fan of middle-grade books bringing up the idea of crushes. This one even declares, “"It's seventh grade. You have to like somebody!" Thankfully, this isn't said by Zoey and she seems to be more against the idea, but when a “cool girl” makes such claims, little readers might take it seriously.
😕 I am bored of the now common trope about being suddenly ditched by your best friend and finding a new bestie in your nemesis. The first part is still fine, but why does a new connection have to involve someone who hurt you before, and that too, to an extent where this new “friend” knows more than all other friends and even parents about your secret plans? Shouldn’t kids learn to rely on someone more familiar and trustworthy than to count only on the new entrants in their life to provide assistance?
😕 I hate the depiction of Zoey’s mother’s potential new romance. Why was this necessary for a story, especially when Zoey’s father passed away just nine months earlier? Why can’t grieving be normalised, instead of showing it as something to be surpassed as soon as possible?
😕 Furthermore, almost every main character in the story, whether adult or young, has a tragedy in their past. This is annoying and unnecessary. The focus should have stayed on Zoey’s (and her mom’s) grief and anxiety – these were potent enough to carry the plot. Why should every character be dealing with equally difficult psychological problems?
😕 I am disappointed by how easily Zoey could overcome most of her mental struggles by the end of the book. In children’s fiction, a happy ending is the norm. However, anxiety cannot be brushed away within just a couple of days or weeks; overcoming it is a long process that takes constant efforts. This easy resolution isn’t helpful for youngsters who might be struggling with the same issues.
😕 Lastly, the representation of male characters. There are no good (alive) dads in the story, though we see three active moms. Why are dads the bad guys so often in MG fiction?
Of course, many of my negatives are thanks to personal preferences, so these might not bother all readers.
All in all, I did like many things about this book, but I feel like it trod too closely on the formulaic path. None of the plot points set it apart from other middle-grade novels dealing with similar theme. It is still a decent story, but its greater potential isn’t fulfilled.
Recommended, but not too vehemently. Perhaps, this could be a good one-time read borrowed from the library. Then again, mine is an outlier review, so please do look at other opinions and take a more informed decision.
2.75 stars.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and Aladdin for providing the DRC of “The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
December 13, 2025
Zoey lost her father more than a year ago to a bus crash and since then, almost everything has caused her extreme anxiety. The only two things that have kept her going are her friend Lena and the fantasy series she shared with her father. Now Lena is being drawn into a new friend group with fellow swimmers and wants Zoey to attend middle school with her, but Zoey has been homeschooled ever since she couldn't climb on the bus after her father's death. Gathering all her courage, Zoey decides to attend a book signing with the author of the fantasy book series to ask her about how the magic happens, but for a couple of reasons, she is not able to speak with the author. Instead, she is gifted a pencil. But wait, the pencil is magic--everything that Zoey writes comes true! Or does it? A new friend likens Zoey's journey to a hero's quest, but Zoey is not a hero. How will she ever make sense of her life that is spiraling out of control? I loved the story-within-a-story-within-a-story, which sounds complicated but was surprisingly readable. Zoey is the character we all wish we could be if magic existed.
Read
January 29, 2025Read some chapters but too middle grade (the age gap it is marketed toward) for me. Anyway, glad that middle graders can have a book with mental health/anxiety rep
February 10, 2025
I loved this story, and fell in love with Zoey, Lena, and Derek. I could picture this small village with its railroad track in my head.
There truly are kids dealing with anxiety issues today. This story deals with a small group of friends who even with there differences still hang on to friendships.
There truly are kids dealing with anxiety issues today. This story deals with a small group of friends who even with there differences still hang on to friendships.
January 30, 2025
well...I finished this in like 24 hours...I have NO idea how I managed to do that
April 3, 2025
Sometimes, when you finish a really good book, you have to give it a hug to show how much you truly loved it. (And yes, I really did do that after I turned the last page and shut the book.)
This is the exact kind of book I wish I had as a kid. I see so much of myself in Zoey - and Derek too. I'm a Generalized Anxiety Disorder sufferer, so my anxiety shows itself in both ways - fearing the what-ifs and unknowns as well as fearing public speaking and other people's thoughts and judgments. I've gone to therapy since I was 8 and been on medication since I was 16. Anxiety has always been a struggle for me, and while I've gone through periods of things being a little bit easier, the anxiety always comes creeping back in at the worst moments. And though my anxiety doesn't stem from the same trigger as Zoey's, my experiences have been a lot like hers - worrying about the safety of my family when I'm away from home, struggling to go to school (which combined the "away from home" fear with the "people and their thoughts and judgments" one), even avoiding things that I used to enjoy doing. It's been tough, obviously, but like Zoey, I've worked through it, and managed to overcome many of my worst fears.
That being said, certain parts of Zoey's story really hit me hard, like her anxiety/panic attacks, and even the meeting she had with Mr. Jensen about returning to school. I never had any periods of home-schooling (though I kinda wish I had), but the discussion about accommodations reminded me of my own meeting in high school about potentially getting a 504 plan and, specifically, the issues I had transitioning from elementary to middle school. It might have been some unfortunate timing with hormones, but I teared up quite a few times while reading this book! As I said, I really felt for Zoey, as I've kind of been in her shoes, and I wanted to just give her a big hug and tell her that she'd get through it.
And then, there's the other aspect of the book that spoke to me - storytelling. I've written my own stories (a lot of which were fanfiction, I'm not ashamed to admit) since I was 12 - I guess the same age as Zoey, right? - and been an avid reader for even longer than that, maybe since I was like 5 or 6 years old (whenever I could start reading on my own). I never had a magic pencil to write my stories with, but I still wrote them from a place of love and I guess, in a way, hope and manifestation. I know a lot of my earliest stories always featured me having a big friend group, which never really came to be during my school years, but I still have my adult years to try and make that a reality.
I've never been a huge fantasy person, admittedly - definitely not like Zoey - but I do love the idea of the hero's journey, because it can apply to so many genres beyond just fantasy, and I love the way it was tied into Zoey's story here. Of course, it got meta whenever Derek would bring it up, but who doesn't love a story that talks about stories? Those are always the most fun.
And ugh, Derek and Zoey. I wish I had a friend like Derek growing up. He is so sweet, and I love how he and Zoey were able to help each other and bring out the best in one another. (I almost wanted them to have little crushes on each other, is that bad? Can we get a sequel where they're in high school and sweetly/awkwardly navigating their growing feelings for each other?) Everyone needs a friend like Derek in their life. Sometimes it's the quiet, dorky nerdy boys who actually make the best friends. ❤️
Apologies for spending so much of this review talking myself rather than the book itself. I always write these damn things immediately after finishing my books while the stories are fresh in my head, but before I've had the time to process all my thoughts and write them down in a more precise way. Gahhhh!!!
Anyways, I guess what I mean to say is: I loved this book. I'm sad I took it out from the library because I really wish I owned it so I could have it sitting on my bookshelf and I could go back and reread parts of it or the whole thing just like Zoey does with her Magic of Ever After books. (Which I kind of wish were a real series in itself, because the quotes from it sprinkled throughout this book really caught my attention. 👀 Spin-off series, Ms. Stewart? 👉👈) I'm so glad that kids today have these kinds of stories to read and relate to. It's the reason why I, as an adult, have crawled back to middle grade, because I'm just in awe of how different the kinds of stories being written now are from those that I grew up with as a kid. Everything is so much more diverse and honest and relatable and it just makes me so happy for the next generation of readers. They truly are so lucky to have stories like these to read.
This is the exact kind of book I wish I had as a kid. I see so much of myself in Zoey - and Derek too. I'm a Generalized Anxiety Disorder sufferer, so my anxiety shows itself in both ways - fearing the what-ifs and unknowns as well as fearing public speaking and other people's thoughts and judgments. I've gone to therapy since I was 8 and been on medication since I was 16. Anxiety has always been a struggle for me, and while I've gone through periods of things being a little bit easier, the anxiety always comes creeping back in at the worst moments. And though my anxiety doesn't stem from the same trigger as Zoey's, my experiences have been a lot like hers - worrying about the safety of my family when I'm away from home, struggling to go to school (which combined the "away from home" fear with the "people and their thoughts and judgments" one), even avoiding things that I used to enjoy doing. It's been tough, obviously, but like Zoey, I've worked through it, and managed to overcome many of my worst fears.
That being said, certain parts of Zoey's story really hit me hard, like her anxiety/panic attacks, and even the meeting she had with Mr. Jensen about returning to school. I never had any periods of home-schooling (though I kinda wish I had), but the discussion about accommodations reminded me of my own meeting in high school about potentially getting a 504 plan and, specifically, the issues I had transitioning from elementary to middle school. It might have been some unfortunate timing with hormones, but I teared up quite a few times while reading this book! As I said, I really felt for Zoey, as I've kind of been in her shoes, and I wanted to just give her a big hug and tell her that she'd get through it.
And then, there's the other aspect of the book that spoke to me - storytelling. I've written my own stories (a lot of which were fanfiction, I'm not ashamed to admit) since I was 12 - I guess the same age as Zoey, right? - and been an avid reader for even longer than that, maybe since I was like 5 or 6 years old (whenever I could start reading on my own). I never had a magic pencil to write my stories with, but I still wrote them from a place of love and I guess, in a way, hope and manifestation. I know a lot of my earliest stories always featured me having a big friend group, which never really came to be during my school years, but I still have my adult years to try and make that a reality.
I've never been a huge fantasy person, admittedly - definitely not like Zoey - but I do love the idea of the hero's journey, because it can apply to so many genres beyond just fantasy, and I love the way it was tied into Zoey's story here. Of course, it got meta whenever Derek would bring it up, but who doesn't love a story that talks about stories? Those are always the most fun.
And ugh, Derek and Zoey. I wish I had a friend like Derek growing up. He is so sweet, and I love how he and Zoey were able to help each other and bring out the best in one another. (I almost wanted them to have little crushes on each other, is that bad? Can we get a sequel where they're in high school and sweetly/awkwardly navigating their growing feelings for each other?) Everyone needs a friend like Derek in their life. Sometimes it's the quiet, dorky nerdy boys who actually make the best friends. ❤️
Apologies for spending so much of this review talking myself rather than the book itself. I always write these damn things immediately after finishing my books while the stories are fresh in my head, but before I've had the time to process all my thoughts and write them down in a more precise way. Gahhhh!!!
Anyways, I guess what I mean to say is: I loved this book. I'm sad I took it out from the library because I really wish I owned it so I could have it sitting on my bookshelf and I could go back and reread parts of it or the whole thing just like Zoey does with her Magic of Ever After books. (Which I kind of wish were a real series in itself, because the quotes from it sprinkled throughout this book really caught my attention. 👀 Spin-off series, Ms. Stewart? 👉👈) I'm so glad that kids today have these kinds of stories to read and relate to. It's the reason why I, as an adult, have crawled back to middle grade, because I'm just in awe of how different the kinds of stories being written now are from those that I grew up with as a kid. Everything is so much more diverse and honest and relatable and it just makes me so happy for the next generation of readers. They truly are so lucky to have stories like these to read.
March 24, 2025
like a 3.5. zoey was so me at 12 and so me now. perfectly sweet middle grade
January 14, 2025
Can we start by taking a moment to admire the dreamy cover art? That alone would make this book great, but fortunately, what comes between the covers is just as spectacular. This story is moving, emotional, entertaining, and has a twist that I did not see coming! The characters are so lovable that I wanted to go back in time and be friends with them all (well... almost all).
Zoey represents the fears that we all walk through life with. As she learns, it's up to us to choose how we'll write our own stories when life doesn't go our way. It's a beautiful message that I hope everyone learns. The sooner we learn it, the better, so that when life gets off-track, we have plenty of time for a rewrite.
Zoey represents the fears that we all walk through life with. As she learns, it's up to us to choose how we'll write our own stories when life doesn't go our way. It's a beautiful message that I hope everyone learns. The sooner we learn it, the better, so that when life gets off-track, we have plenty of time for a rewrite.
January 13, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy. The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner publishes on January 14, 2025.
I tried for years to get my students to read this book called All the Answers, where a magic pencil falls into the hands of an unsuspecting girl and she discovers that it can help her answer all the questions on a test. When I read it, I loved it. But before I left the world of teaching, I had unsuccessfully gotten zero students to read it. Maybe it looked intimidating to some? It wasn’t that large and I remember reading it pretty quickly. It had a fun cover which usually helps entice them. I don’t think it had anything to do with the story, like at all. I just think my students didn’t want to read. But I wonder if I could have convinced them with Zoey.
The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner is the story of a girl, Zoey, whose dad died unexpectedly in a bus accident the year before. She and her dad read a book series called The Magic of Ever After, back when Zoey was curious and courageous. But now she knows the dangers that lurk in the world - and she has the statistics for them all too. She can’t walk around. She refuses to ride her bike. And don’t even ask her to go back to school. She sticks to her mom’s cupcake shop, their attached apartment and the bookstore next door. When she has a panic attack at a book signing for the Magic of Ever After books, she leaves with a pencil instead of an autograph. She quickly realizes that the pencil, which is embossed with the words “make your own magic,” may hold some magic of its own: what she writes starts to come true. But the pencil starts to cause conflicts with her mom, her best friend Lena and her new friend Derek.
It sounds amazing, right? If I was pitching this to a student, I’d be excited and animated and I tried to sell it as best I can, because this is a book worth reading. Zoey is a complex character. She is dealing with the grief and loss of losing her dad. She is going to therapy, but doesn’t really want to be there. She doesn’t want to talk about what happened. Instead, she keeps to herself, which isn’t healthy either. She luckily has Lena, her best friend, but Lena is growing up and trying new things and making more friends. It’s like a classic middle school scenario. Friend groups change. The levels of anxiety rollercoaster each day. And when you add in grief, you become avoidant to any changes. This is Zoey to a T. And she could feel very relatable to many middle school students.
In fact, a student might find the entire friendship dilemma relatable. Which sucks. It sucks that for some students they can relate to the mistreatment of Derek (nicknamed Tuna by a classmate). What’s worse is everyone has probably encountered a friend like Ashley, who is sarcastic and mean and a total bully. But not everyone has had the guts to stand up to an Ashley (I don’t want to give anything away). We’ve all had our fair share of embarrassing moments that were elevated by that one kid who just has to make it worse.
There’s a reason I have blacked out middle school.
Realistic middle grade fiction is always chef’s kiss. I love it for the realness. I love that any student can walk into a middle grade section and find a book that covers the specific thing they are dealing with. I didn’t lack access to my school or local library while I was in middle school, but I didn’t take advantage of the books and how to handle some of the things I was dealing with. And now the books have multiplied and a reader can find themselves in a book.
If you are a parent of a middle school student, or even a teacher wondering what the hell is up with your class, read this book. It’s a good look into a lot of the things kids are dealing with these days.
I tried for years to get my students to read this book called All the Answers, where a magic pencil falls into the hands of an unsuspecting girl and she discovers that it can help her answer all the questions on a test. When I read it, I loved it. But before I left the world of teaching, I had unsuccessfully gotten zero students to read it. Maybe it looked intimidating to some? It wasn’t that large and I remember reading it pretty quickly. It had a fun cover which usually helps entice them. I don’t think it had anything to do with the story, like at all. I just think my students didn’t want to read. But I wonder if I could have convinced them with Zoey.
The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner is the story of a girl, Zoey, whose dad died unexpectedly in a bus accident the year before. She and her dad read a book series called The Magic of Ever After, back when Zoey was curious and courageous. But now she knows the dangers that lurk in the world - and she has the statistics for them all too. She can’t walk around. She refuses to ride her bike. And don’t even ask her to go back to school. She sticks to her mom’s cupcake shop, their attached apartment and the bookstore next door. When she has a panic attack at a book signing for the Magic of Ever After books, she leaves with a pencil instead of an autograph. She quickly realizes that the pencil, which is embossed with the words “make your own magic,” may hold some magic of its own: what she writes starts to come true. But the pencil starts to cause conflicts with her mom, her best friend Lena and her new friend Derek.
It sounds amazing, right? If I was pitching this to a student, I’d be excited and animated and I tried to sell it as best I can, because this is a book worth reading. Zoey is a complex character. She is dealing with the grief and loss of losing her dad. She is going to therapy, but doesn’t really want to be there. She doesn’t want to talk about what happened. Instead, she keeps to herself, which isn’t healthy either. She luckily has Lena, her best friend, but Lena is growing up and trying new things and making more friends. It’s like a classic middle school scenario. Friend groups change. The levels of anxiety rollercoaster each day. And when you add in grief, you become avoidant to any changes. This is Zoey to a T. And she could feel very relatable to many middle school students.
In fact, a student might find the entire friendship dilemma relatable. Which sucks. It sucks that for some students they can relate to the mistreatment of Derek (nicknamed Tuna by a classmate). What’s worse is everyone has probably encountered a friend like Ashley, who is sarcastic and mean and a total bully. But not everyone has had the guts to stand up to an Ashley (I don’t want to give anything away). We’ve all had our fair share of embarrassing moments that were elevated by that one kid who just has to make it worse.
There’s a reason I have blacked out middle school.
Realistic middle grade fiction is always chef’s kiss. I love it for the realness. I love that any student can walk into a middle grade section and find a book that covers the specific thing they are dealing with. I didn’t lack access to my school or local library while I was in middle school, but I didn’t take advantage of the books and how to handle some of the things I was dealing with. And now the books have multiplied and a reader can find themselves in a book.
If you are a parent of a middle school student, or even a teacher wondering what the hell is up with your class, read this book. It’s a good look into a lot of the things kids are dealing with these days.
You know what I think the first rule of magic is? Believing. And right now, I believe nothing's impossible. And I believe it you.
January 23, 2025
Kids will be swept along on a hero's journey with Zoey as she attempts to "fix" the problems in her life with a magic pencil. This story is so wonderful - I loved everything about it! It explores friendship in meaningful ways - both making new friends with unexpected people and struggles with changing long-term friendships. And it beautifully addresses anxiety disorders and OCD born from loss. I felt deeply for Zoey at every step along the way and was so thankful when she found a sense of healing, even in the knowledge that things would never quite be the same. I also thoroughly enjoyed the fantasy/magical elements and the fact that the fantasy story Zoey and her father so loved mirrors her own story in so many ways (her new friend Derek references the hero's journey to help Zoey figure out how she should shape her own story - a very fun touch!). This will definitely be a book I will recommend to readers at the bookstore I work at!!
Thank you to Edelweiss for a review copy of this book!
Thank you to Edelweiss for a review copy of this book!
October 6, 2025
After Zoey’s father dies in a bus accident, Zoey develops a fear of everything–germs, accidents, illness. Her anxiety is severe enough to keep her from school. The only things keeping her going are her favorite books, The Magic of Ever After series, and her best friend Lena. But this summer things are changing. Lena is making new friends and losing patience with Zoey’s anxiety. After a disappointment at a book signing event, Zoey receives a consolation pencil. But when she writes a story using the pencil, the events actually happen. Zoey is sure she can use the magic pencil to make her life right again, but will she just make it worse?
My heart broke a little for Zoey and her struggles, but I loved the look at anxiety with a hint of magical realism. Erin Stewart does an excellent job of portraying tweenage struggles that are difficult and relatable while conveying a sense of hope and magic. Middle grade readers will connect with both Zoey’s mistakes and successes. A great coming of age story for middle grade readers and beyond.
Recommended ages–10 and up
My heart broke a little for Zoey and her struggles, but I loved the look at anxiety with a hint of magical realism. Erin Stewart does an excellent job of portraying tweenage struggles that are difficult and relatable while conveying a sense of hope and magic. Middle grade readers will connect with both Zoey’s mistakes and successes. A great coming of age story for middle grade readers and beyond.
Recommended ages–10 and up
January 24, 2025
A great read for middle school and upper elementary readers! Middle school is always a rough transition for many students. For Zoey, it's even harder with the death of her father and her panic attacks. It's the summer before 7th grade and Zoey is trying to heal and possibly head back to school instead of being homeschooled. Zoey is still trying to work through her loss and her OCD of keeping safe from possible crashes, germs, and crowds.
I found it very authentic how Zoey dealt with her issues at home and with her best friend, Lena. Friendships always seem to change in middle school as students grow apart with new interests and maybe new friends.
This book would make a great classroom read-aloud. A must-have for all libraries to add to your Erin Stewart collections.
@ErinStewart #ForgottenMagicofZoeyTurner
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I found it very authentic how Zoey dealt with her issues at home and with her best friend, Lena. Friendships always seem to change in middle school as students grow apart with new interests and maybe new friends.
This book would make a great classroom read-aloud. A must-have for all libraries to add to your Erin Stewart collections.
@ErinStewart #ForgottenMagicofZoeyTurner
#SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #PublicLibraries #PublicLibrarians #ReadABook #Books #Read #MGReads #MGBooks #MGLit #KidLit #ElementaryBooks #ElemReads
March 9, 2025
In Erin Stewart’s THE FORGOTTEN MAGIC OF ZOEY TURNER, Zoey’s experiencing extreme anxieties after her father’s accidental death. Her world has gotten smaller, and she has retreated into the fantasy series that she enjoyed with her dad. When the author of the series makes an appearance at a local store, Zoey ventures out to the event, but misses meeting the author. Instead of an autograph, she leaves with a pencil inscribed with “make your own magic.” When she uses the pencil to write her own stories, she’s stunned to find them coming true. Will the pencil be able to help her move on and move forward?
Zoey is a complex character, dealing with grief and anxiety in addition to typical middle school friendship drama. I loved how the elements of fantasy in the series beloved by Zoey and her father were mirrored in her own stories and in her journey throughout the book. An unexpected twist helps to provide a satisfying conclusion to this sweet story.
Zoey is a complex character, dealing with grief and anxiety in addition to typical middle school friendship drama. I loved how the elements of fantasy in the series beloved by Zoey and her father were mirrored in her own stories and in her journey throughout the book. An unexpected twist helps to provide a satisfying conclusion to this sweet story.
July 26, 2025
„Magia pierdută a lui Zoey Turner” ne vorbește despre durere, despre vindecare și despre curajul de a te deschide din nou către ceilalți. Este o poveste sinceră și sensibilă, în care mulți adolescenți se pot regăsi. Dacă îți plac istorisirile reale, profunde și emoționante, dacă ai trecut prin momente grele sau pur și simplu cauți o lectură care te face să simți, cartea îți va oferi exact asta – și poate chiar un pic din magia care părea pierdută. Recomand povestea tuturor celor care iubesc ficțiunea contemporană cu substrat psihologic, personajele autentice și acțiune constantă care nu promite finaluri perfecte, dar oferă ceva și mai valoros: speranță reală.
Îndemn: citește această carte. Pentru că, uneori, magia nu dispare. Se ascunde doar, așteptând să fie regăsită.
link blog: https://vorbepentrusufletblog.wordpre...
Îndemn: citește această carte. Pentru că, uneori, magia nu dispare. Se ascunde doar, așteptând să fie regăsită.
link blog: https://vorbepentrusufletblog.wordpre...
February 17, 2025
3.5
I am really not a fan of when a character's friend befriends their bully and doesn't stand up for them. Ashley was mean to Zoey and Lena did nothing about it. I also got racist vibes from Ashley, since she was the reason Lena ever felt the need to straighten her hair.
The mom's relationship was really not acceptable. Zoey's dad had only been dead about eight or nine months before her mother was bringing around another man (who happened to be Zoey's potential principal). It is so not okay to spring a new boyfriend on your daughter who is still actively and heavily grieving the loss of her father. If she wanted to date, she should have kept it to herself where Zoey wouldn't see.
Zoey only wrote a handful of stories that were at most two pages, yet somehow she ran out of pencil. Maybe the lead was really fragile.
I am really not a fan of when a character's friend befriends their bully and doesn't stand up for them. Ashley was mean to Zoey and Lena did nothing about it. I also got racist vibes from Ashley, since she was the reason Lena ever felt the need to straighten her hair.
The mom's relationship was really not acceptable. Zoey's dad had only been dead about eight or nine months before her mother was bringing around another man (who happened to be Zoey's potential principal). It is so not okay to spring a new boyfriend on your daughter who is still actively and heavily grieving the loss of her father. If she wanted to date, she should have kept it to herself where Zoey wouldn't see.
Zoey only wrote a handful of stories that were at most two pages, yet somehow she ran out of pencil. Maybe the lead was really fragile.
September 23, 2025
Zoey Turner was homeschooled since the death of her father. That was when the anxiety and the counting started.Her best friend moved on to a group of swim team kids, and Zoey felt like she needed to go to public school again (and ride on the bus - where she had a breakdown) to keep the friendship. She was uncomfortable leaving her regular routine, but a book signing tempted her out of her safety. Zoey and her father loved the fantasy books of Raven M. Wells, and Zoey wanted her copy signed by the author. This event led her to a blue pencil with the words “make your own magic” embossed on it. Zoey decides to write her own fantasy stories and the stories start to come true. But she needs to be careful what she wishes for because a slip of the pencil can ruin everything.
In our library F STEWART.
Book with a beautiful cover.
In our library F STEWART.
Book with a beautiful cover.
January 23, 2025
Is it realistic fiction or speculative fiction? I don’t know, but I’m not going to look it up and find out! That’s how I felt reading this book. It was such a joy because I love magic and I’m trying to read more realistic fiction, so this was a perfect mix for me. Whether you’re an adult or a preteen/teen, you know someone with anxiety. I am so glad that more books are approaching the topic of anxiety in a relatable/fun to read way. The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner is full of fun characters that you will love to hate and maybe even come to feel some compassion for. I can’t wait for more excellent books by Stewart!
December 4, 2025
This was SO sweet. I have been Zoey and I have known people like Zoey. She's just trying to get a happy ending and sometimes we get in our own way.
The foreshadowing was very well done as I was able to figure out one of the big twists early on, but still missed one of the clues, haha.
My one caveat is that pencils last so much longer than that, though that's part of the suspension of disbelief here, is that this writing takes a lot. I'm sure I have pencils that have lasted me a decade. Then again, one of my truly great skills in life is the ability to lose pencils, so even though that's my most used writing implement, I'm not using just one consistently.
The foreshadowing was very well done as I was able to figure out one of the big twists early on, but still missed one of the clues, haha.
My one caveat is that pencils last so much longer than that, though that's part of the suspension of disbelief here, is that this writing takes a lot. I'm sure I have pencils that have lasted me a decade. Then again, one of my truly great skills in life is the ability to lose pencils, so even though that's my most used writing implement, I'm not using just one consistently.
December 11, 2024
Since her father died over a year ago, Zoey has struggled to leave her home, is now being homeschooled and is seeing a counselor in an effort to manage her anxiety and panic attacks. Her mom remains a constant support, a comfy chair in the bookstore next door her place of respite, best friend Lena accepts and loves all the parts of her and her favorite fantasy series gives her the perfect escape when she needs it. This summer before 7th grade brings changes that may be more than she can handle or may be just what she needs to get back to school and begin to venture out of her very small safety zone.
Erin Stewart (YA writer of THE WORDS WE KEEP) gives middle grade readers a terrific novel with a magical pencil that helps Zoey write stories that come true, the friendship drama that comes with middle school, and a message of support for those who battle anxiety. Excellent choice for grades 4-7 with no profanity, violence or sexual content and plenty of humor and warmth to keep readers turning the pages to see how Zoey’s summer ends.
Thanks for the print arc, Simon Kids.
Erin Stewart (YA writer of THE WORDS WE KEEP) gives middle grade readers a terrific novel with a magical pencil that helps Zoey write stories that come true, the friendship drama that comes with middle school, and a message of support for those who battle anxiety. Excellent choice for grades 4-7 with no profanity, violence or sexual content and plenty of humor and warmth to keep readers turning the pages to see how Zoey’s summer ends.
Thanks for the print arc, Simon Kids.
January 27, 2025
There are now a few books about "magic" pencils and this is a nice addition. Zoey has panic attacks, but manages them with the help of her friends and by creating some strict boundaries. When she receives a "magic" pencil, she can use it for good, or only to benefit herself. Zoey is also still dealing with grief due to the death of her father. Then she realizes that her mom is dating someone and it is too much. With the help of counseling, and a really perceptive bookstore owner (who is wonderful), she realizes she can learn new ways of dealing with her anxiety. Very enjoyable.
October 20, 2025
PG
I'm a huge fan of MG books that can tackle heavy topics in a light manner. This is one such magical book. I wish such books existed for me as a child because reading about a heroine who has anxiety and seeks professional help would have been very informative. This story is enchanting as it has a huge dose of empathy for all and helps readers gain perspective on things that may be misunderstood. I especially appreciate the magical elements of this story that remind even older readers like me that our youth was a time of wonder and magic.
I'm a huge fan of MG books that can tackle heavy topics in a light manner. This is one such magical book. I wish such books existed for me as a child because reading about a heroine who has anxiety and seeks professional help would have been very informative. This story is enchanting as it has a huge dose of empathy for all and helps readers gain perspective on things that may be misunderstood. I especially appreciate the magical elements of this story that remind even older readers like me that our youth was a time of wonder and magic.
February 28, 2025
This was a sweet Middle Grade book about anxiety, overcoming your fears, loss, the power of friendship, & creating your own magic. The cast of characters really added to the story, and it even had a small twist. It was not really a magical realism book like I thought it was going to be… it was more subjective and you had to decide for yourself what kind of magic exists in the world. Overall a sweet read.
January 20, 2025
Another absolute delight from Erin Stewart. The story is engaging, full of fun twists, and sprinkled with humor that keeps you smiling throughout. Turner's writing style is sharp, witty, and incredibly entertaining—she truly shines as the best in the genre. If that sounds up your alley, this book is another fun one. Would also recommend Scars Like Wings.
June 21, 2025
This middle grade novel is great for readers who like their stories realistic with a dash of magic. The characters are very real, especially the bullies, as is the anxiety and grief the main character is struggling with throughout the book. I think a lot of kids will be able to relate to situations Zoey goes through.
October 24, 2025
Zoe’s having a hard time adjusting to her new life without her father. She can’t leave the house without worrying about a panic attack, and nowhere seems safe, and she’s losing her best friend because she refuses to go to school.
Then – she risks going out of the house to meet her favorite author. She doesn’t get her signature, and instead, she’s given a pencil as a consolation prize. A pencil, she soon discovers, which has magical powers. This pencil empowers her. Suddenly, she can dream about life without her anxiety. She can feel more in control of her life. She can live again.
This is a cute coming of age story about overcoming fears, making new friends, and moving on.
I don’t love how much it involved hiding from adults and bullying, and how the real problems discussed in it, like anxiety disorders, were just magically solved. The end resolution is a bit too magical to be real when Zoe just .
There are lots of great quotes and scenes here, though. And I love how the story normalizes going to therapy. There is also lots of racial diversity here with the different characters.
Overall, positive, magical read for young readers, especially those that like reading.
Content:
Lying. Zoe dyes her hair blue without mom’s permission and lies about it. Bullying. A bully loses his towel which leads to some butt jokes. Most characters lost someone in their lives. Grief. Anxiety disorder.
Mom is said to curse.
Zoe’s told all seventh graders need to like someone. Slow love story between the mom and Zoe’s principal. They kiss.
Magic.
Then – she risks going out of the house to meet her favorite author. She doesn’t get her signature, and instead, she’s given a pencil as a consolation prize. A pencil, she soon discovers, which has magical powers. This pencil empowers her. Suddenly, she can dream about life without her anxiety. She can feel more in control of her life. She can live again.
This is a cute coming of age story about overcoming fears, making new friends, and moving on.
I don’t love how much it involved hiding from adults and bullying, and how the real problems discussed in it, like anxiety disorders, were just magically solved. The end resolution is a bit too magical to be real when Zoe just .
There are lots of great quotes and scenes here, though. And I love how the story normalizes going to therapy. There is also lots of racial diversity here with the different characters.
Overall, positive, magical read for young readers, especially those that like reading.
Content:
Lying. Zoe dyes her hair blue without mom’s permission and lies about it. Bullying. A bully loses his towel which leads to some butt jokes. Most characters lost someone in their lives. Grief. Anxiety disorder.
Mom is said to curse.
Zoe’s told all seventh graders need to like someone. Slow love story between the mom and Zoe’s principal. They kiss.
Magic.
March 7, 2025
I have abandoned this book.
March 8, 2025
Loved this story, it was one of the best I've read so far this year!
April 7, 2025
I loved this book it is definitely in my top ten of favorites!!!!!!!!🐵
July 10, 2025
Zoe figures out how to find her happily ever after, even after bad things happened to good people.
July 15, 2025
Very touching story of loss and anxiety spurred by the loss. Zoey's quest to feel safe after the sudden death of her father really resonated with me. Beautiful book.
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