What do you think?
Rate this book
The Magic Touch
“Every child deserves one miracle,” is the motto of the Fairy Godmothers Union. Raymond Crandall is skeptical whether he wants to be a part of something that sounds so hokey, but his Grandma Eustatia insisted he join. To his shock, Ray discovers that the fairy godmothers use real magic to grant those wishes, but the proper use of magic and the responsibility that goes with it are not easily learned. While he studies with Mrs. Rose Feinstein, a rival force, the Demons, Djinni and Efreets Guild, is also recruiting apprentices -- from the local street gangs. Ray discovers that granting wishes to children touches something in himself that he never knew was there. The DDEG want that power for themselves and are prepared to go to terrifying lengths to get it. The Fairy Godparents are in danger. Can Ray pull off a miracle for all of them, without jeopardizing the people that he loves?
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Jody Lynn Nye
311 books288 followersJody Lynn Nye lists her main career activity as ‘spoiling cats.’ When not engaged upon this worthy occupation, she writes fantasy and science fiction books and short stories.
Before breaking away from gainful employment to write full time, Jody worked as a file clerk, book-keeper at a small publishing house, freelance journalist and photographer, accounting assistant and costume maker.
For four years, she was on the technical operations staff of a local Chicago television station, WFBN (WGBO), serving the last year as Technical Operations Manager. During her time at WFBN, she was part of the engineering team that built the station, acted as Technical Director during live sports broadcasts, and worked to produce in-house spots and public service announcements.
Over the last twenty-five or so years, Jody has taught in numerous writing workshops and participated on hundreds of panels covering the subjects of writing and being published at science-fiction conventions. She has also spoken in schools and libraries around the north and northwest suburbs. In 2007 she taught fantasy writing at Columbia College Chicago. She also runs the two-day writers workshop at DragonCon, and is a judge for the Writers of the Future contest, the largest speculative fiction contest in the world.
Jody lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, with her husband Bill Fawcett, a writer, game designer, military historian and book packager, and three feline overlords, Athena, Minx, and Marmalade.
Before breaking away from gainful employment to write full time, Jody worked as a file clerk, book-keeper at a small publishing house, freelance journalist and photographer, accounting assistant and costume maker.
For four years, she was on the technical operations staff of a local Chicago television station, WFBN (WGBO), serving the last year as Technical Operations Manager. During her time at WFBN, she was part of the engineering team that built the station, acted as Technical Director during live sports broadcasts, and worked to produce in-house spots and public service announcements.
Over the last twenty-five or so years, Jody has taught in numerous writing workshops and participated on hundreds of panels covering the subjects of writing and being published at science-fiction conventions. She has also spoken in schools and libraries around the north and northwest suburbs. In 2007 she taught fantasy writing at Columbia College Chicago. She also runs the two-day writers workshop at DragonCon, and is a judge for the Writers of the Future contest, the largest speculative fiction contest in the world.
Jody lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, with her husband Bill Fawcett, a writer, game designer, military historian and book packager, and three feline overlords, Athena, Minx, and Marmalade.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 7, 2017
I love the whole idea that there are real fairy godmothers out there to rescue us....once. This is a delightful read, full of fun, with humor on nearly every page.
November 10, 2009
When Ray's grandmother sends him to join the charity group FGU, he discovers that it's actually the magical Fairy Godmother's Union. Now he will have the opportunity to act as a fairy godfather to the needy children in his city.
I have some really fond memories of this book from middle school, and even spent a lot of time tracking down a copy. It holds up fairly well, although the attempts to be hip and urban definitely feel off now. I was surprised how much Ray actually annoyed me now--he gets into these weird whiny piques, and I just wanted to slap him and tell him to grow up. However, he does have his moments, and the rest of the book is just as charming as ever, even if it's a little dated.
I have some really fond memories of this book from middle school, and even spent a lot of time tracking down a copy. It holds up fairly well, although the attempts to be hip and urban definitely feel off now. I was surprised how much Ray actually annoyed me now--he gets into these weird whiny piques, and I just wanted to slap him and tell him to grow up. However, he does have his moments, and the rest of the book is just as charming as ever, even if it's a little dated.
May 18, 2016
This book was a favorite of mine, growing up. I checked it out from the library on a regular basis.
The main characters grandma is a fairy godmother and he becomes a fairy godmother too. They go around granting children's one wish that will change their lives. And there are brownie points involved somehow.
But there is a crazy djinn gang in town and the main characters friend is involved and they are trying to capture the fairy godmothers or their powers or something like that.
I don't know, it's been a while since I read it.
I just remember it as a super fun book that I loved when I was a kid. I'll have to read it again to see how it has held up over the years.
The main characters grandma is a fairy godmother and he becomes a fairy godmother too. They go around granting children's one wish that will change their lives. And there are brownie points involved somehow.
But there is a crazy djinn gang in town and the main characters friend is involved and they are trying to capture the fairy godmothers or their powers or something like that.
I don't know, it's been a while since I read it.
I just remember it as a super fun book that I loved when I was a kid. I'll have to read it again to see how it has held up over the years.
June 19, 2015
This one was great fun. fairy god mothers as part of a union, djins all working to subvert magic for their own purposes. And, with the wit Jody Lynn Nye always brings to her stories, this one is great fun. If you need a distraction, with a whole lot of laughs, then this book is definitely what you're looking for.
December 1, 2011
A very good book. A little outdated now, but I could still understand it. I really enjoyed this book. I loved Ray (except when he sulked about not getting to go fairy-godparenting with Rose).
September 29, 2013
A really interesting and funny take on the fairy godparent fantasy role.
It was one of my favorite books growing up.
It was one of my favorite books growing up.
March 4, 2015
This is early Jody Nye (1996) and I felt it was not as well done as some of her other books. Light reading, Teen or better to say Juvenile literature.
February 17, 2016
A fun read. Read my full review at: http://www.thomstratton.com/2015/05/b...
January 9, 2017
Fairly nice read,.
July 8, 2017
to-read
April 9, 2017
What If? I just love stories whose premise is a What If? Don't you? What if magic were real and there really ARE fairy godmothers (& fairy godfathers), tooth fairies, guardian angels, etc. And what if some of these worthies turned out to be some of your friends & neighbors?
Jody Lynn Nye first published The Magic Touch in 1996. I read it recently but I read it on my Kindle, the May 2015 eBook version.
Our protagonist is 18-yr.-old Raymond Crandall. His grandmother asks him to attend a meeting of the Fairy Godmothers Union, Local 26-3. He is surprised to discover himself a natural at being a fairy godfather and is learning much as more experienced fairy godmother Rose's apprentice.
Ray's grandmother sent him to the Fairy Godmothers Union meeting to try to keep him out of the local gangs. Ray's best friend Hakeem, however, is not so lucky and shortly finds himself a gang member (an offer he could not refuse, of course). Gang members, in turn, find themselves swept up into the Demons, Djinni, and Efreets Guild. Unfortunately, the DDE (or at least the local DDE chapter) does NOT have their best interests at heart.
DDE is currently in negotiations to merge with the FGU (Fairy Godmothers Union). [Can we say "bad idea"?]
I heartily recommend this book to anyone who has ever wished that they had HAD a fairy godmother and especially to those who might have wished to BE that fairy godmother!! Can't wait for the next book!
Jody Lynn Nye first published The Magic Touch in 1996. I read it recently but I read it on my Kindle, the May 2015 eBook version.
Our protagonist is 18-yr.-old Raymond Crandall. His grandmother asks him to attend a meeting of the Fairy Godmothers Union, Local 26-3. He is surprised to discover himself a natural at being a fairy godfather and is learning much as more experienced fairy godmother Rose's apprentice.
Ray's grandmother sent him to the Fairy Godmothers Union meeting to try to keep him out of the local gangs. Ray's best friend Hakeem, however, is not so lucky and shortly finds himself a gang member (an offer he could not refuse, of course). Gang members, in turn, find themselves swept up into the Demons, Djinni, and Efreets Guild. Unfortunately, the DDE (or at least the local DDE chapter) does NOT have their best interests at heart.
DDE is currently in negotiations to merge with the FGU (Fairy Godmothers Union). [Can we say "bad idea"?]
I heartily recommend this book to anyone who has ever wished that they had HAD a fairy godmother and especially to those who might have wished to BE that fairy godmother!! Can't wait for the next book!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews