The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel

The Power of Poppy Pendle

by Natasha Lowe

“Wild fantasy, sly satire, and sharply observed family dynamics are the hallmarks of this tasty, effervescent series (along with mouthwatering recipes); this volume’s the most delectable yet.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Mabel’s hijinks will appeal to readers of Roald Dahl’s Matilda and Diana Wynne Jones’s Howl’s Moving Castle ….Mabel will inspire readers with her confident creativity; a solid secondary purchase, especially where Lowe’s previous title is popular.” — School Library Journal

“This lovely celebration of quirky individualism applauds both creativity and science.” — Booklist

Penderwicks meets Edward Eager in this charming coming of age tale about a young witch found in a flowerpot who’s on a journey to discover her roots.

The morning Nora Ratcliff finds a baby in the flowerpot on her front steps her life changes forever. She had always wanted a child, but after her husband passed away, Nora never thought she would have one, but her flowerpot child was a miracle and she decided to name her Mabel. As Mabel grew up, she showed a distinct talent for magic.

When Mabel is accepted to the prestigious witch school, Ruthersfield Academy, she excels at the magic curriculum but is constantly in trouble for experimenting and inventing her own potions. One day she is asked to write a paper on her magical roots and discovers the truth about her birth after a mean classmate blurts out what everyone seems to know except Mabel. Mabel is shocked but the revelation does explain a lot. In rebellion, Mabel changes her name to Magnolia and tries to understand why she was left in the flowerpot and who her birth family might be.

Will Mabel find the answers she’s looking for—or will she discover that families are people who love each other and look after each other and that’s most important of all.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Witches, Childrens, Halloween, Fiction, Chapter Books

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 30, 2016

About the author

From here face book page (https://www.facebook.com/natashalowe....)

About:
Natasha Lowe is the author of "The Power of Poppy Pendle" and companion book "The Courage of Cat Campbell" (late 2014) -both published by Simon & Schuster.

Biography:
Natasha Lowe knew as a child that she wanted to be either a writer, an adventurer, or a fancy tea-shop owner. So she did a little bit of everything, traveling from her native London to America, where she ran the Tea House bed-and-breakfast and wowed guests with her grandmother's shortbread recipe. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and four children.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book at Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago, and my children will witness that I screamed at how adorable the cover and title are! I had to buy it and read it to them immediately, and I did. And it did not disappoint! The utterly delightful story of a baby, found in a flower pot, who goes on to be Miss Mabel: a tiny yet intrepid witch who shocks her teachers by demanding to wear trousers so that she can ride her broomstick astride, and experiments with everything from hair growing potions to wind in a bottle (for drying the washing!). This is apparently the second or third book in the series, but is also kind of a prequel, and I must read the others immediately!

[Geordie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mabel is an orphan taken in by Nora Ratcliffe, a young widow. As she grows up it is discovered that she has magic powers, though these powers are not nearly as big a problem as her uncontrollably inquisitive nature.

This was a fun read, really good for young readers. I don't think anything about the plot was exceptional, a lot of it was a little on the cliche side. But it had a good mix of personal stakes and challenges, with realistic characters and development.

I think what I loved best was the moral. This was a book with strong moral messages that did NOT make things overly simple. Mabel being an orphan had tremendous emotional impact to her, but her adopted family was a real family to her, though it took her time and effort to realize and appreciate that.

In a family book like this I don't want anything overly traumatic, but I'm disappointed by books where people can resolve major family and emotional issues in half a page. These problems are dealt with with dignity, and Mabel really grows over the book.

[Serenity · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids begged me to read this book. My five year old and six year old finished it with me over the course of one day. I loaned it to my mother (who now has only grown children) to read for her own enjoyment. Such a pleasure to read! Thank you Natasha Lowe :) This is the first book I've read of hers and was excited to learn there are more, all with equally pleasing alliterative titles!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is combination of learning to accept yourself and the family you have and not very subtle women's rights movement in a victorian fantasy setting. The story is extremely slow to develop. When I got to 3/4 of the way into the book, it really got exciting. I wish the whole book had this same excitement. I was also very frustrated during the book because the main character is bullied quite a bit by adults and children. The only resolution comes years later by sheer accident. I would have preferred that a more active approach was taken. I wouldn't want kids reading this book to think that you have to grin and bear bullying.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowza! I’m in love w/this series y’all! It’s so hard to say who is my favorite so far, it’s super close..but it may just be Mabel. I adored her. I could just see her pushing up her glasses, or taking them off & cleaning them on her clothes, in my mind so well, & she’s just the cutest, most amazing little thing. This is the last relative before Poppy that was a witch. This is her story, & what a great story it was. This is in the late 1800s, & women aren’t allowed to do many things, & many things aren’t “appropriate” for a “lady”. Mabel just doesn’t understand this, & thinks girls should be able to do many things boys do. Like wearing trousers, especially while riding a broom. Or having to ride the brooms side saddle instead of like on a bicycle. She likes to experiment & isn’t allowed to as well. She wants to do more than just spells for the “household”. She is so bright, caring, determined, & sooo talented already. She definitely is headstrong w/a mind of her own! Lol I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m not doing to say much more. But I hated Nanny & Winifred w/a PASSION! Lol Brilliantly written awful despicable characters. There’s great representation for adoption in here, & I thought it was amazingly done. Of course, women empowerment vibes, wanting to belong, never giving up on something you strongly believe in. To always believe in yourself. Also, family is not always blood, but who loves you, & is always there for you too. I highly recommend this! Another absolutely beautiful cover too!💜

[Kimberly McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millie: I liked how Mabel liked to experiment and was creative like me. She reminds me of how some people are different than us — she even had two mothers and learned to be okay with that. I also like how her friends named Ruby because I have a cousin named Ruby!

Nolan: I liked when the new baby came - when Mabel had a child and named her Magnolia!

Mom: I loved how Mabel was such a kind friend. Even when others were rude to her, she tried her best to ignore them and move on. She was so brave and curious! It got her in trouble, but for the most part she was misunderstood and was eventually appreciated for it! Such a fun read!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable and very well written. I am looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only got halfway through this book, we were reading it for school. It is a cute story and we were able to have several great ethical discussions about it, but it has slow pacing and is a book for little girls not boys.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this was adorable and pretty original (witches are commonplace and even revered in the late 1800's--they even have their own schools), it was also fairly predictable.

Mabel is an outcast--plain and clumsy and independent and stubborn--and she's full of crazy-but-also-maybe-brilliant ideas. She makes some friends at her new school and ruffles more than a few feathers. There's a contest that she and the Mean Girl Queen Bee (who is beautiful, rich, and snobby) both enter, and she wants to win more than anything.

So even though it was cute and I enjoyed it, it just kind of felt like a typical middle grade story with some history and magic thrown in.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be our favorite book in the Poppy Pendle series! We loved the activism of the period and watching Mabel grow into such an amazing character. My daughter loved the blend of science and witchcraft. On to the 4th book!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful 3rd part to the series. The really great thing about this book is that while I recommended the first 2 books in the series to my daughter, it was her who recommended this one to me.

[Lucy Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞 💞 💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞 💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️💝💝❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️🧈❣️

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shoot, I seriously can't remember if I finished this book. I just returned it to the library because I thought I had finished it, but now I can't remember anything about how it ends. So either it wasn't that memorable, I have a terrible memory, or I got halfway through and the story wasn't compelling enough for me to remember to actually finish it. 🤪

I do know that it wasn't one I was super interested in reading to my kids. An orphaned girl, mean kids, nasty nanny, lame school. I'm hoping something turned around in the end...but I don't think I ever got there. I'm half considering checking it out from the library again to look and see if I really did read the ending. I'll update my review as needed. As it stands now I'd have to give it 2.5 stars, but I do think the story would be appealing to plenty of other readers.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feel-good cozy magic foundling story, set in a magic-using Britain in the early 1900s, with a heroine (and her foster mother) with experimental turns of mind. In somewhat staid witch school, Mabel's experimenting gets her into trouble sometimes, but her favorite teachers and headmistress are long-suffering. When a magic invention competition is announced, Mabel's creativity is put to good use.
I liked the characters even though the plot was somewhat slight, but I especially liked the way the book championed experimentation and what I think of as the STEM mindset even in fantasy magic!

For fans of No Flying in the House, The Worst Witch, and similar witchcraft school stories.

[Melati · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually love how the story was written, it lighten up my heart. But the ending... kinda feels ended in a rush way? There are things that are not being explored. The writer just dropped conclusion at the end and it confuses me, like what? I think it would be great if I can read more about the story, with what will happen next after 'that' accident.

And I'm so mad with those side characters hhh, I'm so done with them. That's how our society work, we're living a systematic life, in which we need to follow social standards—and we want to rebel sometimes, so I can relate with Mabel, how she felt.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I randomly grabbed this at the library as we were looking for another book about witches and the cover looked fun. We got lucky; this is a wonderful book about a young witch in Victorian London who chafes against the rules for girls of the time. Broomsticks are ridden sidesaddle with cats on the back for balance, witch school is just to help the girls learn to be good housekeepers, and the girls can’t study science (Mabel’s dearest love). Mabel and her friends and family engage with all of this with humor and adventure and a lot of twists and turns (and relatable heartaches) get us to the satisfying, inspiring end.

[I Have No Standards When It Comes To Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever this was, I didn't expect it.

I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING. From the title, to the cover, this looks like a children's picture book. But this is so much more, I cannot contain my excitement because this book is amazing.

It isn't cringy at all. It's middle grade and it knows its place. Set in the suffragette 1900s, this story grapples with the restrictions placed upon women. AND how strict management kills children off (mentally). Main character was great and likable, and all the side characters were interesting. The antagonist sort of mirrors Mabel. Suffering from the same thing, but doing different things about it...

Genius book.
5/5 stars.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Mabel's never-give-up character after constantly being put down for her ideas. She was never a bad girl her ideas and inventions just didn't always turn out the way they should have. I adored her friend Ruby because she is the definition of a true best friend helping Mabel and being supportive of whatever she does.

I like that the author tackled the issue of what makes a family as well. It was like a nice little side plot that helped to keep me interested in the story that didn't get dragged out for too long.

[Melleny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars***


If you would like to see all my thoughts on this book, be sure to check out the review on my blog:

www.abooktropolis01.blogspot.co.za

But here is a snippet and overview of what I thought:


Overall, I really enjoyed this book. From the great setting and interesting dialogue to an enjoyable plot and a little nostalgia, this book was great. I really loved reading this. I highly recommend this for younger girls who are about eleven or so. I think that this is something that they would really enjoy. Thank you so much to Jonathan Ball Publishers for sending me a copy of this book!

[Charles Zahara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fabulous. It was a bedtime book for my daughter that I read out loud. I definitely ended up reading the last 100 pages by myself because I just couldn’t put it down.

I would say that this book is even better than the first, The Power of Poppy Pendle. Some readers took issue with the darker moral conflict presented in Poppy Pendle (I for one did not). Miss Mabel handles a few more amazing and important topics, but ones that aren’t dark in an way.

I will definitely be reading this again to my son at some point.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun middle grade level book about Mabel, an orphan found in a flowerpot and taken in by Nora, a rose-learned widow. Mabel has witch magic and attached a witch school where the majority of the novel is set. She experiments and the reader learns early on how strong willed and science-motivated Mabel is at heart. Good writing if predictable climax. Author includes recipes and craft ideas pertaining to Victorian times to concur with story’s setting.

[Taylor Yardley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun. This was a read aloud with my 7 year old and she LOVED it. I appreciated the fact that it has other books that appear part of the same series, but this is totally a stand alone book. The ending actually wraps things up and I don’t feel the need to rearrange our lives to continue to story right now.

Such a great little book about how we should never stop asking questions, encouraging yourself to do what you love, and caring for others. Plus there’s broomsticks and cats and magic.

[Lisa Stice · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter (9) and I read The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel together. I thought it was pretty great that the book visits the suffragist/feminist movent because we had some good discussions about history and where we'd like to see the future. We also appreciated the message that love is what really makes a family. This was a sweet story about positive change, making societal advances, the value of exploration and invention, and just setting the groundwork to make the future a better place.

[Brittany Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for our homeschool curriculum.
I took a star off for the slow beginning- I wanted to quit reading it once or twice. It definitely built up as the story went and the end was great. There were so many opportunities to talk about how women were expected to act and how forward-thinking ladies got us to where we are today. This was great for my ten-year-old boys too so that I could reinforce things *not* to say and think about women.

[Zazie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read! It didn't start great, however. Once I got through the first chapter or two it started getting good and I quickly fell in love with this book. I've been loving this series from book 1 and I can't wait to finish the whole set!

I think this whole series is worth the read and I hope that anyone who comes across it and wants to read it does so and enjoys every second of it.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. My 7 year old and I just read it together and we both enjoyed it. Beautiful language, emotional depths, and a great plot that pulled us along and had my little one begging for more chapters!

[Holli · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for children. Absolutely wonderful book for mothers to read to children. Perhaps a chapter every night. Love the recipes at the back. Nice morals without being heavy-handed and encourage s one to follow your dreams with the strength inside yourself. Beyond cute.

[Tara]

This was a nice story and I really enjoyed the characters and thought this was well written. Definitely one I'd read to little girls and plan to read to my boys when they can sit through a chapter book without pictures.

[MataKovac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super kniha pre malé slečny. Príbeh je ľahko a pútavo napísaný. Malá Mabel, nezbedná čarodejnica, stále experimentuje s kúzlami a prísadami. V škole spozná ozajstné priateľstvá ale aj závisť. Chystáme sa prečítať aj ďalšie dva diely a dozvedieť sa viac o Mabel :)

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lowe begins her story in 1887 Melton Bay.
Nora Ratcliffe thought her dreams of being a mother were over, until she discovers an infant in one of her flower pots.
Lowe mentions the Sufferagette movement and its connection to riding bicycles.