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A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic
Lisa Papademetriou’s magical, page-turning tale for readers of all ages is now in paperback! This heartfelt, vividly told multicultural story about fate shows readers the power of destiny, and the invisible threads that link us all, ultimately, to one another. Kai and Leila are both finally having an adventure. For Leila, that means a globe-crossing journey to visit family for the summer in Pakistan; for Kai, it means being stuck with her crazy great-aunt in Texas while her mom looks for a job. In each of their bedrooms, they discover a copy of a blank, old book called The Exquisite Corpse. Kai writes three words on the first page—and suddenly, they magically appear in Leila’s copy on the other side of the planet. Kai’s words are soon followed by line after line of the long-ago, romantic tale of Ralph T. Flabbergast and his forever-love, Edwina Pickle. As the two take turns writing, the tale unfolds, connecting both girls to each other, and to the past, in a way they never could have imagined.
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2015
40 people are currently reading
2256 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Papademetriou
92 books428 followersBestselling author Lisa Papademetriou is the author of the 'Confectionately Yours' series, 'Middle School: Big, Fat Liar' and 'Homeroom Diaries' (both with James Patterson), and many other novels for middle grade and young adult readers. Her books have appeared on the Bank Street Best Books of the Year list, the NYPL Books for the Teen Age, and the Texas Lone Star Reading List, among others. A former editor, Lisa has worked for Scholastic, HarperCollins, and DisneyPress, and holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. HarperCollins will publish her next novel, 'A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic', in October 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
September 29, 2015
“I have heard of a Chinese legend that the gods use a red thread to connect lovers who are destined for each other. I imagine all of us as points that exist in space and time, with red threads that unite us to our important people, places, events and even things. These threads cross and intersect. They tangle. They are a huge web that circles the world."
Kai and Leila are spending their summers away from home. Kai is in Texas with her eccentric great aunt, while Leila is continents and oceans away in Lahore, Pakistan with her uncle and his family. So what connects Kai and Leila? I am glad you asked, The Exquisite Corpse, a book based on the game of the same name. A copy appears in each of the girls' bedroom, and reveal the seemingly tragic love story of one Ralph Flabbergast and Edwina Pickle. As the summer progresses, The Exquisite Corpse uncover more of Ralph and Edwina, and red threads that link Kai and Leila.
A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic is a very charming, multiculturally rich book about interconnectedness, I'm sure you've surmised that by now with the quote above, but before this book actually got to interconnectedness, it went through displacement first. These are after all about two girls spending their summers away from home for the first time. Kai gets a degree of freedom to spend her time however she wants for the first time in her life and finds that that much freedom frightens her; and half-Pakistani and half-American, Leila is feeling the identity crisis of being a child of two nations. Yeah, I know it sounds somewhat sad when I say it like that, but the author actually illustrated this lightly and humorously, especially with Leila's chapters. For example.
“Leila's father was from Pakistan, and she knew one thing for sure about the culture --- if someone though you wanted something, be it a pancake or a bar of gold --- they would insist that you take it from them. They would insist forever. Pakistani hospitality is an irresistible force and an immovable object rolled into one."
I can say the same about the Filipino culture, especially when it comes to food.
Papademetriou cunningly, yet lightheartedly, unveils the connections between the Kai and Leila through the story that slowly unfolds in the pages of The Exquisite Corpse, that by the end of the book, everything's all neat and connected like a Mandala tattoo.
Although this is geared towards middle graders as our main characters are in their pre-teens, it is still quite a fun read for everyone who enjoys magic realism and fish-out-of-water comedy.
August 11, 2015
A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic weaves together the stories of Kai and Leila, strangers who are outcasts in their own lives. Kai is visiting her eccentric great-aunt in Texas, while Leila is staying with relatives in Pakistan, when both girls discover identical copies of a magical book. The book seems blank, but as the summer progresses, an unseen hand adds lines to the tale a little at a time, revealing a story that will pull Kai and Leila together in ways they never could have imagined.
This is a wonderful example of magical realism. The magic itself is enchanting, and the writing is so gorgeous in places that I found myself highlighting many descriptions as I read so I could go back and enjoy them again later. Leila and Kai are both wonderful protagonists, real and vulnerable and strong in ways they never could have imagined. I found Leila's life in Pakistan particularly entrancing, since it brought that area to life for me in a way no story has done before. And, finally, without giving any spoilers, I will say that I completely adored the ending; I think I would read the entire book all over again just to repeat the sweet, magical feel evoked by the last chapters.
This is a wonderful example of magical realism. The magic itself is enchanting, and the writing is so gorgeous in places that I found myself highlighting many descriptions as I read so I could go back and enjoy them again later. Leila and Kai are both wonderful protagonists, real and vulnerable and strong in ways they never could have imagined. I found Leila's life in Pakistan particularly entrancing, since it brought that area to life for me in a way no story has done before. And, finally, without giving any spoilers, I will say that I completely adored the ending; I think I would read the entire book all over again just to repeat the sweet, magical feel evoked by the last chapters.
July 27, 2020
2020: Some of the magic was missing with the re-read this time but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. Quick light read!
2019: This is a charmingly magical book and a pleasure to read. The characters were fantastic- Doodle, Kai, Leila, Lavinia..... I loved them all. I especially loved Ralph Flabbergast and Edwina Pickle.
The lepidoptery was just cool. I love a book that introduces me to something new and I learned a lot about moths and so much about Pakistani culture.
I’m new to magical realism and so it was super fun to discover this book. I liked the magical elements and that they (and so much of the story) were unexplained. Ends weren’t completely tied up and that left it feeling more magical, and full of possibility.
This is one I’d love to own and read with my kids. Highly recommend.
2019: This is a charmingly magical book and a pleasure to read. The characters were fantastic- Doodle, Kai, Leila, Lavinia..... I loved them all. I especially loved Ralph Flabbergast and Edwina Pickle.
The lepidoptery was just cool. I love a book that introduces me to something new and I learned a lot about moths and so much about Pakistani culture.
I’m new to magical realism and so it was super fun to discover this book. I liked the magical elements and that they (and so much of the story) were unexplained. Ends weren’t completely tied up and that left it feeling more magical, and full of possibility.
This is one I’d love to own and read with my kids. Highly recommend.
July 6, 2015
“I have heard of a Chinese legend that the gods use a red thread to connect lovers who are destined for each other. I imagine all of us as points that exist in space and time, with red threads that unite us to our important people, places, events and even things. These threads cross and intersect. They tangle. They are a huge web that circles the world.
Stories are the way we reveal these threads. This happened, and because of that, this. This is the way human beings understand ourselves and how we have come to be who we are, narratives show us what is important in our lives. Stories make the magic of fate visible.” p. 10
Like Papademetriou, I have heard of the Chinese legend about the red thread. One of my favorite musicians, Lucy Kaplansky, has an album titled The Red Thread. I love the title song. When I chose this book to read, I had no idea that the author was going to write about the connections of story. I just thought it would be interesting to read a children’s tale about a magic book.
I am not sure that the average child reads the author’s notes when they pick up a book. Even if they don’t get caught up in Papademetriou’s note about her own magic book, I am sure they are going to be glad they met Kai and Leila. This is an amusing story and the author tells it well. As an adult reader, I could tell where we were going, but I enjoyed every moment.
Now that I am finished, the author’s note is the best part of the book. I like Papademetriou’s theory about stories revealing our connections. I believe that to be true. Once we know each other’s life story, I think we are linked together for all time.
If you know a child who likes books, magic and reading about friendship, please consider sharing this novel with her.
Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for allowing me early access to this fun tale.
Stories are the way we reveal these threads. This happened, and because of that, this. This is the way human beings understand ourselves and how we have come to be who we are, narratives show us what is important in our lives. Stories make the magic of fate visible.” p. 10
Like Papademetriou, I have heard of the Chinese legend about the red thread. One of my favorite musicians, Lucy Kaplansky, has an album titled The Red Thread. I love the title song. When I chose this book to read, I had no idea that the author was going to write about the connections of story. I just thought it would be interesting to read a children’s tale about a magic book.
I am not sure that the average child reads the author’s notes when they pick up a book. Even if they don’t get caught up in Papademetriou’s note about her own magic book, I am sure they are going to be glad they met Kai and Leila. This is an amusing story and the author tells it well. As an adult reader, I could tell where we were going, but I enjoyed every moment.
Now that I am finished, the author’s note is the best part of the book. I like Papademetriou’s theory about stories revealing our connections. I believe that to be true. Once we know each other’s life story, I think we are linked together for all time.
If you know a child who likes books, magic and reading about friendship, please consider sharing this novel with her.
Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for allowing me early access to this fun tale.
October 13, 2015
Everything about this book from the title, to the characters to the story is in a word: perfect! Two girls, each of whom do not fit in their own settings, find themselves spending the summer somewhere entirely new and unknown to them. They are not in the same place, they do not know one another, they have never met. But a magical book connects them in ways they do not initially understand and as the story unfolds, so too does the story within the magical book. Readers will find all three of these stories fascinating as each has something to offer and all combine to create a final ending that is wonderfully developed. The book is ideal for middle grade readers but whimsical enough for young adults and their elders as well. This is one of those stories that really entertains any aged reader and is just a real treat. I received my copy from the publisher through edelweiss.
June 12, 2015
Have you ever played that game where you write one paragraph of a story, fold back all but the last sentence of your work, then pass it along for someone else to continue writing the story?Sounds fun, doesn't it? Now, what if the person writing the other part of the story was a complete stranger on the other side of the world? And what if you were writing the story in a highly unusual magical book that often inserted it's own story into the game?
This is the magic that author Lisa Papademetriou creates in her vividly beautiful, "A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic."
Readers join two girls (Lelia and Kai) on the summer journey of a lifetime. While this magical book quickly ties Leila and Kai's stories together, Papademetriou crosses the threads of their lives in new, unexpected ways. Read as both girls cope with growing apart from old friends and learn how to make new--and perhaps even better--best friends.
This is the magic that author Lisa Papademetriou creates in her vividly beautiful, "A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic."
Readers join two girls (Lelia and Kai) on the summer journey of a lifetime. While this magical book quickly ties Leila and Kai's stories together, Papademetriou crosses the threads of their lives in new, unexpected ways. Read as both girls cope with growing apart from old friends and learn how to make new--and perhaps even better--best friends.
December 14, 2016
I read this while sitting at a highly unsuccessful "family involvement night" for an elementary school, in a less than idea location, complete with a loudspeaker nearby blaring music, and it kept my attention.
That said, I found it uneven. Each of the girls' stories was well done--nice details in Leila's culture shock adventure with relatives in Pakistan, nicely eccentric setting and people in Kai's story--but the two seemed out of two different books, Leila's a more convention story, Kai's more geared toward the so called "magical realism" genre. I don't think they meshed well. The connections to the story within the story seemed a bit labored, and the perfect ending--complete with the clear foreshadowing that the girls will meet and become best friends--is pretty pat.
Entertaining enough to keep me going for a bad hour. But nowhere as good as I'd hoped it would be.
That said, I found it uneven. Each of the girls' stories was well done--nice details in Leila's culture shock adventure with relatives in Pakistan, nicely eccentric setting and people in Kai's story--but the two seemed out of two different books, Leila's a more convention story, Kai's more geared toward the so called "magical realism" genre. I don't think they meshed well. The connections to the story within the story seemed a bit labored, and the perfect ending--complete with the clear foreshadowing that the girls will meet and become best friends--is pretty pat.
Entertaining enough to keep me going for a bad hour. But nowhere as good as I'd hoped it would be.
August 25, 2015
After reading the Author's Note I was predisposed to loving this book! Life is the rood of magic and noticing how things unfold with magical assistance. This story goes back and forth between two different girls visiting distant family. Kai and Leila both are drawn to a unique, magical book called the Exquisite Corpse. The book weaves a story between the girls who become involved, entangled and ultimately essential to creating a happy ending. A delightful read!
February 1, 2018
Oh so perfect.
I picked up this book, in the adult section of our library, where it had been misplaced, and read it in an afternoon. It didn't fall off the shelf in front of me, but it is much the same feeling. Thank you 'gods-of-putting-books-in-my-path' :-). I will read it again, and probably seek out a copy of my own.
If you loved this, you will probably love The Shop at Hoopers Bend by Emily Rodda.
I picked up this book, in the adult section of our library, where it had been misplaced, and read it in an afternoon. It didn't fall off the shelf in front of me, but it is much the same feeling. Thank you 'gods-of-putting-books-in-my-path' :-). I will read it again, and probably seek out a copy of my own.
If you loved this, you will probably love The Shop at Hoopers Bend by Emily Rodda.
April 2, 2017
"It was the thing that settled into a space inside you, and made you happy whenever you thought about it."
"...she didn't always need to understand what was happening in order to keep moving forward."
These two quotes pretty much sum up this magical book of twists and turns. It is a story of two young girls whose worlds are connected by two mysterious books. It is the story of friendship....of new ones being made and of letting go of old ones. It is a story of possibilities. It is a story of, well, magic.
Are you curious yet?
Good. Read the book. Then let the magic sink in.
"...she didn't always need to understand what was happening in order to keep moving forward."
These two quotes pretty much sum up this magical book of twists and turns. It is a story of two young girls whose worlds are connected by two mysterious books. It is the story of friendship....of new ones being made and of letting go of old ones. It is a story of possibilities. It is a story of, well, magic.
Are you curious yet?
Good. Read the book. Then let the magic sink in.
April 19, 2017
Este é um livro bem divertido, até certo ponto, para passar a tarde e tudo mais, porém, não se passa disso, não tem aprofundamento e nem background dos personagens, a trama é um pouco confusa e não tem nada de inovador, 2 estrelas está de bom tamanho.
April 4, 2017
This book felt like an old-time folk tale with a touch of magic. I loved the way the different families, settings, and personalities were woven together.
December 28, 2015
So, this was a tough one to rate. We all know that I'm a sucker for magical realism, and that nine times out of ten I end up loving books that fall into this category madly and deeply. A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic was, well, unusual. While the magic and mystery were definitely there, it felt bogged down by the way that it was told. So much promise, but the way it played out didn't quite hit the mark.
Let's start with the good. First of all, Leila's character is more than enough reason to read this story. Leila is a girl between worlds. Not at home in the U.S., where her Pakistani roots make her stand out. Not at home in Pakistan, where her upbringing keeps her from fitting in. Although I never had it quite as bad as Leila, I still saw myself in her. Growing up I always felt like I never quite fit in with my extended family, because of the way I was raised. I know there are other kids out there like that too, and they'll instantly take a liking to Leila and her battle to find where she fits in.
In fact, the settings that this book take place in are the other part of this that I loved. Leila spends the story in Pakistan, and Kai spends it in Texas. Watching these two go through such similar problems, in such different locales, was interesting. Lisa Papademetriou hits the trials of growing older right on the head. The bullies. The friends. The family interactions. As separate characters, these two were adorable.
So why the three stars? As I mentioned above, it was really the way that the story was told. The magical book that tied these two together, and the mystery that surrounded it all, felt off. It almost felt too surreal to really fit in with everything else that was going on. Plus, there were never any really tight resolutions. I kept wanting to see something good happen to our girls, but it never did. While this is a pretty solid coming of age story, it lacked the pieces to make it feel like it was really steeped in magic.
Let's start with the good. First of all, Leila's character is more than enough reason to read this story. Leila is a girl between worlds. Not at home in the U.S., where her Pakistani roots make her stand out. Not at home in Pakistan, where her upbringing keeps her from fitting in. Although I never had it quite as bad as Leila, I still saw myself in her. Growing up I always felt like I never quite fit in with my extended family, because of the way I was raised. I know there are other kids out there like that too, and they'll instantly take a liking to Leila and her battle to find where she fits in.
In fact, the settings that this book take place in are the other part of this that I loved. Leila spends the story in Pakistan, and Kai spends it in Texas. Watching these two go through such similar problems, in such different locales, was interesting. Lisa Papademetriou hits the trials of growing older right on the head. The bullies. The friends. The family interactions. As separate characters, these two were adorable.
So why the three stars? As I mentioned above, it was really the way that the story was told. The magical book that tied these two together, and the mystery that surrounded it all, felt off. It almost felt too surreal to really fit in with everything else that was going on. Plus, there were never any really tight resolutions. I kept wanting to see something good happen to our girls, but it never did. While this is a pretty solid coming of age story, it lacked the pieces to make it feel like it was really steeped in magic.
October 30, 2016
Synopsis- Kai doesn’t know what to expect when she is staying with her great-aunt in Texas for a while. Her great-aunt is a poet, listens to rap, and wears red tennis shoes. When Kai is looking around the house, she discovers a book that is blank except for one page, called The Exquisite Corpse. On an impulse, she writes a sentence into the book. Strangely, the next time she opens it, the book has more paragraphs written!
On the other side of the world, in Pakistan, Leila is visiting her father’s family. She is walking through the family library and finds a strange book with only one full page, and a handwritten sentence. It is called The Exquisite Corpse. She ends up writing another sentence after the paragraphs ended.
And so the adventure begins connecting two different worlds.
What I Thought- This was a fun book. I really enjoyed reading about how the two girls and how they interacted without realizing it. It was neat seeing how the stories connected to each other as the book unfolded. The characters are realistic, and Ms. Papademetriou does a great job at making it so that it is a believable story. Kai and Leila are both out of their comfort zones – Leila is in a mostly Muslim country with more strict expectations but she was raised in a more liberal environment. Kai’s single mother is slightly protective of her, and Kai’s great-aunt lets her run around the small town after dark. It is a culture shock to both of them and you can see as they both get accustomed to their surroundings a little, and they find out more about themselves in the process. I found it funny that by the end of the book, it turns out that Leila and Kai live in the same city (but the book doesn’t say if they meet) – Awesome ending!!!
*NOTE* I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
On the other side of the world, in Pakistan, Leila is visiting her father’s family. She is walking through the family library and finds a strange book with only one full page, and a handwritten sentence. It is called The Exquisite Corpse. She ends up writing another sentence after the paragraphs ended.
And so the adventure begins connecting two different worlds.
What I Thought- This was a fun book. I really enjoyed reading about how the two girls and how they interacted without realizing it. It was neat seeing how the stories connected to each other as the book unfolded. The characters are realistic, and Ms. Papademetriou does a great job at making it so that it is a believable story. Kai and Leila are both out of their comfort zones – Leila is in a mostly Muslim country with more strict expectations but she was raised in a more liberal environment. Kai’s single mother is slightly protective of her, and Kai’s great-aunt lets her run around the small town after dark. It is a culture shock to both of them and you can see as they both get accustomed to their surroundings a little, and they find out more about themselves in the process. I found it funny that by the end of the book, it turns out that Leila and Kai live in the same city (but the book doesn’t say if they meet) – Awesome ending!!!
*NOTE* I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
October 6, 2015
Sometimes books about magic work with little effort. Other times, clearly a lot of effort for broad appeal end up coming across almost like checkmark writing, and the result is a mangled mess. Unfortunately, A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic falls significantly into the latter camp.
The story tells two tales linked together by a magical book that writes in its twin across the planet as one friend, stuck in Texas, communicates with the other traveling to visit family in Pakistan. The story told in the book is one of almost a history/mystery tale about the existence of the book and its impact on the families.
It's just kind of weird. The main stories aren't compelling and the mystery kind of is, but we have to slog through a lot to get there. None of the resolutions feel great, and this ultimately ends up feeling like a story told by committee rather than a truly cohesive tale. This book struggled to hook me in from the start and never quite got rolling for me, so I think it's a pretty solid pass from me.
The story tells two tales linked together by a magical book that writes in its twin across the planet as one friend, stuck in Texas, communicates with the other traveling to visit family in Pakistan. The story told in the book is one of almost a history/mystery tale about the existence of the book and its impact on the families.
It's just kind of weird. The main stories aren't compelling and the mystery kind of is, but we have to slog through a lot to get there. None of the resolutions feel great, and this ultimately ends up feeling like a story told by committee rather than a truly cohesive tale. This book struggled to hook me in from the start and never quite got rolling for me, so I think it's a pretty solid pass from me.
May 27, 2016
Call me a terrible person, but....
Snore.
However, if you need a book to pretend to read for days and nights on end, A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic might do. It has a pretty cool cover design, an interesting title, and not enough (or perhaps too much? hard to say...) content to pique your interest. There are so many characters (some with multiple names to keep straight!), and several (not just one or two!) parallel stories, which ended up making me feel a little dizzy. (For example, at certain places in the story, the "book" at the center of the main {?} plot begins speaking in first person -- but then it never really develops as a character, and in the end, it/he/she {?} never reappears.) I kept thinking, Read on! Soon, I am sure, it will all become clear -- it must! And then? Fizzle. A dud, like a 3,000-shot firework that never lights correctly, even when you take a propane torch to the whole thing. You're left with a pile of ash and broken dreams.
Too dramatic? Perhaps. But it makes more sense than this book.
Snore.
However, if you need a book to pretend to read for days and nights on end, A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic might do. It has a pretty cool cover design, an interesting title, and not enough (or perhaps too much? hard to say...) content to pique your interest. There are so many characters (some with multiple names to keep straight!), and several (not just one or two!) parallel stories, which ended up making me feel a little dizzy. (For example, at certain places in the story, the "book" at the center of the main {?} plot begins speaking in first person -- but then it never really develops as a character, and in the end, it/he/she {?} never reappears.) I kept thinking, Read on! Soon, I am sure, it will all become clear -- it must! And then? Fizzle. A dud, like a 3,000-shot firework that never lights correctly, even when you take a propane torch to the whole thing. You're left with a pile of ash and broken dreams.
Too dramatic? Perhaps. But it makes more sense than this book.
February 14, 2018
For a book about magic, featuring a girl who admittedly knows very little about Islam, a surprising number of tidbits sneak through and work to introduce Islam and Pakistani culture to those unfamiliar, while similarly exciting Muslims readers who can see a major climax point a mile away and get to feel "in" on the unavoidable "aha" moment. Written on a 4.9 level this 297 page book, is clean and engaging, a rare combination, especially for advanced readers who are having a hard time finding books that are content appropriate. I'm fairly confident that anyone, of any age, who reads this will learn something, whether it be about lepidopterology, violins, occupation and partition of the subcontinent, Rudyard Kipling, caskets, friendship, Islam, and finding a place to belong.
SYNOPSIS:
There are three main storylines in the book, Leila's, Kai's and The Exquisite Corpses'. Leila is a Pakistani-American girl growing up in America who decides to visit her Pakistani dad's family in Lahore for the summer. Unfamiliar with the language and customs, she has a good attitude of learning as much as she can, and absorbing new things. Her dad's family speaks English, is not very religious, is wealthy, and pretty modern. They have servants, and drivers, and while she gets to go to museums and landmarks, the lifestyle is partially simplified for reader understanding, and partially to not take away from the real point of the story: Leila moving out of her sister's shadow, and finding comfort in her own multi-cultural skin.
Kai is spending her summer with a great paternal Aunt in Texas that she has never met. Her father passed away and her mom has recently lost her job, so a change of scene is what she is presented with. Her Aunt is a character in and of herself, but by and large leaves Kai to her own devices and supports her adventures from a distance. The real story for Kai is a budding friendship with the neighbor girl, Doodle who is determined to find and save a rare moth no longer found in the area. Nervous to make friends Kai learns sometimes the value of things isn't in the winning, or being the best, but in doing something because you enjoy it and it is the right thing to do.
The two girls story is tied together by them finding two parts of a magic book, The Exquisite Corpse. The old book tells the story of Ralph T. Flabbergast and Edwina Pickle, in bits prompted by the girls' own writings. Like the game of writing a few sentences, folding over the page and having the next person add to the story, the book connects the girls and the readers in a tale that is as much about the two long ago sweethearts, as it is about families, overcoming obstacles, and believing in happy endings.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I like that it is told from various voices, and as much as the story is plot driven, I truly felt connected to the main characters. The only magic is the book, so the realism is very critical to gaining the readers interest and thankfully once you read about 70 pages or so I feel like the book does suck you in and take you for a fun ride. The first few chapters are a bit confusing and I wasn't sure where the story was going, Finally, at my 11-year-old daughter's prompting I had to just barrel through without asking and wondering too much. You don't find out about Kai's mom and dad or how Rudyard Kipling and "Kim" tie in to it all, almost until the end. I like that the author doesn't talk down to the reader, and as a result I learned a bit about so many things. The twists and interweaving of stories and characters, and things as random as moths and music and saurkraut, remind me of well written adult novels that often aren't found in books for fourth graders.
Their isn't much religion in a doctrine or even practicing sense, but through culture some is learned and shared, and I like that it isn't completely washed out or removed. The main character's father says that he wasn't religious in Pakistan so when he came to America he wasn't about to start. Leila mentions that her mom wants him to take the girls to the mosque or to see Eid, but again, they don't, but do celebrate Christmas. So, when she is in Pakistan and sees masjids, and fakirs, and people feeding birds as a sadaqa it is a nice inclusion. Especially because the vocabulary is used and explained. She mentions that her extended family goes for Jummah, yet doesn't pray five times a day, she also touches on Ramadan as being a time of fasting but doesn't know that there are two Eids. As she learns, the reader does too. It definitely isn't how any practicing Muslim would want Islam portrayed, but it isn't disrespectful and it is realistic. Again, because the author doesn't seem to talk down through her characters, there doesn't seem much judgement and thus, hopefully also shows most readers some diveresity to the Pakistani stereotypes in the media.
FLAGS:
None, the book is clean, the love story between Ralph and Edwina, is just that they love each other. Nothing more than a sweet sentiment.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I would definitely use this book as a Book Club selection because I think there is so much to connect to and discuss. It would be fun to do as an interfaith book club with kids for the same reason. While the main characters are girls, I think boys would enjoy it as well, there is some spying, sleuthing, action, and a whole goat debacle, that I think would be a blast to explore with students.
I don't see any online reading guides, but there is so much to discuss it won't be a problem. Enjoy!
www.islamicschoollibrarian.wordpress.com
SYNOPSIS:
There are three main storylines in the book, Leila's, Kai's and The Exquisite Corpses'. Leila is a Pakistani-American girl growing up in America who decides to visit her Pakistani dad's family in Lahore for the summer. Unfamiliar with the language and customs, she has a good attitude of learning as much as she can, and absorbing new things. Her dad's family speaks English, is not very religious, is wealthy, and pretty modern. They have servants, and drivers, and while she gets to go to museums and landmarks, the lifestyle is partially simplified for reader understanding, and partially to not take away from the real point of the story: Leila moving out of her sister's shadow, and finding comfort in her own multi-cultural skin.
Kai is spending her summer with a great paternal Aunt in Texas that she has never met. Her father passed away and her mom has recently lost her job, so a change of scene is what she is presented with. Her Aunt is a character in and of herself, but by and large leaves Kai to her own devices and supports her adventures from a distance. The real story for Kai is a budding friendship with the neighbor girl, Doodle who is determined to find and save a rare moth no longer found in the area. Nervous to make friends Kai learns sometimes the value of things isn't in the winning, or being the best, but in doing something because you enjoy it and it is the right thing to do.
The two girls story is tied together by them finding two parts of a magic book, The Exquisite Corpse. The old book tells the story of Ralph T. Flabbergast and Edwina Pickle, in bits prompted by the girls' own writings. Like the game of writing a few sentences, folding over the page and having the next person add to the story, the book connects the girls and the readers in a tale that is as much about the two long ago sweethearts, as it is about families, overcoming obstacles, and believing in happy endings.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I like that it is told from various voices, and as much as the story is plot driven, I truly felt connected to the main characters. The only magic is the book, so the realism is very critical to gaining the readers interest and thankfully once you read about 70 pages or so I feel like the book does suck you in and take you for a fun ride. The first few chapters are a bit confusing and I wasn't sure where the story was going, Finally, at my 11-year-old daughter's prompting I had to just barrel through without asking and wondering too much. You don't find out about Kai's mom and dad or how Rudyard Kipling and "Kim" tie in to it all, almost until the end. I like that the author doesn't talk down to the reader, and as a result I learned a bit about so many things. The twists and interweaving of stories and characters, and things as random as moths and music and saurkraut, remind me of well written adult novels that often aren't found in books for fourth graders.
Their isn't much religion in a doctrine or even practicing sense, but through culture some is learned and shared, and I like that it isn't completely washed out or removed. The main character's father says that he wasn't religious in Pakistan so when he came to America he wasn't about to start. Leila mentions that her mom wants him to take the girls to the mosque or to see Eid, but again, they don't, but do celebrate Christmas. So, when she is in Pakistan and sees masjids, and fakirs, and people feeding birds as a sadaqa it is a nice inclusion. Especially because the vocabulary is used and explained. She mentions that her extended family goes for Jummah, yet doesn't pray five times a day, she also touches on Ramadan as being a time of fasting but doesn't know that there are two Eids. As she learns, the reader does too. It definitely isn't how any practicing Muslim would want Islam portrayed, but it isn't disrespectful and it is realistic. Again, because the author doesn't seem to talk down through her characters, there doesn't seem much judgement and thus, hopefully also shows most readers some diveresity to the Pakistani stereotypes in the media.
FLAGS:
None, the book is clean, the love story between Ralph and Edwina, is just that they love each other. Nothing more than a sweet sentiment.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I would definitely use this book as a Book Club selection because I think there is so much to connect to and discuss. It would be fun to do as an interfaith book club with kids for the same reason. While the main characters are girls, I think boys would enjoy it as well, there is some spying, sleuthing, action, and a whole goat debacle, that I think would be a blast to explore with students.
I don't see any online reading guides, but there is so much to discuss it won't be a problem. Enjoy!
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June 1, 2015
What an absolutely wonderful read! Not only was the tale captivating, but the characters were delightful, the narrator added a fresh storytelling approach, and the dance between past and present, America and Pakistan, the story and the story WITHIN the story, was so well done. Pulled me through the pages with a white-knuckled grip on the multiple story strings. The entire story is nothing short of magical, not only in the tale itself, but in the way it seemed to resonate with me, as a reader. This book is a treasure and has a spot reserved in my library.
August 13, 2016
Oh, my, I loved this MG novel! The writing is superb and the story is magical and unusual, set in Texas and Pakistan about two girls who discover a magical book that unfolds a story that ends up linking them together in a very unique way. Could NOT put it down.
The kind of MG I love to read - and write! Fabulous job, Lisa Papademetriou! I look forward to reading more by this author.
The kind of MG I love to read - and write! Fabulous job, Lisa Papademetriou! I look forward to reading more by this author.
July 20, 2015
Charming! Delightful!
January 4, 2016
It started off slowly, but getting to the end was worth it. I gave it a bonus star for having characters named Edwina Pickle and Parker Pickle.
January 7, 2019
Magic is real. Moths and music are magical. Books are magical. If you agree you will love this book.
December 15, 2025
I liked this much better than most middle-grade books! It's an engaging story - actually THREE engaging stories with interesting characters who learn good things, though it's not didactic.
I didn't realize this was a middle-grade book when I requested it, or I wouldn't have done so - I thought it was YA, like the author's fantasy The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls from Jersey, which is a hoot. (I like most YA novels better than "adult" ones, but most middle-grade books aren't good enough to really interest me.) But I'm still glad I read it and can recommend it.
It tells the stories of two modern young American girls spending part of a summer away from their immediate families - one visiting her dad's family in Pakistan - who are connected by mysterious identical books, both titled The Exquisite Corpse, and by the third story which is gradually told in their pages.
This is not at all a horror story: readers should know (I did not) that Exquisite Corpse is the odd name for a parlor game where people take turns writing a story, but each person only gets to see the last sentence of the part the last person wrote. (NOW I know why Andrei Codrescu's literary magazine has that macabre title.) Unusually, these two books are magic.
I would describe this novel as magical realism rather than true fantasy.
I really like the author's obvious disapproval for overprotective parents - one girl has never been outside alone at night before! Free the children!
Also kudos for the bits about Kipling - EVERYONE should read the Jungle Books - those are such good "children's books" that no one is ever too old for them. I had forgotten about "Kim's gun" - haven't read Kim in ages. Kim and I have something in common - I also used to climb on a big gun.
Nothing objectionable.
Slight spoilers: [leaving spaces so you might be able to avoid them - stop reading here is you are averse to spoilers]
I was worried that the girl in Pakistan (and young readers) were going to have an animal-related trauma because of her ignorance of Muslim and Pakistani culture, but a character in the book has mercy on her - or you could say the author has mercy on her and sensitive readers.
The two modern girls never meet in the book, but ... you'll see.
I didn't realize this was a middle-grade book when I requested it, or I wouldn't have done so - I thought it was YA, like the author's fantasy The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls from Jersey, which is a hoot. (I like most YA novels better than "adult" ones, but most middle-grade books aren't good enough to really interest me.) But I'm still glad I read it and can recommend it.
It tells the stories of two modern young American girls spending part of a summer away from their immediate families - one visiting her dad's family in Pakistan - who are connected by mysterious identical books, both titled The Exquisite Corpse, and by the third story which is gradually told in their pages.
This is not at all a horror story: readers should know (I did not) that Exquisite Corpse is the odd name for a parlor game where people take turns writing a story, but each person only gets to see the last sentence of the part the last person wrote. (NOW I know why Andrei Codrescu's literary magazine has that macabre title.) Unusually, these two books are magic.
I would describe this novel as magical realism rather than true fantasy.
I really like the author's obvious disapproval for overprotective parents - one girl has never been outside alone at night before! Free the children!
Also kudos for the bits about Kipling - EVERYONE should read the Jungle Books - those are such good "children's books" that no one is ever too old for them. I had forgotten about "Kim's gun" - haven't read Kim in ages. Kim and I have something in common - I also used to climb on a big gun.
Nothing objectionable.
Slight spoilers: [leaving spaces so you might be able to avoid them - stop reading here is you are averse to spoilers]
I was worried that the girl in Pakistan (and young readers) were going to have an animal-related trauma because of her ignorance of Muslim and Pakistani culture, but a character in the book has mercy on her - or you could say the author has mercy on her and sensitive readers.
The two modern girls never meet in the book, but ... you'll see.
August 1, 2023
Kai is unexpectedly spending the summer in Texas with a lively elderly relative while her mother looks for a new job. She finds two remarkable things: a quirky neighbor girl obsessed with lepidoptery and one-upping the local bully, and an old book entitled "The Exquisite Corpse." It seems blank—but when Kai impulsively writes something in it, it starts telling her a story. Meanwhile, in Lahore, Leila’s vacation to visit her Pakistani relatives is a disappointment. She’s always been in her exceptional sister’s shadow, so it should have been great to get away, but it’s hot and she’s too American and too un-intellectual for her relatives. The book she borrows from their library, "The Exquisite Corpse," is blank—until she writes in it and it starts telling her a story. What? She tries getting rid of it, but soon it’s turning up wherever she is. What’s up with that? And what is this story of star-crossed love, moths, a casket company, and a secret inheritance? What is this story trying to tell the girls, and why? How are they connected?
I liked this one better when I finally got an inkling of the connections between the girls and the story; so, maybe 2/3 of the way through? I don’t know if kids would stick with it that long. The writing is great, and the settings are exceptionally well done, which is a bonus. The characters are distinct and layered, especially Kai and her relationship to her violin and her talent--what it means when you'll never be the best. Leila isn’t much fun to spend time with, though, as believable as she is. I can’t exactly put a finger on why I didn’t love this as much as I thought I would, based on the premise, beyond the issue of feeling frustrated with not understanding the connections. But maybe that’s enough? This would be better for thoughtful kids who will stick with a book.
I liked this one better when I finally got an inkling of the connections between the girls and the story; so, maybe 2/3 of the way through? I don’t know if kids would stick with it that long. The writing is great, and the settings are exceptionally well done, which is a bonus. The characters are distinct and layered, especially Kai and her relationship to her violin and her talent--what it means when you'll never be the best. Leila isn’t much fun to spend time with, though, as believable as she is. I can’t exactly put a finger on why I didn’t love this as much as I thought I would, based on the premise, beyond the issue of feeling frustrated with not understanding the connections. But maybe that’s enough? This would be better for thoughtful kids who will stick with a book.
October 17, 2016
Kai and Leila are middle school girls separated by the expanse of the world but connected by a strange magical book that at first appears blank but then seems to write its own story before their eyes. Kai, reeling from disappointment after not being accepted into a prestigious music school, has gone to live with her great aunt while her mother transitions into a new job. Leila, who lives under the shadow of her over-achieving gifted sibling, is spending the summer in Pakistan learning about her family’s culture and heritage. Both stumble upon a strange book called The Exquisite Corpse. Sentences begin to appear on the pages, and a story unfolds connecting the girls and their antecedents in a tale of romance, adventure, and discovery. Kai befriends an unusual local girl called Doodle, a budding lepidopterist who is determined to discover an extant example of a supposed extinct moth and is in fierce competition with the rich kid bully who hunts and impales helpless moth specimens for the annual fair. Kai, who has neglected her violin, discovers that the moths respond to her enchanting music. On the other side of the world, Leila feels out of place, in the way, and disappointed. Her international excursion does not live up to the fiction-inspired adventure she envisaged.
Papdemetriou is a middle school author known for the Confectionately Yours series and co-authoring with James Patterson on Middle School: Big, Fat Liar and Homeroom Diaries. A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic is a magical fantasy about friendship and interconnectedness and is a great summer selection for readers in grades 4-8.
Papdemetriou is a middle school author known for the Confectionately Yours series and co-authoring with James Patterson on Middle School: Big, Fat Liar and Homeroom Diaries. A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic is a magical fantasy about friendship and interconnectedness and is a great summer selection for readers in grades 4-8.
September 18, 2017
This was a charming friendship-and-family based story with a central magic-realist premise and bonus elements of natural history and music.
Kai and Leila are different girls from different parts of the USA. Kai has recently discovered that she will never achieve her dream of becoming a concert violinist and Leila’s perfect sister Nadia has usurped her place in her erstwhile best friend’s affections. Leila is on vacation in Pakistan (where her father’s from) while Kai spends the summer with a distant great-aunt she’s never met. Both girls find a copy of a book named the Exquisite Corpse on the shelf of their holiday home and begin to read the tale which appears in it page by page.
Leila’s story feels somewhat underwritten compared with Kai’s–perhaps because the magical tale told by the book is more closely connected with Kai’s own story.
Nevertheless this is a cute, fun, magical read featuring a middle-class Pakistani family and a mixed-race girl as one of the protagonists and how often do we get to experience that? 8+
Kai and Leila are different girls from different parts of the USA. Kai has recently discovered that she will never achieve her dream of becoming a concert violinist and Leila’s perfect sister Nadia has usurped her place in her erstwhile best friend’s affections. Leila is on vacation in Pakistan (where her father’s from) while Kai spends the summer with a distant great-aunt she’s never met. Both girls find a copy of a book named the Exquisite Corpse on the shelf of their holiday home and begin to read the tale which appears in it page by page.
Leila’s story feels somewhat underwritten compared with Kai’s–perhaps because the magical tale told by the book is more closely connected with Kai’s own story.
Nevertheless this is a cute, fun, magical read featuring a middle-class Pakistani family and a mixed-race girl as one of the protagonists and how often do we get to experience that? 8+
May 27, 2017
Two girls on opposite sides of the world have a shared adventure through the pages of a magical book. Kai currently visiting her grand-aunt in Texas finds an old book and begins writing in it and the words magically appear in Leila’s copy of the book in Pakistan. As both girls struggle to fit into their worlds- Kai a loner, and Leila an outsider, they connect with each other through writing, magic and mystery. This fantasy tale combines issues of belonging and finding oneself with humor and shows us how we are more alike than different.
See other books in our Muslim Kids as Heroes booklist here:
https://kitaabworld.com/blogs/news/co...
See other books in our Muslim Kids as Heroes booklist here:
https://kitaabworld.com/blogs/news/co...
February 6, 2021
ralph story connects leila and kai through this book called exquisite corpse. and because of that book they somehow connected
coming into this book i was expecting to see kai and leila would interact through the book even though they’re on the opposite side of the world.. like they would talk to each other through the book
kinda disappointed that they didn’t even know each other.. i mean they have that one interaction in page 108 but yeah i wished there’s more... i hope they met each other in houston and become bestie 🥺🥺🥺
both leila and kai have their little adventure and i wish i could join them. reading about pakistan culture through leila story was so fun, entertaining, and mesmerizing!! kai and doodle finding about moth was cool too!!
coming into this book i was expecting to see kai and leila would interact through the book even though they’re on the opposite side of the world.. like they would talk to each other through the book
kinda disappointed that they didn’t even know each other.. i mean they have that one interaction in page 108 but yeah i wished there’s more... i hope they met each other in houston and become bestie 🥺🥺🥺
both leila and kai have their little adventure and i wish i could join them. reading about pakistan culture through leila story was so fun, entertaining, and mesmerizing!! kai and doodle finding about moth was cool too!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2018
Quotable: I have heard of a Chinese legend that the gods use a red thread to connect lovers who are destined for each other. I imagine all of us as points that exist in space and time, with red threads that unite us to our important people, places, events, and even things. These threads cross and intersect. They tangle. They are a huge web that circles the world.
Stories are the way we reveal these threads. This happened, and because of that, this. This is the way human beings understand ourselves and how we have come to be who we are; narratives show us what is important in our lives. Stories make the magic of fate visible.
Stories are the way we reveal these threads. This happened, and because of that, this. This is the way human beings understand ourselves and how we have come to be who we are; narratives show us what is important in our lives. Stories make the magic of fate visible.
October 14, 2021
Às vezes precisamos ir muito longe para ver o que estava ao nosso lado
Seria divertido ver um filme desse livro. Provavelmente seria um bem no estilo “sessão da tarde”, com finais felizes uma ótima moral da história. Ainda mais com duas meninas precisando sofrer mudanças tão bruscas na vida para entender que tinham bem do seu lado exatamente o que viajaram para tentar encontrar.
De certa forma o livro tem lá sua magia. Ele te faz sentir a história junto com as duas meninas. Se isso não é mágico, então não sei o que é.
Saiba mais em: https://bit.ly/pdl-uma-historia-incom...
Seria divertido ver um filme desse livro. Provavelmente seria um bem no estilo “sessão da tarde”, com finais felizes uma ótima moral da história. Ainda mais com duas meninas precisando sofrer mudanças tão bruscas na vida para entender que tinham bem do seu lado exatamente o que viajaram para tentar encontrar.
De certa forma o livro tem lá sua magia. Ele te faz sentir a história junto com as duas meninas. Se isso não é mágico, então não sei o que é.
Saiba mais em: https://bit.ly/pdl-uma-historia-incom...
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