Ruby McCracken: Tragic Without Magic

by Elizabeth Ezra

Ruby McCracken's life is OVER. Her parents have lost their jobs, they've forced her to move to the Ordinary World and worst of all, she's lost her magic. A witch without magic? That's LITERALLY tragic. She won't be able to chat to her friends about the Hex Factor any more. And she's absolutely STARVING because her snack spell won't work. Also how can she get revenge on the mean girls at her boring new school without a good curse? Ruby is desperate to get her magic back and find a way home. Then one day she receives a mysterious hext that seems to offer an answer, but can she solve the riddle? More importantly, who would be sending a magical hext in this dreary ordinary world? This is a bright and lively magical debut which won the Kelpies Prize for new Scottish writing for children in 2016.

Genres: Childrens

176 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2018

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous read for younger readers

[Louise Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a witty and enjoyable witch story! Elizabeth Ezra has created an endearing witch in Ruby McCracken. Ruby's been forced to leave her homeland and move to the Ord (ordinary) world and she's not at all happy about it. Tragic without Magic tells the tale of her coming to terms with her new life and learning to live without magic. There's plenty to keep her occupied, what with a mysterious communication by hext message (geddit!?), settling in at a new school where the queen bee has taken against her, and living with an annoying brother! What I really loved though, was the humour and inventiveness of the way Ezra shows what life is like for someone coming to the Ord world from the outside. It's especially good if you're looking for something set around Halloween. A great read that is both fun, and thought-provoking.

[Caroline Deacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a good chuckle, this book is for you. Elizabeth Ezra deftly weaves a highly original story of magic people living amongst us. Ruby is a great feisty character, and her take on our world had me laughing out loud several times.
Yet this is not just a humorous book, there is also a clever and pacey plot, with dark undertones, and the yearn to know whether Ruby will get what she wants will have you turning the page.

[Hannah Foley]

A really fun read with plenty of laugh out loud moments. Ruby is such a great character with a really distinctive voice. The themes of fitting in and finding your way amongst new friends will be relevant to lots of readers.

[Barbara Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous world-building, plenty of humour. I was looking for that elusive fresh take on the witch at school, and Ezra delivers it with originality and energy. I absolutely loved it!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have entertained my young self as a lover of books with witchy plots. Though the witch elements are far more silly than suspenseful, they should please very young readers.