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The Three Rules of Everyday Magic
Magic doesn't work the way you think it will, but it's what Kate needs as she confronts friendship trouble, her parents' divorce, and Grammy's dementia in this lyrical middle-grade coming-of-age novel for fans of Half a Chance and The Same Stuff as Stars.
Kate has trouble believing in magic, especially since the people she loves keep leaving her. But when Grammy tells her the three rules of everyday magic--believe, give, and trust--Kate can't resist believing, at least a little. Following Grammy's advice, she tries to bring her father, her best friend, and even Grammy herself back to her. Nothing turns out as Kate expects, yet the magic of giving--of trusting that if you love and give, good things will happen, even if you don't see them happen--will change Kate and her family forever.
Kate has trouble believing in magic, especially since the people she loves keep leaving her. But when Grammy tells her the three rules of everyday magic--believe, give, and trust--Kate can't resist believing, at least a little. Following Grammy's advice, she tries to bring her father, her best friend, and even Grammy herself back to her. Nothing turns out as Kate expects, yet the magic of giving--of trusting that if you love and give, good things will happen, even if you don't see them happen--will change Kate and her family forever.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
January 25, 2021
Believe. Give. Trust.
Kate Michell is facing some unwelcome changes: 1) her depressed dad moved out 2) her forgetful grandmother has moved in 3) her best friend is spending time with a new best friend (and wearing pink -- horror!). That is a lot to deal with for a preteen to deal with. Cue grandma's rules of everyday magic. The fabric of Kate's live contains threads of music, karate (her sensei's advice), baking, knitting, and friendship. Can she throw enough magic at her problems to solve them all? Perhaps the real magic is in seeing how even the unwelcome changes in our lives are not without hope and a future. There is not a pink bubblegum ending, but there is a reminder that with there is wisdom and love available to help us hang on for better days. As in Beethoven's Pathetique, the Adagio Cantabile is followed by the Rondo: Allegro.
Kate Michell is facing some unwelcome changes: 1) her depressed dad moved out 2) her forgetful grandmother has moved in 3) her best friend is spending time with a new best friend (and wearing pink -- horror!). That is a lot to deal with for a preteen to deal with. Cue grandma's rules of everyday magic. The fabric of Kate's live contains threads of music, karate (her sensei's advice), baking, knitting, and friendship. Can she throw enough magic at her problems to solve them all? Perhaps the real magic is in seeing how even the unwelcome changes in our lives are not without hope and a future. There is not a pink bubblegum ending, but there is a reminder that with there is wisdom and love available to help us hang on for better days. As in Beethoven's Pathetique, the Adagio Cantabile is followed by the Rondo: Allegro.
October 15, 2018
This book is out in the world. Happy reading!!
October 29, 2018
THE THREE RULES OF MAGIC is a must read book of 2018!
Believe. Give. Trust. Those are the three rules of everyday magic that Kate’s grammy tells her are the way to fix the things that aren’t working quite right in her life. And Kate could definitely use the help. Her best friend, Sofia, is drifting toward a new friend. Her dad left months ago and she doesn’t know when he’s coming home. And Grammy is starting to forget things. Could everyday magic really work?
I’ve wanted to read this book since I first heard about it several months ago. One of the things that makes it special is the way it sensitively and realistically handles the mental health struggles of the adults in the book, and their impact on Kate. I also like how it demonstrates how complicated life can be for young teens as their worlds begin to change in multiple ways. I think it’s a book from which many readers could find comfort, and to which they could relate.
I have a copy of this book in my library, and would definitely suggest purchasing it for a middle grade collection.
Believe. Give. Trust. Those are the three rules of everyday magic that Kate’s grammy tells her are the way to fix the things that aren’t working quite right in her life. And Kate could definitely use the help. Her best friend, Sofia, is drifting toward a new friend. Her dad left months ago and she doesn’t know when he’s coming home. And Grammy is starting to forget things. Could everyday magic really work?
I’ve wanted to read this book since I first heard about it several months ago. One of the things that makes it special is the way it sensitively and realistically handles the mental health struggles of the adults in the book, and their impact on Kate. I also like how it demonstrates how complicated life can be for young teens as their worlds begin to change in multiple ways. I think it’s a book from which many readers could find comfort, and to which they could relate.
I have a copy of this book in my library, and would definitely suggest purchasing it for a middle grade collection.
October 29, 2018
Thank you to the author for sharing an ARC of this book with our #bookexpedition group.
Believe. Give. Trust.
These are three rules of everyday magic shared with Kate by her Grammy to help fix the friends and family problems she’s experiencing.
I loved that this book dealt with important issues like changing friendships, adult depression & dementia in an age- appropriate, realistic way. I also appreciated how the author didn’t try to solve all the problems for Kate. Great middle grade read that I think many students will find comfort in.
Believe. Give. Trust.
These are three rules of everyday magic shared with Kate by her Grammy to help fix the friends and family problems she’s experiencing.
I loved that this book dealt with important issues like changing friendships, adult depression & dementia in an age- appropriate, realistic way. I also appreciated how the author didn’t try to solve all the problems for Kate. Great middle grade read that I think many students will find comfort in.
November 12, 2018
This was a beautiful book for children. (I read it with my twins.) The main character, Kate, had a host of challenges that made life hard for her—a dad with severe depression that caused him to leave home, a best friend who was moving on to someone else, and a grandma with Alzheimer’s who just moved in with Kate and her mom. The emotions in this book were so well done. It was heartbreaking at times, but also full of hope.
May 23, 2018
I first read a version of Amanda Rawson Hill's THE THREE RULES OF EVERYDAY MAGIC a few months after #pitchwars 2015. Since then, I've had the privilege of reading several more versions—and last week, I got to add Amanda's ARC to that list. I can't even tell you how beautiful this book is, guys. It's always been a powerful little story, but the revisions Amanda has done in the last year have made it so lyrical, so profound, so poignant, that I found myself pausing again and again as I read to marvel over its loveliness. This book is everything I love in middle grade contemporary—a strong setting, poetic prose, a depth of emotion that perfectly encapsulates those intense adolescent years. If you like Kate Dicamillo or Ali Benjamin, you must add this one to your TBR right away!
April 27, 2023
This book was very good! I gave it 5 stars. Please write a second one!
February 2, 2020
This book was such a joy to read! It features a girl (Kate) navigating the ups and downs of life. It includes struggles with friends, an absent father battling depression and a wise grandmother struggling with memory loss. All Kate wants is for her father to come back, her grammy to be present and for her circle of friends to continue as normal.
This story is told in a sensitive way where the realities of depression and the pain of memory loss are not glossed over. As a child, I wish I had had a book like this to read. Even as an adult I could relate to the child trying to bring everyone back, her dad, her grandmother, her friends. I too had a father with depression and thought this was an accurate portrayal of the impact of depression on a family.
Resilient Kate, equipped with her grammy's three rules of everyday magic (believe, give, trust), forges her own path and comes to understand that although things may not work out as she visions, she can move forward and it's possible to find unexpected (even magical) blessings along the way.
Middle-grade students will be able to relate to Kate and the other characters in this book. When reading this book you can't help but absorb some of the magic to take with you. I closed this book days ago yet continue to think about and carry with me the rules - believe, give, trust - and this is magical.
This story is told in a sensitive way where the realities of depression and the pain of memory loss are not glossed over. As a child, I wish I had had a book like this to read. Even as an adult I could relate to the child trying to bring everyone back, her dad, her grandmother, her friends. I too had a father with depression and thought this was an accurate portrayal of the impact of depression on a family.
Resilient Kate, equipped with her grammy's three rules of everyday magic (believe, give, trust), forges her own path and comes to understand that although things may not work out as she visions, she can move forward and it's possible to find unexpected (even magical) blessings along the way.
Middle-grade students will be able to relate to Kate and the other characters in this book. When reading this book you can't help but absorb some of the magic to take with you. I closed this book days ago yet continue to think about and carry with me the rules - believe, give, trust - and this is magical.
April 11, 2019
really a sweet read...some of the passages made me giggle and some made my eyes well up with tears! Good read for sure, especially for kids dealing with divorce and parent depression and just everyday friendships in school :)
October 13, 2018
A beautiful book that deals with important topics like dementia, family problems, friendship, depression, and confidence, with tremendous heart and the perfect combination of sadness and hope.
December 29, 2018
Lovely and full of heart.
October 12, 2018
I love this book! Amanda manages to pack so much heart into such a small space. Of course I cried, but it is also incredibly sweet and hopeful. Characters stay with you long after it's over.
January 7, 2019
Beautiful.
February 22, 2019
Beautifully told story in which some heavy adult-level realities are made accessible to middle grade readers. Such an important book!! You know those books where you wish the characters were real because you want to hug them so bad? This is one of those!
March 4, 2019
What a beautiful book. The pages are full of such raw emotion and hope. I loved it.
January 29, 2019
This book hit me SO hard. It is emotional and heart warming and heart breaking at the same time. I cried through the last 50 pages and then I had to go hug my dad and tell him I loved him. And then I cried again.
I can't imagine what it must feel like to be a kid and have to deal with friend drama AND a family member with a mental illness. This book gave me insight to what that feels like.
The entire story was so realistic and beautifully written. Don't let it's size fool you: there is a lot of emotion packed into it's 190 pages. The mental illness was very well described for younger kids to understand and (to my knowledge and experience) a very accurate representation of those illnesses.
I can't imagine what it must feel like to be a kid and have to deal with friend drama AND a family member with a mental illness. This book gave me insight to what that feels like.
The entire story was so realistic and beautifully written. Don't let it's size fool you: there is a lot of emotion packed into it's 190 pages. The mental illness was very well described for younger kids to understand and (to my knowledge and experience) a very accurate representation of those illnesses.
February 27, 2019
Hill writes a book filled with complex, nuanced characters all dealing with significant life challenges. The protagonists is a tween girl, Kate, who finds that she's living on shifting ground. Her father left a few month's prior after failing to manage his depression. Her paternal grandmother is living with dementia and can no longer care for herself, so she moves in with Kate and her mother. And her best friend Sophia just got cast in the musical _Annie_ and is spending more time with her theater friend Marisa. All this leaves Kate wondering about her place in the world and her value as an individual.
It's a lot to manage as a young person, but her situation is all-too common.
After teaching college English for decades, I trained to become a gerontologists, and I focused on neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. I really appreciate how the author depicts the grandmother. Yes, her memory is causing a disruption to her personality and her family interactions. However, "Grammy" still has a lot of things that she can still do, and she still can love, serve, and advise Kate.
The depiction of the father's untreated depression is gut-wrenching, but realistic. Teens with family members living with depression will appreciate seeing their issues depicted in print. But there are also more common issues, such as fluctuating loyalties in friendships, the pressures at school including oral reports, talking to boys, scrutinizing of tween's fashion choices, and finding a place to sit during lunch.
I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed every minute of it. Hill is a first-time author. Kudos to her for a rich, nuanced portrait of several issues that impact family systems.
It's a lot to manage as a young person, but her situation is all-too common.
After teaching college English for decades, I trained to become a gerontologists, and I focused on neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. I really appreciate how the author depicts the grandmother. Yes, her memory is causing a disruption to her personality and her family interactions. However, "Grammy" still has a lot of things that she can still do, and she still can love, serve, and advise Kate.
The depiction of the father's untreated depression is gut-wrenching, but realistic. Teens with family members living with depression will appreciate seeing their issues depicted in print. But there are also more common issues, such as fluctuating loyalties in friendships, the pressures at school including oral reports, talking to boys, scrutinizing of tween's fashion choices, and finding a place to sit during lunch.
I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed every minute of it. Hill is a first-time author. Kudos to her for a rich, nuanced portrait of several issues that impact family systems.
August 18, 2019
Excellent book!
Those are the three rules of magic that Kate’s grammy teaches her. But they don’t quite work the way Kate hoped.
This is such a well-written and wonderful story. It runs through every emotion—happy, sad, grief, loneliness, betrayal, hope, and more. I found myself smiling in places, and swallowing a lump in my throat in other places.
As the story slowly unfolds, it goes from present to past and reveals secrets in a very logical way. Kate learns lessons and finds healing as she deals with divorce, friends, her grandmother’s dementia, and a distant father.
I loved the characters. They were true and real to me. I felt Kate’s struggle with her father’s issues was spot on. I loved her grandmother. She gave the best advice, if a little convoluted at times. But most of all, I loved the three rules of magic. I need to remember those myself. Looking forward to more from this author. I highly recommend this to middle grade readers, 12 and up, and to anyone who likes a good story with all the feels. I think it should be in every middle school and junior high library. I give it 5 STARS.
Those are the three rules of magic that Kate’s grammy teaches her. But they don’t quite work the way Kate hoped.
This is such a well-written and wonderful story. It runs through every emotion—happy, sad, grief, loneliness, betrayal, hope, and more. I found myself smiling in places, and swallowing a lump in my throat in other places.
As the story slowly unfolds, it goes from present to past and reveals secrets in a very logical way. Kate learns lessons and finds healing as she deals with divorce, friends, her grandmother’s dementia, and a distant father.
I loved the characters. They were true and real to me. I felt Kate’s struggle with her father’s issues was spot on. I loved her grandmother. She gave the best advice, if a little convoluted at times. But most of all, I loved the three rules of magic. I need to remember those myself. Looking forward to more from this author. I highly recommend this to middle grade readers, 12 and up, and to anyone who likes a good story with all the feels. I think it should be in every middle school and junior high library. I give it 5 STARS.
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September 30, 2018This beautiful book was exactly what my heart needed. Brimming with lovely writing and lovable, fully realized characters, this story doesn’t shy away from depicting sad and scary things kids often have to deal with, and yet it also offers so much hope, strength, and beauty. I adored Kate’s poignant relationship with Grammy, her passion for karate and music, her longing for her old relationship with her dad, and her friendships—both one that is slipping away (in a realistic, nuanced way) and one that is blooming. An accomplished, intensely moving, and compassionate debut. I can’t wait to read everything else Amanda Rawson Hill writes!
December 25, 2018
Fantastic! I think this is a book I could have used when I was in 5th or 6th grade because that's when I started losing my best friend to another friend, too. At the same time, it's exactly what I need right now, too. It got me into the Christmas spirit-- even though I know it's not intended to be a Christmas book. ha ha!
I love Amanda Rawson Hill's similes! I hope I can write similes as powerful as hers someday. And the imagery! Beautiful!
All in all, a fun read, too, with a very likable main character. It's a book I'm excited to read again and again. I recommend it!
I love Amanda Rawson Hill's similes! I hope I can write similes as powerful as hers someday. And the imagery! Beautiful!
All in all, a fun read, too, with a very likable main character. It's a book I'm excited to read again and again. I recommend it!
October 27, 2018
Kate has a lot going on in her life. Her dad moved out while struggling with depression, her best friend has made a new buddy while rehearsing for a musical, and her grandmother is suffering increasingly from dementia. As she struggles with all of these concerns, Kate also continues her karate classes, works through her recent nervousness around her pal Parker, tries to recover her love of music, and even manages to begin a friendship with her classmate Jane. Can Kate figure out a way to hold onto her father and her friend Sofia, while also letting others into her affection? And is her grandmother right when she says there is such a thing as everyday magic that can help? Kate's sensei tells her, "Do not focus on the pain. Focus only on the next move." He is talking about karate class, but that can be great advice for life in general.
I want to warn you now - by the time I finished this book, I had cried so much that my nose was stuffy and my eyes were red and puffy. Reading "My whole life is like a bike tire with a tiny hole leaking air. But I'm not leaking air. I'm leaking hope..." made my heart ache. There were plenty of lines like that, and they would make wonderful examples for a writing lesson. Here's another, "The truth thuds to the ground, a cement brick, echoing."
I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy realistic fiction, especially the sort of story that focuses on relationships and how characters work to build and maintain them. Kate is not perfect, but she feels very real for that reason. She will steal your heart - and that makes a magical story.
I read a review copy provided by the publisher.
I want to warn you now - by the time I finished this book, I had cried so much that my nose was stuffy and my eyes were red and puffy. Reading "My whole life is like a bike tire with a tiny hole leaking air. But I'm not leaking air. I'm leaking hope..." made my heart ache. There were plenty of lines like that, and they would make wonderful examples for a writing lesson. Here's another, "The truth thuds to the ground, a cement brick, echoing."
I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy realistic fiction, especially the sort of story that focuses on relationships and how characters work to build and maintain them. Kate is not perfect, but she feels very real for that reason. She will steal your heart - and that makes a magical story.
I read a review copy provided by the publisher.
May 29, 2019
he Three Rules of Everyday Magic by Amanda Rawson Hill is a touching middle grade novel about a young girl who doesn't know what to make of life and her relationships when her dad leaves, and she doesn't know where he is.
The book gives young readers a good look at the realities of depression and dementia, and the readers learn, along with Kate, how to care and trust, even when the people she once trusted the most let her down.
Kate's dad, once her best friend and once so seemly happy, now has depression and doesn't seem to want Kate to know where he is. Her grandma is sinking deeper into dementia and Kate doesn't know what to do about that.
She tries following her grandma's advice about "everyday magic" but at first, things don't seem to work, and even backfire on her. Or at least don't work out the way she expected. But as she learns about all the rules of "everyday magic" she begins to come to a greater understanding about what her dad is suffering and what her grandma is going through and is able to develop greater compassion for each of them.
This book is a good book for young people, especially those who have loved ones who are dealing with depression and/or aging.
The book gives young readers a good look at the realities of depression and dementia, and the readers learn, along with Kate, how to care and trust, even when the people she once trusted the most let her down.
Kate's dad, once her best friend and once so seemly happy, now has depression and doesn't seem to want Kate to know where he is. Her grandma is sinking deeper into dementia and Kate doesn't know what to do about that.
She tries following her grandma's advice about "everyday magic" but at first, things don't seem to work, and even backfire on her. Or at least don't work out the way she expected. But as she learns about all the rules of "everyday magic" she begins to come to a greater understanding about what her dad is suffering and what her grandma is going through and is able to develop greater compassion for each of them.
This book is a good book for young people, especially those who have loved ones who are dealing with depression and/or aging.
October 13, 2018
Kate is a 5th grader dealing with some heavy issues: her depressed father left months ago, her best friend has found a replacement, and her grandma who suffers from dementia has moved in. She's searching for the ways to deal with these things and wants desperately to believe what Grammy says about everyday magic's potential to overcome life's difficulties.
This poignant story is so well crafted from the littlest detail to how all three elements of the plot combine to show how Kate grows over the course of the story. Her voice shines and gives the reader a realistic portrayal of both the effects on children of universally common problems like a friendship breaking apart and less frequent but more devastating problems of handling loved ones' mental illness. I recommend this highly for readers of all ages.
Full disclosure: Though I wholeheartedly believe my review would be the same if I had never heard of the author, I first discovered this story when she and I competed against each other in a writing contest. She won with an earlier version of this story, but I have wished her well ever since. I did buy my own copy and was not asked for a review.
This poignant story is so well crafted from the littlest detail to how all three elements of the plot combine to show how Kate grows over the course of the story. Her voice shines and gives the reader a realistic portrayal of both the effects on children of universally common problems like a friendship breaking apart and less frequent but more devastating problems of handling loved ones' mental illness. I recommend this highly for readers of all ages.
Full disclosure: Though I wholeheartedly believe my review would be the same if I had never heard of the author, I first discovered this story when she and I competed against each other in a writing contest. She won with an earlier version of this story, but I have wished her well ever since. I did buy my own copy and was not asked for a review.
October 11, 2018
Middle schooler Kate has some huge things going on in her life. Her best friend for life isn't - becoming the best friend of someone else. But looming much larger for Kate is the absent father. He left four months ago and no one knows where he is. Kathy's Grammy is struggling with serious memory issues and Kate's mom decides to mom her in with them. When Grammy tells her about the 3 rules of everyday magic, Kate is dubious but oh how she wants to believe they could be real.
Hill paints a dark picture of serious depression and a man who won't seek help and the impact this has on his family. Grammy, in the moments when she is herself, offers Kate something to hang onto and ultimately Kate has to come to terms with some of life's most difficult issues. No easy solutions in this book. Instead we have an affecting portrait of a family doing its best to deal with tough issues.
Told through Kate's perspective, this is well written and thought-provoking. I think the portrayal of depression as seen through the eyes of a young girl is authentic to Katy's understanding of it. My one small quibble is that I think the author missed a chance to broaden that understanding for readers but overall this is very well done.
Hill paints a dark picture of serious depression and a man who won't seek help and the impact this has on his family. Grammy, in the moments when she is herself, offers Kate something to hang onto and ultimately Kate has to come to terms with some of life's most difficult issues. No easy solutions in this book. Instead we have an affecting portrait of a family doing its best to deal with tough issues.
Told through Kate's perspective, this is well written and thought-provoking. I think the portrayal of depression as seen through the eyes of a young girl is authentic to Katy's understanding of it. My one small quibble is that I think the author missed a chance to broaden that understanding for readers but overall this is very well done.
June 5, 2018
One of my favorite MG contemp reads ever. *all the heart eyes*
THE THREE RULES OF EVERYDAY MAGIC was so beautifully done. The author did everything right: the heart, the plot, the backstory, the voice (perfect for this story, so poetic and kind and honest and true), the mental health (her dad's depression), family dynamics especially when going through the hard stuff, dementia (her gran), the confusing and dramatic reality of middle grade friendships, the sadness of a fracturing family all glittered with love and streaks of hope.
I LOVED this story, Kate, the main character, and her (new) best friend. Do yourself (and your heart) and favor and read this sweet book. Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!
THE THREE RULES OF EVERYDAY MAGIC was so beautifully done. The author did everything right: the heart, the plot, the backstory, the voice (perfect for this story, so poetic and kind and honest and true), the mental health (her dad's depression), family dynamics especially when going through the hard stuff, dementia (her gran), the confusing and dramatic reality of middle grade friendships, the sadness of a fracturing family all glittered with love and streaks of hope.
I LOVED this story, Kate, the main character, and her (new) best friend. Do yourself (and your heart) and favor and read this sweet book. Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!
June 11, 2018
This book stole my heart! Kate wants to believe in magic. It's what she needs to bring her dad back home, to heal her severed friendship with her best friend, and to pull her beloved Grammy out of dementia. I love how everything isn't tied up in a neat bow by the end of the book. Kate learns and grows, there are still problems in her life, and now she has new tools and knowledge to help her move forward.
My favorite quote: "You have to trust the magic. You can't put demands on it and say it only worked if everything goes how you wanted it to, or when you wanted it to. Magic has its own time frame and its own ideas about what should happen."
A beautifully written coming-of-age story.
My favorite quote: "You have to trust the magic. You can't put demands on it and say it only worked if everything goes how you wanted it to, or when you wanted it to. Magic has its own time frame and its own ideas about what should happen."
A beautifully written coming-of-age story.
August 8, 2018
I loved every part of this book. Such a realistic depiction of depression and how it affects a family and a tween girl. It made me cry. And it would have broken me if there was no hopeful ending, but it has one...thank goodness.
And I know this wasn't the author's intention, but I celebrated when Jane (who is Asian) showed up. I kinda want to be her BFF.
Must read!
And I know this wasn't the author's intention, but I celebrated when Jane (who is Asian) showed up. I kinda want to be her BFF.
Must read!
January 27, 2021
Ahhhh, this book was so heart-warming and beautiful! Gorgeous prose and a strong voice, definitely one I want to revisit regularly! A sensitive depiction of parental mental illness and the intensity of childhood friendships.
August 26, 2018
I got a chance to read this book before it's published. It's a beautiful book that deals with a heavy topic with an accessible kid's voice.
January 2, 2018
I read an early version of this book and CAN'T WAIT to get my hands on the finished copy! Amanda's a master of metaphor, and she handles weighty topics with a light touch and a spot-on MG voice. If Amanda's written it, it's sure to be heartfelt and sparkling, and this book is no exception!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews