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A Wilder Magic
A standalone story about one family with magic in their bones, who are tied to the mountain valley in which they live in more ways than one. And what happens when the land they love is destined to be flooded, whether or not they're still on it.
For generations, Sybaline's family has lived in a magical valley in the Appalachian mountains, helping the magic grow the land. But now the government has ordered them to relocate; their valley is needed to create a dam for electricity. In one week, their home will be flooded.
Sybaline can't imagine life without her home and without the magic. Stopping the dam proves to be impossible; the government is too big and too strong. She takes the only choice left: she stays. Using her magic, she builds a wall, and as water floods the valley, it covers her house, leaving her living beneath the lake itself.
But there is a consequence to using magic in such a way, one that will transform both herself and the friends who end up trapped beneath the water with her. If she can't find a way to escape the prison she's created, both she and those she loves will end up staying in the watery grave of the valley forever.
For generations, Sybaline's family has lived in a magical valley in the Appalachian mountains, helping the magic grow the land. But now the government has ordered them to relocate; their valley is needed to create a dam for electricity. In one week, their home will be flooded.
Sybaline can't imagine life without her home and without the magic. Stopping the dam proves to be impossible; the government is too big and too strong. She takes the only choice left: she stays. Using her magic, she builds a wall, and as water floods the valley, it covers her house, leaving her living beneath the lake itself.
But there is a consequence to using magic in such a way, one that will transform both herself and the friends who end up trapped beneath the water with her. If she can't find a way to escape the prison she's created, both she and those she loves will end up staying in the watery grave of the valley forever.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2021
8 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 27, 2022
This is a Fantasy Middle Grade book with a lot of magic. I love the magic in this book. This was a super fun read with a lot of cute fun characters. This book is all about a family being ran off their village land, and the land holds magic within itself that the family can pull from. This is a heartfelt beautiful story that is all about moving on. I really enjoyed reading this book. If you have a kid that is about 9 years old and up that loves fantasy/magical realism, and they are facing moving then this book may help them a lot. I also think kids that loves magical realism/light fantasy will really enjoy this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Sourcebooks Young Readers) or author (Juliana Brandt) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
December 8, 2023
That’s one awesome book!!!
Believe in magic?
Now I have started to do so because I can’t believe how much I am enjoying all the magical fantasy books (middle grade, young adult or even adult fantasy books!). Maybe it’s time!
Now one of my favourite books to recommend, “A Wilder Magic” by Juliana Brandt offers story of a very tight knit family whose home and their magical abilities have been threatened because of a dam construction proposal from the authorities. Our main protagonist, Sybaline, and her cousins take the matter into their own hands and try their best to save their home. In the process, their abilities and their lives are in danger. But yes, read the book how the story ends. It made me cry. It made me smile. It made me believe in magic all over again.
One more character stood out for me. It’s Sybaline’s mother. She’s both strong and soft. It feels like she’s the perfect fictional mother we all look upto.
Such a good read! Totally recommended 💕
Believe in magic?
Now I have started to do so because I can’t believe how much I am enjoying all the magical fantasy books (middle grade, young adult or even adult fantasy books!). Maybe it’s time!
Now one of my favourite books to recommend, “A Wilder Magic” by Juliana Brandt offers story of a very tight knit family whose home and their magical abilities have been threatened because of a dam construction proposal from the authorities. Our main protagonist, Sybaline, and her cousins take the matter into their own hands and try their best to save their home. In the process, their abilities and their lives are in danger. But yes, read the book how the story ends. It made me cry. It made me smile. It made me believe in magic all over again.
One more character stood out for me. It’s Sybaline’s mother. She’s both strong and soft. It feels like she’s the perfect fictional mother we all look upto.
Such a good read! Totally recommended 💕
May 12, 2021
Such an innovative, powerful, magical read! This grabbed me & didn’t let go. For generations, Sybaline's family has lived in a magical valley in the Appalachian mountains, helping the magic grow the land. But now the government has ordered them to relocate; their valley is needed to create a dam for electricity. In 1 week, their home will be flooded. Sybaline can't imagine life w/o her home & w/o the magic. Stopping the dam proves to be impossible; the government is too big & too strong. She takes the only choice left: she stays. Using her magic, she builds a wall, & as water floods the valley, it covers her house, leaving her living beneath the lake itself. But there is a consequence to using magic in such a way, 1 that will transform both herself & the friends who end up trapped beneath the water w/her. If she can't find a way to escape the prison she's created, both she & those she loves will end up staying in the watery grave of the valley forever. I’m from NC, so I loved reading a story set there, & 1 that shows the love people have for their land, life, family, & homes. I also loved that the author put in her book the history of the removal of the Native Americans from Appalachia. That was an injustice & an evil done that should never be forgotten. I loved the magic & how it was connected to the earth itself-to this valley specifically. This also reminded me of a discussion in 1 of my college classes about the harm of man made dams. I was so angry for this community of people. Family is huge in this, as well as fear, change, & bravery. Towards the end of 7th grade we had to move hours away from the beach that was the only home I’d ever known. I related so much to Sybaline & her thoughts, feelings, & actions. Sometimes your identity can be linked to a place so completely, to your roots, that w/o those roots you don’t think you could grow or ever survive-& you wouldn’t be you. You have to face that fear & be brave. Home is wherever your family is, where the love is. Hard lesson to get in the moment though-especially as a kid. This is unique, so atmospheric, full of suspense & adventure, magic, & amazing writing. The characters are so wonderful as well. Nettle reminds me of myself, & Fisch has my heart. Highly recommend! STUNNING cover by Millie Liu too!💜
November 22, 2022
"She could still be scared, but she would also choose to be brave. Her fear would not make her choices for her."
(Thank you to the author, and MTMCTours, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
When the US government decides that they want to build a dam in the magical valley that’s home to Sybaline Shaw and her family, Syb refuses to comply, and decides to use magic to stop the flood and stay in the land she loves. But her choice has unpredicted consequences, which will force her to question what bravery truly means.
"A Wilder Magic" reminded me of my love for Middle Grade; it was such a cute, whimsical survival story! Despite Sybaline being a young girl, who is obviously naïve when it comes to a lot of things and has less power over her own emotions, I think readers of all ages will be able to relate to her struggles. No matter how old one is, the unknown is scary, and change feels like a threat. What we're leaving behind is too precious for us, often, and the fear of losing it forever doesn't ever truly disappear. And that's precisely what this cute little story is about: we don't need for fear to disappear to defeat it. Sybaline's arc revolves around this theme, precisely, and it's masterfully executed.
Another beautiful theme in this book is family. The immediate spotlight goes to Syb's cousin, Nettle, who's by Syb's side throughout the entire story. Both girls are fiercely loving and stubborn, ready to go any necessary length to protect their family. Where Syb symbolises the fear of change, Nettle embodies our not being alone in neither the fear, nor the change. Another bond I was charmed by was Syb's relationship with her mother. With Syb's father gone to serve in the war, she's the only parent Syb has left, and I really loved seeing the healthy parenting. Syb's mother never bosses her daughter around, or dismisses her feelings, even if she sometimes is close to losing her patience. There were other members of Syb's family, such as the Aunts or Syb's younger cousins, but they weren't given as much relevance. I personally would've liked to see more of them, particularly of the Aunts; as well as of the family's history in the valley. We get glimpses at some of the most notorious members, such as Papaw, but I felt like there were so many more names we didn't get to meet.
This being a middle-grade book, it's quite easy to read and enjoy. The prose was the right amount of lyrical, without being too figurative, or too literal, and did a really good job when it comes to building the magical atmosphere of the valley or the dark fear of the dam. I could perfectly envision all the settings!
All in all, this book sure reads like a triumph for miss Brandt. Would totally recommend to anyone looking for a comfortably easy book to get lost in, or a present for a little future bookworm! Can't wait to read the author's freshman novel, and whatever she decides to write next.
May 22, 2021
Absolutely adored this magical middle grade novel by Juliana Brandt!
Sybaline and her magic are described so well by the author that I was gripped from chapter one. I relate to Sybaline's feelings about hating change and feeling powerless against it. Her desperation leads her to use her magic to "save" her family, but the consequences are more than she bargained for, and well laid out in this novel.
The magic system was really creative, and I love the way it was tied to nature, and this land in particular. The novel gave a voice to a tragedy not spoken of often enough, and did it by a magical and unforgettable story.
Very much recommend to book friends of all ages, as Sybaline's story is one of facing hard times and learning to let go- things we all face at times.
Sybaline and her magic are described so well by the author that I was gripped from chapter one. I relate to Sybaline's feelings about hating change and feeling powerless against it. Her desperation leads her to use her magic to "save" her family, but the consequences are more than she bargained for, and well laid out in this novel.
The magic system was really creative, and I love the way it was tied to nature, and this land in particular. The novel gave a voice to a tragedy not spoken of often enough, and did it by a magical and unforgettable story.
Very much recommend to book friends of all ages, as Sybaline's story is one of facing hard times and learning to let go- things we all face at times.
May 16, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sybaline and her aunts' families are living in the valley for generations. The valley is not an ordinary one, it is magical. Everyone has magic but they aren't allowed to use it for something unnatural. Life is peaceful there until the Government decided to construct a dam and asked people to evacuate the valley as it will work as a reservoir. Sybaline doesn't want to leave home at any cost. It doesn't matter if they don't have another option. It doesn't matter if she has to use her magic.
I loved the starting of the book, the magic system was so unique and beautiful. The cousins bonding was written so well. The pace of the book was slow that after 50 pages I started to struggle with everything, MC, world-building, relations, struggles and writing style. I skimmed read it to find out the ending but it wasn't also impressive.
Sybaline and her aunts' families are living in the valley for generations. The valley is not an ordinary one, it is magical. Everyone has magic but they aren't allowed to use it for something unnatural. Life is peaceful there until the Government decided to construct a dam and asked people to evacuate the valley as it will work as a reservoir. Sybaline doesn't want to leave home at any cost. It doesn't matter if they don't have another option. It doesn't matter if she has to use her magic.
I loved the starting of the book, the magic system was so unique and beautiful. The cousins bonding was written so well. The pace of the book was slow that after 50 pages I started to struggle with everything, MC, world-building, relations, struggles and writing style. I skimmed read it to find out the ending but it wasn't also impressive.
September 10, 2020
I’ve read an early draft of this story and if you want your heart to ache and then heal, if you’ve ever been scared to step out into the unknown, if you love innovative magic systems, then keep this one on your radar, friends! It’s all of that and more!
March 4, 2021
What a loveable story! I loved every single page written. Magic. intrigue. Suspense. Did I say magic? Relatable characters. I absolutely loved it.
July 6, 2021
A wonderful middle grade fantasy about your roots & identity and how those can be tied to a place. In this particular story, Sybaline and her family are tied to the Appalachian land by their magic, and leaving means losing their ability to do that magic. I enjoyed this unique magic system and could relate to Sybaline's fears and anxieties about losing that connection to the place you call home.
I received an eArc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received an eArc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 26, 2021
Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will release on May 4, 2021.
She was in the valley because she hadn't wanted to learn a new way to live... and she was being forced to find a new way to live anyhow.
Much like the waters that encroached on the valley where Sybaline and her relatives once lived, this book and my appreciation for it creeped up on me.
Sybaline and her relatives live in an enchanted valley, but there's just one problem—a dam is being built to support the war effort, and pretty soon it's all going to be underwater. The government claims they've given her family plenty of warning, but Sybaline never, ever wants to leave—the magic is too much a part of her, and finding out who she is without it seems intimidating.
So, she doesn't leave. Along with her cousin, they remain behind in the valley through a series of what I would call typical pre-teen trickery and decide to form a magical bubble so they can live in the valley by themselves while the waters rise and create a lake around them.
Yeah, that's where things got really interesting.
A brief note about the magic system here: it's so cool. Magic only works in the valley, and when the characters who can wield magic pass beyond a certain point, it leaves them. The description of it leeching out of Sybaline on the occasions she leaves sounds almost like an anxiety attack, with her mother telling her to breathe through it. And that makes perfect sense, given it's such an innate part of her existence. However, that also leads to some interesting conflicts with her siblings. The other great part about magic here is its consequences: if it's used in an "unnatural" way or for selfish reasons, each use transforms a part of you, which is why Sybaline has an aunt with vines on her shoulders and a grandpa who is fully a tree.
The setting is gorgeously described, and I understand why Sybaline would be reluctant to just let the water sweep her home away; it feels truly idyllic and I too would want to remain there as long as possible. But as the plot progresses, the efforts of remaining in this beloved place are effectively outweighed by the realities, and the result is an ever-darkening, oppressive situation that it seems might be impossible to escape.
In essence, this is a story of learning to let go, a beautiful almost-meditation on fear, and an excellent examination of blame, fault, and choice, all wrapped up in a charming package.
(By the way, if you're looking for background music to listen to while reading this, I recommend James Newton Howard's *Peter Pan* score. It's the perfect mix of whimsy and darkness.)
She was in the valley because she hadn't wanted to learn a new way to live... and she was being forced to find a new way to live anyhow.
Much like the waters that encroached on the valley where Sybaline and her relatives once lived, this book and my appreciation for it creeped up on me.
Sybaline and her relatives live in an enchanted valley, but there's just one problem—a dam is being built to support the war effort, and pretty soon it's all going to be underwater. The government claims they've given her family plenty of warning, but Sybaline never, ever wants to leave—the magic is too much a part of her, and finding out who she is without it seems intimidating.
So, she doesn't leave. Along with her cousin, they remain behind in the valley through a series of what I would call typical pre-teen trickery and decide to form a magical bubble so they can live in the valley by themselves while the waters rise and create a lake around them.
Yeah, that's where things got really interesting.
A brief note about the magic system here: it's so cool. Magic only works in the valley, and when the characters who can wield magic pass beyond a certain point, it leaves them. The description of it leeching out of Sybaline on the occasions she leaves sounds almost like an anxiety attack, with her mother telling her to breathe through it. And that makes perfect sense, given it's such an innate part of her existence. However, that also leads to some interesting conflicts with her siblings. The other great part about magic here is its consequences: if it's used in an "unnatural" way or for selfish reasons, each use transforms a part of you, which is why Sybaline has an aunt with vines on her shoulders and a grandpa who is fully a tree.
The setting is gorgeously described, and I understand why Sybaline would be reluctant to just let the water sweep her home away; it feels truly idyllic and I too would want to remain there as long as possible. But as the plot progresses, the efforts of remaining in this beloved place are effectively outweighed by the realities, and the result is an ever-darkening, oppressive situation that it seems might be impossible to escape.
In essence, this is a story of learning to let go, a beautiful almost-meditation on fear, and an excellent examination of blame, fault, and choice, all wrapped up in a charming package.
(By the way, if you're looking for background music to listen to while reading this, I recommend James Newton Howard's *Peter Pan* score. It's the perfect mix of whimsy and darkness.)
May 29, 2022
I loved the premise of this story and I can totally sympathise with the pain of not only leaving your family home, with all its memories and comforts, but also with leaving a beautiful location, and exchanging seventy-two acres of mountain for a small apartment in a city. I would not need there to be magic to be devastated by losing it.
I loved the horror elements of this story, as the lake waters rise and the impact on Sybaline’s home. Everything goes awry for the kids, which was fun to read, and I also loved the transformation plotline, and how the children dealt with everything in the changing valley.
There is no explanation for the magic in the valley, or why Sybaline and her family can use it while other people don’t even notice it. No reason for why the magic stays in the valley, and it seems to be of limited use and quick to punish any infringement. Aunt Ethel for example grew vines on her shoulders because she used the magic to save her family from perishing in a fire. Magical realism isn’t my favourite genre (well-worked out magic systems are more to my taste), but it’s done well in this book. I could almost feel the magic as Sybaline pulled and pushed it, and manipulated it.
There are some great themes in the story: actions have consequence, the use and abuse of natural resources, about letting go, and focusing on what really is important, as well as self-sacrifice, and the story has a nice, though not unexpected, end.
4.5/5 stars
I loved the horror elements of this story, as the lake waters rise and the impact on Sybaline’s home. Everything goes awry for the kids, which was fun to read, and I also loved the transformation plotline, and how the children dealt with everything in the changing valley.
There is no explanation for the magic in the valley, or why Sybaline and her family can use it while other people don’t even notice it. No reason for why the magic stays in the valley, and it seems to be of limited use and quick to punish any infringement. Aunt Ethel for example grew vines on her shoulders because she used the magic to save her family from perishing in a fire. Magical realism isn’t my favourite genre (well-worked out magic systems are more to my taste), but it’s done well in this book. I could almost feel the magic as Sybaline pulled and pushed it, and manipulated it.
There are some great themes in the story: actions have consequence, the use and abuse of natural resources, about letting go, and focusing on what really is important, as well as self-sacrifice, and the story has a nice, though not unexpected, end.
4.5/5 stars
May 22, 2021
A beautiful page-turner about the magic of place, home, family, and friendship. When the government comes to tell young Sybaline and her family that they must leave the valley where they have lived for generations to make way for the rising waters caused by a new dam, Sybaline decides to do whatever she can to stay. The valley is home to her, but beyond that, the valley is home to the natural magic that Sybaline and her family can use to aid nature's processes – helping plants grow, for example. But use magic unnaturally, and there are consequences. Sybaline and her cousins don't want to leave the valley, and with it the magic that makes them them. As they fight to find a way to stay, they wrestle with questions of what does natural really mean, and is home really a place? This is a story about the questions we face as we grow up and leave home, the wisdom of children, and the danger of getting exactly what we ask for. Brandt's prose is poetic and resonant, her characters sharply drawn, and the book moves along at a clip that always keeps you wanting to read just one more chapter. Highly recommended!
April 19, 2021
As someone who moved around a lot as a child, I wish this book had been available to me then! It's such a winsome meditation on what home means and the lengths we'll go to to avoid change. I enjoyed the characters so much and, to be honest, really wish there would be a sequel. I'd love to know what happens next.
*I received an electronic ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received an electronic ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
March 23, 2021
As a child this is a book I would have truly enjoyed. As an adult I can appreciate the imagination it took to write it, and I am grateful children will be able to experience it.
Set in Appalachia, Sybaline and her family have lived for generations in a magical valley tucked away from the throes of time and progress. As progress does, the world encroached on her truly enchanted valley and all residents were forced to leave or to suffer the consequences when the valley filled after the building of a dam to hold back the flow of water that came from the local river. Sybaline and her cousins scheme to stay in the valley and try to protect it. Soon their magic is bigger than they can imagine, and they have to learn to work together to survive.
A beautiful story of learning to let go that which we can not control. It is the story of family, loyalty, friendship, and magic.
Set in Appalachia, Sybaline and her family have lived for generations in a magical valley tucked away from the throes of time and progress. As progress does, the world encroached on her truly enchanted valley and all residents were forced to leave or to suffer the consequences when the valley filled after the building of a dam to hold back the flow of water that came from the local river. Sybaline and her cousins scheme to stay in the valley and try to protect it. Soon their magic is bigger than they can imagine, and they have to learn to work together to survive.
A beautiful story of learning to let go that which we can not control. It is the story of family, loyalty, friendship, and magic.
February 17, 2021
Juliana Brandt's WOLF OF CAPE FEN was one of my favorite MG fantasies of 2020, so I was incredibly excited by the opportunity to read her sophomore novel! As I've come to expect from Brandt, A WILDER MAGIC contains beautiful writing, heart-wrenching and true family relationships, and an utterly fascinating magic system.
Sybaline's valley IS magic. So when her family is forced to relocate due to a new dam, Sybaline is determined to use her magic to stay, sealing her home inside a protective bubble. But as it turns out, living in a bubble beneath hundreds of feet of dark, cold water has several unexpected ramifications.
This is a fantastically visceral book, and I found myself feeling chilled as the water levels rose around Sybaline. Brandt's passion for this landscape seeps into every word, so readers really do share Sybaline's pain as she learns to let go. It's a story about home, but also about leaving; about bravery and fear, desperation and determination, control and helplessness. Sybaline - and Nettle, Tevi, Maryls, and Fisch - and her magical Appalachian valley will stay with me for a long time.
Strong recommend to readers of MG fantasy, especially those who enjoy sprinklings of real-life historical elements. 4/5.
Sybaline's valley IS magic. So when her family is forced to relocate due to a new dam, Sybaline is determined to use her magic to stay, sealing her home inside a protective bubble. But as it turns out, living in a bubble beneath hundreds of feet of dark, cold water has several unexpected ramifications.
This is a fantastically visceral book, and I found myself feeling chilled as the water levels rose around Sybaline. Brandt's passion for this landscape seeps into every word, so readers really do share Sybaline's pain as she learns to let go. It's a story about home, but also about leaving; about bravery and fear, desperation and determination, control and helplessness. Sybaline - and Nettle, Tevi, Maryls, and Fisch - and her magical Appalachian valley will stay with me for a long time.
Strong recommend to readers of MG fantasy, especially those who enjoy sprinklings of real-life historical elements. 4/5.
March 7, 2021
This book has so much of me and my own life journey stuffed inside it! It's a story of home (what does home mean?), fear (how it affects our decisions), & change (how do we walk into change bravely?). These themes are woven into a magical story, with love of the mountains and love of family threaded through every piece of it. I so hope you enjoy every word I wrote (I know I do!).
As a little backstory to the setting in A Wilder Magic:
During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt created the Tennessee Valley Authority. It the job of the TVA to create dams throughout the Tennessee Valley in Appalachia, in states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. The dams helped bring electricity to the rural mountains, but in the process of their creation, around 14,000 families were displaced from their homes and entire communities were swallowed up by lakes. This is the background for Sybaline Shaw's story.
As a little backstory to the setting in A Wilder Magic:
During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt created the Tennessee Valley Authority. It the job of the TVA to create dams throughout the Tennessee Valley in Appalachia, in states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. The dams helped bring electricity to the rural mountains, but in the process of their creation, around 14,000 families were displaced from their homes and entire communities were swallowed up by lakes. This is the background for Sybaline Shaw's story.
September 12, 2020
The beautiful cover alone is enough to sell me on this story! But I was also lucky enough to read an early draft of this story and was immediately pulled in by Juliana's lyrical prose, the unique magic, and Sybaline's fear of the unknown. Juliana weaves a compelling story infused with a wild magic that will appeal to middle grade readers and their gatekeepers. I can't wait to get my hands on a final copy!
April 5, 2021
Truly creative look at how far a girl will go to keep her home. I really enjoyed the nature based magic and how it was passed down generation to generation. If you loved the sister aspect of The Wolf of Cape Fen, you will love the cousin part of this one! Beautiful writing, beautiful setting, beautiful ending. If you or someone you know is getting ready for a hard move, this is the perfect book!
January 2, 2021
A beautiful and unique story. I held my breath, I crossed my fingers, I had to keep reading to see what happened to dear Sybaline and Nettle! Your students are definitely going to want to read this magical book!
May 9, 2022
The valleys in Appalachia were all dressed for an outing.
Sybaline's family has always lived in the valley. The valley provides them with magical abilities that allow them to grow crops and protect the natural wonders. But a dam is being built and soon the valley will become a lake. Sybaline and her family are forced to relocate. But Sybaline doesn't want to leave the only home she has ever known and decides to use the valley's magic to save her home. But this magic comes with a cost, and Sybaline must decide between the valley and her family.
I visited the Fontana Dam when I was nine years old. I remember being fascinated by learning that the huge lake I was looking at used to be a valley full of homes and towns and cemeteries. Since that time I have always wanted to read a book about people affected by the dam's construction. When I saw this book, I had to pick it up because it seemed like what I had been waiting for.
I did like the story. Sybaline's feelings reminded me of my own during childhood moves (though mine were never at the government's behest). I think most of us can relate to wanting to do anything to stay where we were. Sybaline has magical powers to try to make this dream come true (wouldn't we all like that?), but she learns that just because she can do something doesn't mean it is the right thing to do or that it will lead to what she wants. These lessons unfold naturally and neither Sybaline or the reader are beaten over the head with them. I also liked the historical setting and the mentions of what was going on in the wider world during this time period (1940s?).
The mention of the historical context leads me to what I did not like about the book. For a children's book especially, it would have been nice to include a historical note to give kids some background information about the real history that inspired this book and maybe relating it to some things that are happening today. Also, the characters mention some of the things that had happened/were happening to Native Americans and Black people, which was great. But the way it was done felt a little like lip-service and unnatural to the flow of the story. Maybe it is because I am an adult reading a book for children, but I feel like that could have been handled a bit better.
If you like historical fantasy, then I would recommend giving this one a try. If you like survival stories, this one is a pretty good one as well. And, if like me, you are interested in learning more about people displaced by dam building, then you may want to check this one out.
CW: bullying, near-drowning, war
Sybaline's family has always lived in the valley. The valley provides them with magical abilities that allow them to grow crops and protect the natural wonders. But a dam is being built and soon the valley will become a lake. Sybaline and her family are forced to relocate. But Sybaline doesn't want to leave the only home she has ever known and decides to use the valley's magic to save her home. But this magic comes with a cost, and Sybaline must decide between the valley and her family.
I visited the Fontana Dam when I was nine years old. I remember being fascinated by learning that the huge lake I was looking at used to be a valley full of homes and towns and cemeteries. Since that time I have always wanted to read a book about people affected by the dam's construction. When I saw this book, I had to pick it up because it seemed like what I had been waiting for.
I did like the story. Sybaline's feelings reminded me of my own during childhood moves (though mine were never at the government's behest). I think most of us can relate to wanting to do anything to stay where we were. Sybaline has magical powers to try to make this dream come true (wouldn't we all like that?), but she learns that just because she can do something doesn't mean it is the right thing to do or that it will lead to what she wants. These lessons unfold naturally and neither Sybaline or the reader are beaten over the head with them. I also liked the historical setting and the mentions of what was going on in the wider world during this time period (1940s?).
The mention of the historical context leads me to what I did not like about the book. For a children's book especially, it would have been nice to include a historical note to give kids some background information about the real history that inspired this book and maybe relating it to some things that are happening today. Also, the characters mention some of the things that had happened/were happening to Native Americans and Black people, which was great. But the way it was done felt a little like lip-service and unnatural to the flow of the story. Maybe it is because I am an adult reading a book for children, but I feel like that could have been handled a bit better.
If you like historical fantasy, then I would recommend giving this one a try. If you like survival stories, this one is a pretty good one as well. And, if like me, you are interested in learning more about people displaced by dam building, then you may want to check this one out.
CW: bullying, near-drowning, war
May 24, 2021
A beautiful story w a Tuck Everlasting vibe tho set in the Tennessee Appalachian Mtns... which I loved.
Pg4- “The insides of her body tingled. This was how magic felt, alive and syrupy and warm inside her, almost as if she’d eaten and was full to the brim w good food and happiness.
“The magic existed in the land, a piece of nature itself.”
Pg7- “Don’t use magic in ways contrary to the natural world.”
Pg229- “...and fear for not fitting in wherever Sybaline would move- fear for losing the one thing she’d thought made her her.
“She’d bent beneath that fear and had allowed it to grow. She’d fed it with choices she’d made, guided by uncertainty and the looming unknown.
“Now, she could still be scared, but she would also choose to be brave. Her fear would not make her choices for her.” Pg230
Pg232- “There was only so much fear she was willing to confront head on in one day.
Pg245- “It hurts real awful for a bit, but it’ll go away. You’re coming back to life, is all. Sometimes living hurts.”
Pg249- “You made the best choice you could make, at the time,” said Momma. “Everyone looks back on their life and knows where they made mistakes. I’ve made plenty of them myself.”
Pg254- Acknowledgments
“You can be both scared and brace at the same time and making a home for yourself someplace new might be scary, but it’s made easier when surrounded by those who love and support you.”
Pg4- “The insides of her body tingled. This was how magic felt, alive and syrupy and warm inside her, almost as if she’d eaten and was full to the brim w good food and happiness.
“The magic existed in the land, a piece of nature itself.”
Pg7- “Don’t use magic in ways contrary to the natural world.”
Pg229- “...and fear for not fitting in wherever Sybaline would move- fear for losing the one thing she’d thought made her her.
“She’d bent beneath that fear and had allowed it to grow. She’d fed it with choices she’d made, guided by uncertainty and the looming unknown.
“Now, she could still be scared, but she would also choose to be brave. Her fear would not make her choices for her.” Pg230
Pg232- “There was only so much fear she was willing to confront head on in one day.
Pg245- “It hurts real awful for a bit, but it’ll go away. You’re coming back to life, is all. Sometimes living hurts.”
Pg249- “You made the best choice you could make, at the time,” said Momma. “Everyone looks back on their life and knows where they made mistakes. I’ve made plenty of them myself.”
Pg254- Acknowledgments
“You can be both scared and brace at the same time and making a home for yourself someplace new might be scary, but it’s made easier when surrounded by those who love and support you.”
September 3, 2021
Sybaline lives in a valley in Tennessee, which is about to be flooded, because the government wants to generate electricity. They, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been letting everyone know this was coming. But now the time has arrived, and they must move or drown.
Her family has lived there for generations, and there is magic there, magic that people who live there can draw from. The thought of moving to the city, and leaving that all behind is too much to bare, so she decides she will not. That she will stay. She decides to use the magic for “good” and protect the valley. For good, because if you use the magic the wrong way, it turns on you, and that’s not something she wants to happen.
She and her cousin devise a plan that makes it look as though they have each gone to visit the other, so that their mothers will not miss them in the move.
Once Sybaline makes that decision, the book takes off. Because, how can you keep back the waters of the dam. And what happens when you try to. And how high do you have to build a wall to protect your valley?
Kept me guessing until the very end. I like that in a book. Fun ride.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Her family has lived there for generations, and there is magic there, magic that people who live there can draw from. The thought of moving to the city, and leaving that all behind is too much to bare, so she decides she will not. That she will stay. She decides to use the magic for “good” and protect the valley. For good, because if you use the magic the wrong way, it turns on you, and that’s not something she wants to happen.
She and her cousin devise a plan that makes it look as though they have each gone to visit the other, so that their mothers will not miss them in the move.
Once Sybaline makes that decision, the book takes off. Because, how can you keep back the waters of the dam. And what happens when you try to. And how high do you have to build a wall to protect your valley?
Kept me guessing until the very end. I like that in a book. Fun ride.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
April 18, 2021
Thanks to MTMC Tours and the publisher for providing me a digital copy as part of the promotional tour!
I really enjoyed reading about Sybaline and her cousins. Because of a dam construction, Sybaline's family were forced to leave the valley and relocate in the city. But Syb is decided not to leave the only place she calls home. Leaving the valley means not being able to use magic, and it means abandoning a part of herself altogether. She went back to their home and was surprisingly followed by her cute younger cousins.
Together, they tried to protect their home, but real life problems occured and they found themselves fighting for survival.
I enjoyed the adorable characters and their views in life. It's really refreshing when you read from a younger perspective! I also like how magic was used in the story. Here, magic is tied to the valley and whenever the user tries to use too much, it will have some consequences on their physical body. It's a good story about being brave and facing the results of one's choices.
I really enjoyed reading about Sybaline and her cousins. Because of a dam construction, Sybaline's family were forced to leave the valley and relocate in the city. But Syb is decided not to leave the only place she calls home. Leaving the valley means not being able to use magic, and it means abandoning a part of herself altogether. She went back to their home and was surprisingly followed by her cute younger cousins.
Together, they tried to protect their home, but real life problems occured and they found themselves fighting for survival.
I enjoyed the adorable characters and their views in life. It's really refreshing when you read from a younger perspective! I also like how magic was used in the story. Here, magic is tied to the valley and whenever the user tries to use too much, it will have some consequences on their physical body. It's a good story about being brave and facing the results of one's choices.
April 28, 2021
Sybaline loves the valley where she was raised. Her family has lived there for generations, protecting it, loving it, and also loving the magic that living in the valley gives them. But when the government tells them they have to leave before the construction of the nearby dam is completed, or they will drown, Sybaline is furious. How dare the government kick them out of their home, especially when it’s the only place her family can use magic? But everyone else seems to have given up, and planning on moving to the city. Sybaline, however, isn’t going to give up on her home without a fight.
I received an advanced reading copy of A Wilder Magic in exchange for an honest review. To read my full review, visit my blog here: https://stephsstoryspace.wordpress.co...
I received an advanced reading copy of A Wilder Magic in exchange for an honest review. To read my full review, visit my blog here: https://stephsstoryspace.wordpress.co...
May 22, 2021
You know when you read a protagonist that you just want to squeeze the stuffing out of and tell them it's going to turn out alright? Somehow, this book has three of them, and I absolutely rooted for them all the way through.
I was a huge fan of The Wolf of Cape Fen, and wondered how Juliana Brandt could possibly follow it up with something that also manages to be both sensible/grounded and surreal/atmospheric. She absolutely delivered. A WILDER MAGIC has a dreamlike quality and deep emotional themes of dealing with change, seamlessly woven into the story of a family whose magic is tied to the valley they live in, which has been scheduled for flooding by the government.
Brandt's work tackles difficult issues with a gentleness that makes it appropriate even for precocious younger readers, with layers of emotional complexity that older middle audience will also appreciate. 5/5
I was a huge fan of The Wolf of Cape Fen, and wondered how Juliana Brandt could possibly follow it up with something that also manages to be both sensible/grounded and surreal/atmospheric. She absolutely delivered. A WILDER MAGIC has a dreamlike quality and deep emotional themes of dealing with change, seamlessly woven into the story of a family whose magic is tied to the valley they live in, which has been scheduled for flooding by the government.
Brandt's work tackles difficult issues with a gentleness that makes it appropriate even for precocious younger readers, with layers of emotional complexity that older middle audience will also appreciate. 5/5
May 27, 2021
First, a confession—the author is my niece. I am a retired elementary school librarian and have really enjoyed reading middle grade novels—still do. A Wilder Magic is a book for fantasy lovers, for those who believe there is no place like home, for those who crave close family ties, and for those who love a good tale full of twisting a and turnings.
Miss Brandt’s use of language is magical in itself, and the lyrical way she has built the story to its crescendo is pure pleasure. I found myself want to write down turns of phrase, descriptions, etc. Where’s my highlighter??
This was a very creative tale, and so much fun to read. It would be a fantastic read aloud for middle grades. It has a wonderful sense of place, and excellent character development. A very enjoyable read—even for an adult!
Miss Brandt’s use of language is magical in itself, and the lyrical way she has built the story to its crescendo is pure pleasure. I found myself want to write down turns of phrase, descriptions, etc. Where’s my highlighter??
This was a very creative tale, and so much fun to read. It would be a fantastic read aloud for middle grades. It has a wonderful sense of place, and excellent character development. A very enjoyable read—even for an adult!
June 8, 2021
A Wilder Magic by Juliana Brandt is designed for Juvenile Fiction for Independent readers. A family living in the Appalachian Mountains and draws magic from the land they live on in the valley. They use the magic responsibly. The Tennessee Valley Authority tells the families in the valley to move. The dam will soon be completed and their homes will soon be underwater. Sybaline, a young girl, desperately wants to protect her home. She uses her magic, to protect it and in so doing puts three cousins, a boy not from the valley and herself in grave danger. Children will be intrigued by this story.
June 10, 2025
This book started of fine, and I did end up enjoying it. However, eventually, I started getting sick of the repetitions. If you have read this book, you know that there is a lot of it. What I mean is... okay, so I don't remember what is repeated but here is an example if it:
She learned to ride her bike here.
She learned to play baseball here.
She learned to knit here.
She learned to run wild here.
You get what I am trying to say. This became so irritating to me that I had to lower my rating, despite having enjoyed most of this book. Unfortunately, this also means I will never be able to reread this book.
She learned to ride her bike here.
She learned to play baseball here.
She learned to knit here.
She learned to run wild here.
You get what I am trying to say. This became so irritating to me that I had to lower my rating, despite having enjoyed most of this book. Unfortunately, this also means I will never be able to reread this book.
August 10, 2021
I absolutely LOVED this book! Beong a children's librarian I read quite a few middle grade books; this one was different from the many I've read. I enjoyed going on a different kind of journey to learn about what bravery really is. In A Wilder Magic, the story telling pulls you into a totally different world. You are right there for the journey. I typically prefer 1st person over 3rd person, but this book was so intriguing I didn't mind. I loved how the girls worked together to fight the odds. They thought on their feet, and never gave up. This book was truly a gem!
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