Thursday, June 20, 2019

COPPER MAGIC


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Copper Magic, Julia Mary Gibson, TOR Books, 2014, 220 pp
 
Once in a while I like to read a novel meant for children. I read this one because the author is sister-in-law to a member of one of my reading groups. It was wonderful.
 
Violet Blake is 12 years old in 1906. She lives near Lake Michigan alone with her father, a farmer. Her mother took Violet's adored baby brother and went off on a journey to be with her people and heal from depression. Violet has begun to feel they may never return.

One day she finds a copper talisman in the shape of a hand. If ever there was a girl in need of some magical thinking, it is Violet. She is strong, capable and brave but she also lies.

As she says on the first page, "There wasn't one soul who knew how I made up things. I did it just for the doing of it, not just lying when you're cornered like anybody will."

I loved Violet at once. As she goes about making wishes on the copper hand, some of which come true, she encounters all manner of opportunities as well as difficulties. All she wants is her mother and brother back.

In addition to the setting, the time period, the characters, I enjoyed this story the most for the empowerment Violet gives herself, once she decides to take her problem into her own hands.

Sometimes magical thinking backed up with real life deeds does make wishes come true.

12 comments:

  1. I think that novels written for any age groups can be great. I agree that books about children learning about becoming empowered can be particularly effective. Thus this sounds like a worthy and interesting read.

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    1. It might not be Harry Potter, speaking of empowerment, but the message and the execution are worthy!

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  2. So funny, but I picked up a hardback copy of this novel @ The Dollar Tree. Glad you liked this novel so much!!

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  3. This sounds lovely, Judy! But not available in Kindle. Any other eformat?

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    1. I found it on Nook, the Barnes and Noble e-reader platform.

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    2. Thanks, Judy - I'll check it out and see if I can read a Nook on my iPad.

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    3. That's right. There is a Nook app for iPad or iPhone.

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  4. This sounds like a wonderful little novel!

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