Melissa Keil’s The Secret Science of Magic is a unique and compelling twist on the typical romance novel. Shift away from the typical “quirky” star-crossed lover archetypes, Keil has created the kind of relatable and complex character that exist in real life, but rarely ever play a starring role in the media.
Sophia is so much more than a child prodigy – Keil lets the readers see the struggles “gifted” students often go through regarding their social lives, relationships and fears about the future. Sophia’s intelligence often seems like more of a curse than a blessing, as her logic-based way of thinking means she has a hard time empathising with people. Kiel’s writing makes it clear that Sophia’s problems won’t magically disappear if she falls in love, but it does show how the right person should be able to support her through her struggles.
Josh is not the average love interest. He’s nerdy, loves magic, and doesn’t know where his future is headed. While he feels a connection with Sophia and tries to impress her, he never tries to force himself on her and he does his best to understand her boundaries. He’s a refreshing break from the suave, over-confident guys that are usually the focus of young adult novels.
While initially Josh sees Sophia as a romanticised version of herself, he’s interested in her because he likes her eccentricities, not because he wants to fix them. Their romance is beautiful and unique because neither of them are forced to change their nature in order to make the relationship work. The novel focuses on the two getting to know each other, not rushing into a relationship that acts as a solution to all of their problems.
The Secret Science of Magic is a sweet and heartwarming love story that puts focus on the people behind the romance. Kiel gives us characters that are wonderfully flawed, and we love them for it. They represent real teenagers, not the glamorised versions the media shows us that don’t actually exist in real life. Characters like Josh and Sophia should be celebrated, and used as examples.
Ellie Marney’s new novel takes the grass-roots feeling of a tight-knit country town, and throws in an explosive mixture of cult ideologies, peer pressure and moral dilemmas. Set in a small town in rural Victoria, White Night tells the story of a status quo shaken by one secretive community, and a boy and a girl [...]
A heartwarming and honest read, Finding Nevo is a charming story of self-discovery and love. The memoir deals with some complex and relevant issues such as sexuality and gender identity, and while these kinds of stories tend to take on a tragic or depressing tone, Nevo keeps it light and relatable, making it an enjoyable read …
In the first book of a fantastic new middle-grade series ‘Tilly and the Boookwanderers‘ we follow Matilda ‘Tilly’ Pages, an eleven-year-old book lover who is cared for by her loving grandfather and grandmother in the five-storey London bookshop Pages & Co. Tilly has lived with her grandparents for as long as she could remember, since …
Highway Bodies is the second novel from Australian author Alison Evans after their debut novel Ida, which received a mixed opinion from readers, reviewers and critics. Set to be released in the February of 2019, Highway Bodies tells the tale of three distinct groups of Melbourne teenagers as the world around them falls victim to …
Scythe is a dystopian young adult novel by Neal Shusterman, and it tells the tale of a futuristic society in which all forms of death have been eradicated, and the only way a human can die is by being ‘gleaned’, a word which is synonymous with murder. However, only a few selection of trained individuals–known …
Angel Mage–written by Australian high fantasy laureate Garth Nix–introduces readers to the city of Ystara, a land in which angels, demons, musketeers and magicians all live among one another. Throughout the land, skilled individuals enchant and produce icons, which have the power to summon specific angels to aid with daily tasks and civil battles with …
Book Review – The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil
Sophia is so much more than a child prodigy – Keil lets the readers see the struggles “gifted” students often go through regarding their social lives, relationships and fears about the future. Sophia’s intelligence often seems like more of a curse than a blessing, as her logic-based way of thinking means she has a hard time empathising with people. Kiel’s writing makes it clear that Sophia’s problems won’t magically disappear if she falls in love, but it does show how the right person should be able to support her through her struggles.
Josh is not the average love interest. He’s nerdy, loves magic, and doesn’t know where his future is headed. While he feels a connection with Sophia and tries to impress her, he never tries to force himself on her and he does his best to understand her boundaries. He’s a refreshing break from the suave, over-confident guys that are usually the focus of young adult novels.
While initially Josh sees Sophia as a romanticised version of herself, he’s interested in her because he likes her eccentricities, not because he wants to fix them. Their romance is beautiful and unique because neither of them are forced to change their nature in order to make the relationship work. The novel focuses on the two getting to know each other, not rushing into a relationship that acts as a solution to all of their problems.
The Secret Science of Magic is a sweet and heartwarming love story that puts focus on the people behind the romance. Kiel gives us characters that are wonderfully flawed, and we love them for it. They represent real teenagers, not the glamorised versions the media shows us that don’t actually exist in real life. Characters like Josh and Sophia should be celebrated, and used as examples.
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Book Review – Finding Nevo by Nevo Zisin
A heartwarming and honest read, Finding Nevo is a charming story of self-discovery and love. The memoir deals with some complex and relevant issues such as sexuality and gender identity, and while these kinds of stories tend to take on a tragic or depressing tone, Nevo keeps it light and relatable, making it an enjoyable read …
Book Review – Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James
In the first book of a fantastic new middle-grade series ‘Tilly and the Boookwanderers‘ we follow Matilda ‘Tilly’ Pages, an eleven-year-old book lover who is cared for by her loving grandfather and grandmother in the five-storey London bookshop Pages & Co. Tilly has lived with her grandparents for as long as she could remember, since …
Book Review – Highway Bodies by Alison Evans
Highway Bodies is the second novel from Australian author Alison Evans after their debut novel Ida, which received a mixed opinion from readers, reviewers and critics. Set to be released in the February of 2019, Highway Bodies tells the tale of three distinct groups of Melbourne teenagers as the world around them falls victim to …
Book Review – Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Scythe is a dystopian young adult novel by Neal Shusterman, and it tells the tale of a futuristic society in which all forms of death have been eradicated, and the only way a human can die is by being ‘gleaned’, a word which is synonymous with murder. However, only a few selection of trained individuals–known …
Book Review – Angel Mage by Garth Nix
Angel Mage–written by Australian high fantasy laureate Garth Nix–introduces readers to the city of Ystara, a land in which angels, demons, musketeers and magicians all live among one another. Throughout the land, skilled individuals enchant and produce icons, which have the power to summon specific angels to aid with daily tasks and civil battles with …