The Secret Science of Magic

February 1, 2018

Gr 7 Up-Sophia is a math prodigy who has a hard time connecting with people; as a result, she has one best friend. They do everything together, but stay mostly within Sophia's comfort zone as she tends to panic otherwise. Josh, a magician, believes that Sophia is the girl for him. He initiates a conversation with her to test out this theory. When she begins to finally notice him, he attempts to impress her with his magic skills, but her responses aren't what he imagined. Sophia thinks that she's a freak because of her photographic memory, intelligence, inability to express emotions, and poor social skills. But this novel isn't about saving her; it's about her coming to terms with herself and moving forward despite her fears. Although the book has a dual-perspective story line, it is skewed two-thirds toward Sophia's point of view. This Australian import has a few terms that some American readers might find difficult, but it's not too hard to decipher from the context. There is some mild swearing. Neuroatypical characters, nerdiness, social anxiety, intelligence, and magic make this book stand out among other contemporary romances. VERDICT A general purchase for most middle school collections.-Jennifer Rummel, Cragin Library, Colchester, CT

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2018
A quirky high school romance unfolds in the alternating voices of math whiz Sophia and aspiring magician Joshua.Sophia's social awkwardness forms the crux of the plot. Joshua is not anyone's typical boyfriend but is madly in love with Sophia. Josh and Sophia end up going to a party together, where their budding relationship sparks, but it fizzles soon after. Keil adds in a couple of wacky friends and difficult siblings to amplify the drama. The book's Australian origins explain the numerous references to its pop culture, and Keil's fans will be excited to see Sam and Camilla, of Life in Outer Space (2013), make an appearance. The story intricately explores the teenagers' quirky relationships and the notion of what it takes to feel comfortable in one's own skin. Sophia's character is authentically geeky, and readers will empathize with her anxiety. Although that aspect of Sophia's character is well-plumbed, however, her South Asian culture gets short shrift. There are multiple references to Sophia's brown skin, and her best friend, Elsie, is Indian, but their South Asian identity is not built into the story in any meaningful way, and some readers may feel that the acute lack of parents in the story is rather contrary to prevalent South Asian cultural norms.A meandering story sadly lacking the right dose of magic. (Fiction. 14-18)

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February 15, 2018
Grades 7-12 Joshua is a master of card tricks. Sophia is a math prodigy with an eidetic memory and an obsession with Doctor Who. Since seventh grade, Joshua has concealed his crush on her, but as high-school graduation approaches, he finds a way to express his feelings, gently and via magicslipping playing cards and other things surreptitiously into her locker, backpack, and so on. When Sophia is overwhelmed by anxiety after they kiss, Josh goes with the flow and devises a magic trick that resonates with her. Don't look for a romance filled with hearts and flowers here, but rather one that is sweet and built on respect and understanding. The story features a refreshing number of South Asian characters, Sophia's father is Sri Lankan, and though the dialogue can be overly snappy and clever, it works within the world that Joshua and Sophia live. Readers struggling with social and personal interaction issues, awkwardness about fitting into their community, and uncertainty about where their future may take them will embrace this novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)