Rough Magic

August 1, 2009
Grades 7-10 The phrase inspired by is truly fitting in this novel based on The Tempest. Mullin focuses on three generations of Calibans family, beginning with the powerful witch Sycorax, who begat Caliban not with the devil, but with Alonso! Like Prospero, she is betrayed and sent to the island where she goes mad with rage and revenge. In the process, she pulls magic from the island, and Caliban sets out to undo her wrongs with help from Mirandas daughter, Chiara. With so many strong women running about and employing dark arts, Rough Magic reads more like The Mists of Avalon than Shakespeare, even if passages are split into acts and scenes. With breaks that span years and even decades, the events of The Tempest are reduced to two and a half pages midway through, which leaves plenty of room for Caliban to take the stage. His isolation, sensitivity, and deep longing for his island effectively cement his humanity and move the plot onward. Mullins environmental message of hope and restoration is an enthralling take on the Bard.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)