Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Like many other reviewers, this was not what I was expecting. I thought I’d be reading some magical realism or maybe a gentle fantasy. Although those elements are present, it’s really a story mostly about coming to grips with who you are when you have been told one thing your entire life, then reality ends up being something completely different.

Although some of the relationships felt real (I loved Rose’s relationship with her brother) some of them just didn’t feel right. Also, Rose was a little hard to swallow at first. As the story progressed and we understood her life better, this became easier to understand and the reader starts to feel some sympathy. The story seemed to drag on a bit but the second half was quite engaging.

The big unexpected aspect was the emotional (and eventually physical) abuse that we saw. There was no warning or hint about this in the promotional info or blurb. I am torn about buying this for my library. Some kiddos might really benefit from having access to this book, but I worry that for others it will be painful or even harmful and I don’t really want to have to gatekeep with every student who might show interest. That is not the author’s fault. It’s a heartbreaking, hopeful, and touching story. Just know going in what you’ll be reading.

One Jar of Magic was an adorable middle grade title that will get any child to read. It was a quick read for me and I am 10! I loved the characters and the story and the of course the magic. I want to read more from this author soon because her books are so filled with new inspiring things and so much power and magic that it really takes me out of my life and into a new world.

Haydu’s book is fantasy with a important message to readers—You matter, and you matter just the way you are. And you should feel safe in your own home. Not everyone needs to hear those parts of this book, many will simply to drawn into an imaginative story about a town that catches magic in jars to be used all year to make their lives better in a whole lot of little ways. Others will begin to think about how it might feel to be afraid of being hurt by someone in their own family. Still others will know that fear and wonder if they can do something to make it stop. And all of those readers matter...just the way they are. Perfect for middle grade readers of fantasy and warm fuzzy heart-warming books.

Beautifully written with stunning sensory detail. I truly loved this book, and I’m sure it will be a favorite with young readers.

I had heard good things about Corey Ann Haydu's books before reading One Jar of Magic. The characters are well developed and lovable! This is a great middle grade novel!

Going into this book, I was anticipating a story about having to readjust when life doesn't go according to plan, when your expectations are not met. And that is certainly a part of this book. But it quickly becomes apparent that it's even more about parental expectations. The thin veneer of appearance and expectation that holds up an abusive household. It's clear pretty early on that the dad is at least emotionally abusive. There are references to needing to keep the house calm and quiet, to do things exactly as he wants them. It's a disturbing family dynamic. As the book progresses we see how toxic the relationship actually is, both towards the family and in the community at large. Haydu is exploring these ideas of perfection and what we should really expect out of life. Being a story mainly of emotional growth and shift, there isn't a great deal of action. The final scene are almost anti-climactic, just a series of smaller changes as characters chose new paths.

I have loved all of Haydu's books and was so happy with the Newbery win this year. I feel like the tough topics that are dealt with in a world not exactly like ours in One Jar of Magic will resonate with children and show that there are others that don't fit in and others that feel they are disappointments to others. I feel that this could be a strong Newbery contender for next year's award.

One Jar of Magic by Corey Ann Haydu, 2021
Recommended for grades 4-8; fantasy

Brief Review:

Rose Alice Anders has always known that she is destined to “capture more magic than any other new twelve-year-old capturer.” After all, her father is Wendell Anders, the most magical man in Belling Bright. But when the time comes on New Year’s Day, she surprises and disappoints everyone by only collecting one jar of magic. Later that day, Rose meets Zelda, a girl who is “Not Meant for Magic”, and Rose wonders if maybe she’s also Not Meant for Magic. But in her ensuing identity crisis, she begins to question whether magic is really as important as her father has always taught her. If magic fixes everything and Wendell Anders is so magical, why is her family so unhappy? And why couldn’t her father keep her friend’s father from dying last year? Interspersed throughout this story are flashbacks from earlier in Rose’s childhood that gradually reveal that her father is actually manipulative and abusive. As the author’s note at the beginning of the book specifies, this is a story about the hardships and dark secrets that so often lie beneath the appearance of a “perfect” life. Despite its fantasy setting and its constant discussion of magic, this book examines the very real-life dangers that come from emotional manipulation, conditional love, unrealistic expectations, and an obsession with reputation. I highly recommend this book because it’s both an interesting story with an atmospheric setting and a thought-provoking commentary on family life and happiness.


Long Review:

Rose Alice Anders is meant for great things. In her hometown of Belling Bright, everyone over the age of twelve spends New Year’s Day collecting magic at TooBlue Lake, and nobody catches more magic than Rose’s dad, the famous Wendell Anders. The year Rose was born, her father got one hundred sixty-one jars of magic. Ever since then, he’s called Rose “Little Luck”, taught her all about magic, and made promises about the magical future she has ahead of her. This year, Rose is turning twelve and finally growing into her destiny as “the girl… who everyone knows is going to capture more magic than any other new twelve-year-old capturer.”

But despite all the magic in the Anders family, things aren’t quite as perfect as they seem. For one thing, as much as Rose loves and admires her dad, sometimes he says and does things that just don’t seem quite right. Like when he says it’s okay to use UnTired magic to stay awake practicing magic-catching even though it’s against the rules to use magic to help capture more magic. Or, for that matter, when he insists that Rose needs practice in the first place. Dad has always said that the magic decides who deserves it, so if Rose is already meant to be so great, why put so much extra work into preparing? But besides that, Rose and her older brother Lyle are vaguely aware that something’s wrong in their parents’ relationship. Their dad is so often angry and their mother seems so unhappy.

And something else is wrong between Rose and her long-time best friend, Ginger. Rose doesn’t know what the problem is. Their friendship has already endured many trials including the untimely death of Ginger’s father and the addition of a third best friend, Maddy. But suddenly, Ginger and Maddie seem to be best friends without Rose. Maybe they’re just jealous, or maybe it has something to do with their differing opinions on the right strategies for capturing lots of magic. Rose knows that she’s right because she learned it from her dad, the unquestionable expert on the topic.

Everything falls apart on New Year’s Day. First, Rose embarrasses herself by thinking she’s captured a jar of extra-special magic when her jar actually has nothing but lake water. Then she utterly fails to redeem herself by catching more magic than anybody else later. In fact, she ends up capturing only one jar of magic, and that’s with the help of her brother. Humiliated and distraught, and dreading her father’s reaction, Rose persuades her mother to drive her home from the lake early. On the way, they stop at a rest stop run by a family who is “Not Meant for Magic.” Rose had never known there even was such a thing as “Not Meant for Magic”, and she can’t help worrying that maybe she’s “Not Meant for Magic” herself.

For the rest of the book, Rose must contend with the gradual realization that she isn’t so magical after all and that her life isn’t as perfect as she’d always thought. She and her father tell people that her one jar of magic is somehow better and more powerful than all the other jars, but deep down inside, Rose knows that isn’t true. But as her life falls apart and as she gets to know Zelda, the girl from the rest stop, Rose starts to wonder if magic is really so good after all. If magic fixes everything and Wendell Anders is the most magical person in Belling Bright, why is her family so miserable? And why couldn’t her dad save Ginger’s dad?

Interspersed through this story are brief flashbacks from earlier in Rose’s childhood that gradually reveal her father’s flaws. He isn’t just eccentric and strong-willed, he’s manipulative and abusive and dangerous. Near the end of the book, (spoiler alert!) Rose realizes that she’s suffered trauma at his hand that she doesn’t even remember. He’s always thought he could fix everything with magic, but Wendell Anders’ problems run too deep for that.

As the author’s note at the beginning of the book specifies, this is a story about the hardships and dark secrets that so often lie beneath the appearance of a “perfect” life. Despite its fantasy setting and its constant discussion of magic, this book examines the very real-life dangers that come from emotional manipulation, conditional love, unrealistic expectations, and an obsession with reputation. I highly recommend this book because it’s both an interesting story with an atmospheric setting and a thought-provoking commentary on family life and happiness.

I loved this middle grade novel about finding oneself and figuring out ones place in the world. The way magic was used as a way to talk about this very feel experiences that young people have was beautiful. I like how it touched on so many issues such as mental illness, belonging, family, friendship and more. I can see myself giving this to many, many tweens!

One Jar of Magic is a beautifully well-written story about not just magic but also family dynamics and abuse. When I began reading this story, I was not aware that it would deal with such heavy content. The author wrapped the abuse in a setting of magical realism and hinted at it rather than exposing in detail. It was a little difficult for me to follow at first, especially because that aspect of the plot was so unexpected for me. I appreciated learning more about Rose's father's back story and Rose's growth in discovering who she is as a person apart from magic and her father. I would recommend this novel for fans of magical realism, though would advise that some of the content may be triggering for readers who may be unsuspecting of the abuse story line.

I received this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley which did not affect the content of my review. All opinions are honest and my own.

One Jar of Magic introduces a reader where magic is gathered and put into jars. Rose is 12 and is ready to take gather her first jars and take after her famous father. When Rose fails to gather hardly any magic her father stops talking to her. The father is a abusive but the author keeps it vague but it still might be a bit much for younger readers. The book takes the reader on Rose's journey of finder herself.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really struggled with this book, I just found it completely underwhelming and really had a tough time with the story and the characters. I liked the concept of magic being kept in jars and how they were used, and with the idea that the whole town could capture and use the magic, but I think that part of the story was more in the background and sort of muddled what the real story was about.

Rose was an interesting character. The author did capture what it is like to be that age, uncertain of life and friendships changing. Her home life, especially her father, is what becomes the focus of this story. Her father is abusive, both emotionally and at times physically, which we see through mostly flashbacks and memories that Rose has. The story focuses around how Rose starts to see and accept that maybe this isn’t the best for her or her mother and brother and how she solves the problem. Which would have made a find story, except for the magical component, which just muddied everything. Although we are told at the end that magic doesn’t solve anything, which is true, but could have been handled better.

I also never connected with the writing style of the author. The constant flashbacks and memories of times her father was both good and bad, broke up the flow of the story. I did like the parts where Rose struggled with her friendships, those were well done as was her relationship with her brother.

This book does seem to have many glowing reviews so perhaps it is just me. I do think the author has an important message, I just think that the writing style and the inclusion of magic muddle up in the story and will not keep kids interested enough to hear it.

I knew very little about this book going into it other than it had something to do with magic. It actually has to do with much more than magic. When Rose turns twelve she can capture magic and because she is the daughter of the most magical man where she lives she is expected to follow in his footsteps. Rose finds out she is not good at capturing magic and begins to question what this means for her life and also the truth behind the person her father is. Dealing with abuse in a sensitive way, this is an important and hopeful book.

I picked up this book thinking it will be a cute middle grade novel about magic, but it was so much more. It was about navigating friendships, mean girls, abuse, and finding yourself. What a powerful story! This will be a must have for every middle grade library!

What is it like to be a child about to reach your 12th birthday and have impossible expectations thrust upon you by your father and, by extension, your hometown? Rose Alice Anders was born on New Year’s Eve the year that her father captured the most jars of magic anyone had ever heard of. Since that time he has called her Little Luck and continually told her that she will be just as magical as he is.

But is magic such a good thing? Should all life’s problems be solved by applying a magical bandaid? Worried about football tryouts? Open a jar of magic. Want a different hair color? Open a jar of magic. Yet, with all the jars crowding their house, Rose isn’t sure that their family is happy. If magic is so important and special, she wonders why things aren’t easier.

As Rose and the reader learn, magic isn’t a cure-all. It can’t help you hold onto friends that are growing up and growing apart. It can’t keep loved ones from dying. It can’t hold families together. But maybe there is something better than magic. Maybe human efforts and skills that have gone unappreciated in the town of Belling Bright are more important than the townsfolk have been willing to admit. And maybe one jar of magic is enough.

This is a great story for anyone who is feeling the pressure of conforming, meeting unreasonable expectations, or questioning all the books about magic that don’t show a downside. Without giving away a big spoiler, I just want to say that there are young readers who are going to identify strongly with Rose and will appreciate the additional information in the author’s note.

This book was a hard one to read for me personally. Not in a bad way though. But because it is somewhat relatable. This book is full of magic, which is beautiful. I like how the author stesses that you need to figure out who you are and not what others want you to be.

Rose is expected to follow in her father’s footsteps. Magic is his world, but Rose does not hear magic and struggled to collect one jar. Dad is easily angered and Rose so wants to please her father, but is that really the answer. Should Rose live in fear of her father, silencing her thoughts and opinions, walking on eggshells as magic does not seem to make her father better or those around him. Can Rose find power without magic?

I loved this book!
The magic concept/metaphor works throughout the whole book. This book covers a wide range of issues: friendships, growing up, coming of age, family problems/relationships, making decisions, standing up for yourself, etc. I think this is a great middle grades selection--or would make a great read aloud to younger students.
I was so pleasantly surprised by connection to VCFA where I received my MFA.

12 year old Rose, daughter of the most magical person in town, and surely meant to follow in his footsteps, fails to capture but a single tiny jar of magic on New Years. Revered, and tacitly feared, by the town, Rose’s father is a bully, emotionally abusive and controlling, and his daughter bears the brunt of his disappointment, as she struggles to find out who she is meant to be. Enchanting, at times heartbreaking, but beautifully done.