The Magical Imperfect is a perfectly magical book about Etan, a boy with selective mutism, and Malia, a girl with severe eczema, the friendship that grows between them, and their efforts to solve their problems with Etan's grandfather's Jewish clay with mystical properties. Set against the backdrop of the 1989 World Series and San Francisco earthquake, and told in verse, this is a wonderful story about community, friendship, and family.

Very emotional and beautiful novel in verse that captures the both the feelings of losing your voice and finding it. The fast paced nature of the poetry leans toward the feelings it features. Etan and Malia are unforgettable characters that go through an emotional journey toward healing. I really enjoyed the historical setting where the reader saw a major earthquake on the horizon. Truly a work of art for young readers.

The 1989 San Francisco earthquake is the backdrop of this tale told in verse about two middle schoolers who, through their friendship, find the strength to face the world. Through Chris Baron’s rich description, we feel the frequent tremors that are ALMOST everyday occurrences, but are still very disturbing, as well as the feverish excitement in their small, close knit town about both of the local baseball teams making the World Series. We also get to know Etan and Malia. Etan’s mother has left for treatment at a residential mental health facility and as a result Etan hasn’t spoken to anyone other than his grandfather for months. Malia suffers from a severe case of eczema, and is home schooled after gaining the nickname of “The Creature” from her classmates. We also learn about Etan’s grandfather who sailed on the Calypso from Prague to the U.S. via Angel Island, the Ellis Island of the west coast, along with many other long time residents of their small town. We watch as Grandfather opens the only thing he was able to bring from Prague; a mysterious wooden box full of secrets and magic about his Jewish heritage. It’s the box that contains where Etan finds some magic that can give Etan and Malia the courage to face their fears.

This is such a heartfelt story about friendship, family and community. I loved Etan’s relationship with not only his grandfather, but also with so many people in the community. His kindness and willingness to support his grandfather, walk a elderly woman’s dog or deliver fruit and vegetables to a housebound girl warmed my heart. I loved the community gatherings, whether it was supporting the kids at a talent show, or bringing a picnic to the town square to cheer on their teams in the World Series. I loved how all of Etan’s grandfather’s elderly friends, the people who had arrived on the Calypso so many years ago, came to weekly dinners at Etan’s apartment to celebrate the Jewish sabbath. It was a community I would have loved to be a part of, even with the earthquakes!

This is a story to read aloud or to offer to kids in grades 4-8. It’s available June 15th. Many thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for sharing the ebook copy.

A beautiful story told in-verse. Etan and Malia both are struggling - selective mutism and eczema. They find comfort in each other as they also navigate the San Francisco earthquakes. A great addition to classrooms, especially book clubs!

I loved this book. The themes and threads of friendship, of the earthquake, of family history, religion, immigration, chronic illness, and magic are woven together beautifully with the verse. But it doesn't feel like it's saying all these things, it really just feels like the story of two friends who make each other's lives better by being in it.

Malia and Etan look to be brave and together their story weaves itself into your heart! Absolutely love the relationships, community connections, faith, friendship, and family throughout this novel in verse! Oh-and the 80’s music mentioned brought me back to my childhood!

Loved this novel in verse. Addresses so many vital themes- dealing with loss of sorts, fitting in, being different, choices... but most of all, the restorative power of friendship. Poignant, deeply felt, resonant.

Exquisite novel in verse by an author at the top of his craft. There were times I had to stop to repeat a line over again because it was just so perfect, but then I was immediately swept back into the story. This is a book you want to finish in a single sitting. Aside from the gorgeous verse, the story itself is a masterful integration of culture, history, and health condition representation. Chris manages to tie in the historical events surrounding the San Francisco Bay earthquake of 1989 with a beautiful cross cultural friendship between a boy who struggles with his speech and a girl whose severe eczema keeps her away from others. The story is also an ode to the author's own Jewish heritage and his wife's Filipino culture. And if that weren't enough, all the pieces weave together in a way that feels effortless.

Chris Baron's verse gives voice to kids who feel separate from the world in one way or another, and he does it with such tenderness and sensitivity. THE MAGICAL IMPERFECT is no exception. Etan and Malia are both such compelling characters, and as a pair they just shine. The portrayal of magic in their natural world - trees, rivers, clay, earthquakes - is heartbreakingly gorgeous, and I adored the way Etan's family history is such a rich part of both his life and the larger message of the story. I already have some of Chris Baron's words hanging on my wall as a daily reminder of the magical, fragile, beautiful connections we humans share. This book will give me the opportunity to add a few more. Thank you to the author, Feiwel and Friends, and NetGalley for the eARC.

Magic and wonder can be found in the world—as long as one knows where to look. Etan and Malia stand out in their small community outside of San Francisco in the late 1980s. After his mother goes to a mental health hospital, Etan finds that he can no longer talk as freely as he once could. Malia, or The Creature as she is known, suffers from extreme eczema and is sequestered inside her house. When the two become unlikely friends, their bond helps them look beyond their insecurities to find a world that might learn to accept them both.

Written in free verse, this story is accessible to a broad middle grade audience. Carefully selected phrases welcome readers into the depth of the emotions felt by the characters in the story. Much like Etan’s selective speech, only the most important words are written into the narrative.

Cultural heritage is an important theme in this book, linking Etan’s grandfather to Malia’s grandmother in their shared emigration voyage to America. Etan’s Jewish heritage and Malia’s Filipina background are often referenced throughout the story, as well. The magic of the keepsakes brought from the Old Country provide support through many of the situations in which Malia and Etan find themselves.

At the end of the story, readers will find a note from the author that shares the many connections from his life to that of Etan and Malia. For those unfamiliar with the 1989 earthquake in the Bay Area, this story depicts the event in a tangible way, interwoven with a tale of two misunderstood young people. Middle grade readers who appreciate stories of friendship and family with some history and magic mixed in will love reading this multifaceted tale.

I'm normally not a verse reader, but I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book! The theme of resilience in the face of adversity really hits home. The verses kept the most basic descriptions interesting.

My oh my. Baron is so purposeful with each word in this novel in verse. A beautiful mix of uniqueness, belonging, friendship, baseball, singing, family, and traditions. The stories and characters flow so well together where we have Etan’s mother who is in the hospital due to severe depression, Etan who is “selective mute”, Malia who has severe eczema and is now homeschooled, Etan’s father who is obsessed with baseball and is losing his faith, and Etan’s grandfather who is always working but has something magical to share. This is all set in the 80’s where we get many references to this time, including the ’89 World Series, San Francisco earthquake, many songs that will get you signing like “Time After Time”. A memorable novel in verse that I am eager to share—also, that cover is gorgeous!

The Magical Imperfect was the perfect read to end 2020 with its themes of resilience and working together to overcome despite difficult circumstances and tragedy. I love how the author's gentle verse descriptions of even the most mundane objects like a tree or a pool of water make you feel like you've been looking at the world your whole life but not really seeing it.

For those who have read about or maybe even lived through the 15 seconds that rocked San Francisco on October 17, 1989, the certainty of that event looms on the horizon as the tension builds toward it. This slice of history as well as the discussions of immigration to Angel Island as the "Ellis Island of the West" make this a great option for adoption into classrooms.

What a beautiful, magical book. I very much enjoyed my early read of THE MAGICAL IMPERFECT.
⁠
Each time I read a novel in verse, I'm reminded how much I love this style of writing -- and Chris does it so well! He had me from the very first pages. I loved the family, the community, the kindness, the traditions, the hope, the magic, and how the characters face their fears by supporting one another.⁠
⁠
I'll eagerly be awaiting more from Chris!

This was a powerhouse of a novel-in-verse. I've been reading quite a lot of action adventure type stories lately and when I started this book, I thought it would stay in the more emotional, ethereal realm (I guess that may be my baggage with the "in-verse" tag). Boy was I surprised!

Not only did this book capture the emotions and life-view of middle graders immensely well, it also had a lot of intrigue, mystery, excitement, and a dash of magic. I was sucked right in and smitten. It is definitely an "okay, just one more page before going to bed!" kind of book.

One thing I especially enjoyed about the story was the relationship between Etan and Malia. Done in an easy, natural way, I could viscerally feel their bond blossoming and strengthening amid the excitement of the events in the story. And I have to admit, I did catch myself humming "Time After Time"... ;)

Both heartbreaking and heartwarming, THE MAGICAL IMPERFECT is an inspirational story of optimism and hope.

If only this review were as lyrical as Chris Baron's work...

Etan, a middle school student, has lost his voice. His mother has been admitted to a hospital dealing with mental illness. While he has a supportive father and grandfather, he is having some issues in school and generally is experiencing depression. Etan is well liked in his neighborhood, walking a dog for an older woman who has difficulty leaving her apartment and running errands for shopkeepers. On one of these errands, he meets Malia, a girl his own age who is being homeschooled because of a skin condition that leaves red and scaly skin all over her body. Malia and Etan become friends and find many things in common, particularly that their families are immigrants, as are many of those in the small California town where the story takes place.
Etan's grandfather has some special clay, not enough to make a Golum, but enough to try to heal Malia. Using the clay and his friendship, Etan convinces Malia to enter the town talent show, where she sings beautifully, surprising other students as well as her parents.
At the end of the talent show, the 1989 San Francisco earthquake hits, which is presaged by several smaller quakes throughout the book.
Told in free verse, the book explores several issues of family relationships, physical and mental illness, immigrant families and communities coming together after a disaster. Etan and Malia are realistic and likable characters. Overall, this is a wonderful book and I would recommend it for 4th through 7th graders, particularly those who struggle with reading, since the smaller amount of text makes the reading go faster.

This is a beautiful and unique novel in verse that highlights courage, healing and the power of friendship. I loved all of the intricate details and thoughtfulness surrounding each of the characters and the ways they responded to each other- one character dealing with severe eczema, a character that is hospitalized due to depression and a character that is labeled a “selective mute” to name a few. So much character development woven throughout the story. The 80s references were also fun to read and reminisce. Extremely well written! Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author, Chris Baron, for the early galley!

I absolutely loved Chris Baron’s previous verse novel, All of Me, and The Magical Imperfect once again showcases his ability to craft empathetic, real characters that young readers will relate to and be moved by. I highly recommend this new title!

The Magical Imperfect is a beautiful Middle-Grade novel told in verse and takes place before and after the San Francisco Earthquake in 1989. Books in verse aren't typically my first choice, but the first few pages hooked me. The narrator, Etan, is dealing with various issues, one of which is selective mutism. His mother has gone away to get help for her mental illness, and he is having a hard time adjusting. While running an errand for a shop keeper, he meets Malia. Malia is also known as "The Creature" by other students in the area due to her skin condition. The friendship between Etan and Malia is lovely to witness. Their acceptance of each other's "faults" is nothing short of heartwarming. Throw in a bottle of clay from Etan's family's homeland, and you get the touch of magic that takes this story to another level.
Another thing that this book does exceptionally well is to explore the family dynamics of both Etan and Malia. I treasured the scenes between Etan and his grandfather. Their relationship is beautiful and made me miss my grandfather terribly. I highly recommend this book for upper elementary and middle grades. There is a place on my library's bookshelves patiently awaiting its arrival after publication.

I absolutely loved this book; it was just beautiful. I'm a little uncertain about the "magical cure," but I like that it doesn't magically fix Malia, even though it does seem to help her eczema a little. She's still chronically ill at the end, even though now she feels ready to go back to school.