A Wilder Magic
How far would you go to save your home? When Sybaline's enchanted valley in the Appalachian mountains is about to be flooded, she decides to stay. But will Sybaline's magic be powerful enough to stop the flood from destroying everything she loves?
A Wilder Magic is the perfect...
- fantasy book for girls 9-12
- middle school chapter book for fans of the supernatural
- tween book for girls age 9-12
- preteen gift for girls
For generations, Sybaline Shaw's family has lived in an enchanted valley in the Appalachian Mountains, using their magic to help grow the land. But now the government has built a dam that will force the Shaws to relocate, and they're running out of time before their home will be flooded.
Sybaline and her cousin Nettle can't imagine life without the valley and its magic, so they decide to stay. Using magic, they build an invisible wall around their home. As the water rises, they learn a terrible truth: the water will continue to rise, leaving them to live beneath the lake itself.
There is also a consequence to using magic selfishly, one that might transform both her and Nettle forever. If she can't find a way to escape, Sybaline and the ones she loves could be trapped in the valley forever.
Praise for The Wolf of Cape Fen:
"A stunning seaside fairy tale that will absorb readers until the very end."--Booklist
"A mesmerizing piece of magical realism packed with mystery, suspense, and, most important, love."--School Library Journal
"Intriguing mystery... Laced with dreams, this perplexing fantasy rewards persistent readers."--Kirkus Reviews
"Softly spangled black and white chapter title illustrations preface brief dream interludes belonging to other Fenians, emphasizing that the whole community is bound up in the baron's magic and helping to harmonize the novel's contrasting moods of coastal-town hominess and stark unease."--BCCB
Juliana Brandt is an author and kindergarten teacher with a passion for storytelling that guides her in both of her jobs. She lives in her childhood home of Minnesota, and her writing is heavily influenced by travels around the country and decade living in the South. When not working, she is usually exploring the great outdoors. She is the author of The Wolf of Cape Fen and A Wilder Magic. You can find her online at julianalbrandt.com
"[Kids] expecting a big move may find comfort in Sybaline's eventual acceptance of her need to leave the valley." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A highly readable look at family, home, and the importance of being true to oneself." -- School Library Journal
"Readers who enjoyed the Savvy series by Ingrid Law and Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve will love this little gem." -- Rebecca Williams, Portland Book Review
"The relationship between magic, nature, and intent adds a thoughtful level of complexity and cost to this sophomore novel by Brandt....a poignant blend of loss and optimism as readers empathize with Sybaline's rebellion against inevitable change." -- Publishers Weekly
