A Method for Magic and Misfortune

A hardworking tween obtains magical abilities at an unexpected cost in this endearing fantasy novel by Farmer (Kwame Crashes the Underworld). Following his single mother’s death in a car accident, 12-year-old Marcus looks after his younger sister, hoping to alleviate some of the strain his aunt has been experiencing since the siblings came under her care. When Marcus discovers magic flowing through Grand Park that enables him to conjure money, among other things, it seems as if his family’s problems are solved. His abilities catch the eye of community leader Mr. O, the closest thing to a father figure Marcus has had since his physically abusive dad left. Intending to teach Marcus the art of divination, Mr. O enrolls him into a rigorous magical training program. But as Mr. O becomes increasingly suspect, Marcus must reevaluate his priorities and reconsider his values. In a heartfelt novel that examines themes of family and motivation, Farmer empathetically addresses abuse and loss—and the hardships one might face in their aftermath—across Marcus’s nuanced and thoughtfully rendered first-person perspective. The protagonists cue as Black. Ages 8–12. Agent: Emily Forney, BookEnds Literary. (Sept.)