  | Like a charm (Like A Charm) Author: McNicoll, Elle | |
| Price: $23.08 | ||
Summary:
Ramya Knox always knew she was different. Her dyspraxia makes her clumsy and prone to attracting the disapproval of her teachers. Ramya didn't know she can see magic! But when a dog statue comes to life, Ramya follows the pup and discovers a world she thought existed only in fairy tales.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (09/01/23)
School Library Journal (10/01/23)
Booklist (08/08/23)
The Hornbook (00/11/23)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 10/01/2023 Gr 5 Up—A title that will draw readers into a magical world where disability, family, and community take on all new meanings. Ramya Knox, a 12-year-old with dyspraxia, finds herself feeling quite alone. Her mum and dad are always busy with their jobs as news anchors, and she isn't close to her extended family, several of whom are a little strange. The one person who seemed to care, her grandfather, has passed away, leaving her with the seemingly impossible task of finding and documenting the lives of the Hidden Folk. As it turns out, Ramya has rare magical skills that may put her in jeopardy if she doesn't learn to rely on the community of misfits that thrive unseen in the city of Edinburgh. This book will keep readers turning pages to find out what happens next. McNicoll blends discussions of neurodivergence seamlessly into the plot, slowly building Ramya's social circle as she meets vampires, kelpies, fairies, and witches. Ramya sees into hidden worlds in a way that recalls fantasies that have come before, from the "Chronicles of Narnia" to the TV series Grimm.VERDICT An engaging fantasy/adventure story ideal for anyone experiencing social alienation; it's especially deft in its handling of the topics of neurodivergence and disability.—Talea Anderson. - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 08/08/2023 For as long as she can remember, Ramya has lived with dyspraxia and feeling different, but she’s not prepared for how truly unusual she turns out to be. After her grandfather dies, she receives a bizarre inheritance: an empty guidebook to the Hidden World of Edinburgh, which she is charged with completing. Ramya is one of very few humans who can see through the enchantments that magical creatures use to disguise their true appearances. She's suddenly thrust into a world populated by friendly trolls, distrusting vampires, surprisingly helpful kelpies, and menacing faeries. It soon becomes clear that something is terribly wrong in both the visible and hidden worlds, and Ramya appears to be the key to saving them both. McNicoll brings a striking Scottish setting and its otherworldly inhabitants vividly to life with cinematic descriptions. Neurodivergent Ramya is a wonderfully complicated protagonist, imbued with deep compassion and courage but also incredible rage at being othered by parents and teachers. A magical, modern fantasy for anyone who has felt that they don't fit in. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
