A Question of Magic - Softcover

E.D. Baker

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1408839296 ISBN 13: 9781408839294

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Synopsis

Serafina is living the normal life of a village girl when she gets a mysterious letter from a great-aunt she's never heard of. Little does she know, her great-aunt is actually Baba Yaga, the witch. Summoned to her great-aunt's magical cottage, Serafina's life takes an amazing turn as she finds herself acquiring the powers of Baba Yaga. But as she grows into her new role, answering the first question any stranger might ask her with the truth, she learns that telling the future doesn't always mean knowing the right answers! In her own unique way, bestselling author E.D. Baker has crafted a funny and romantic story that combines some fabulous details from the original Slavic tale, with a wonderful new twist!

About this title

About the Author:

E.D. Baker is the author of Fairy Wings and Fairy Lies, The Wide-Awake Princess and Unlocking the Spell, as well as the Tales of the Frog Princess series of books, including The Frog Princess, which was in part the inspiration for the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog. She lives with her family and many pets in Maryland, USA. To find out more, visit www.edbakerbooks.com

From School Library Journal:

Gr 3–6—When Serafina's great-aunt Sylanna invites her to claim her inheritance, the girl's life is changed forever. Traveling to find her long-lost relative, Fina learns instead that she has inherited the title of Baba Yaga and the power to answer questions, no matter how complex, with words and a voice, over which she has no control. Resistant to her new position, she tries unsuccessfully to escape both the chicken-legged flying cottage that is now her home and the talking skulls and magical cat that inhabit it. However, when she discovers the newfound wisdom she acquires with each response, she succumbs to her fate. Meanwhile, her sweetheart, Alek, vows to bring her home. Fina-Baba Yaga instructs him on how to achieve that goal and is then kidnapped. Despite wars and other difficulties, Alek succeeds in his quest, and Fina, escaping her captors, returns to him and happily passes on her powers to her friend Dielle-the next Baba Yaga. While details of medieval life anchor the story in its realistic setting, its juxtaposition with a fantasy world inhabited by giants and fairies brings a different, broader dimension to the tale. Baker includes just enough sorcery to add a bit of intrigue and tension, and there are enough well-plotted twists and turns to keep interest high. The dialogue is fluid and often abounds with humor, especially in Fina's conversations with both her visitors and her skulls. Although she is the only truly well-developed character, both Dielle and Alek have enough mettle to prevent them from becoming mere caricatures. This amusing title is sure to win the hearts of girls who crave an active protagonist.—Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, formerly at LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• ISBN 10: 1408839296
• ISBN 13: 9781408839294
• Binding: Paperback