Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart. But when she arrives in Midnight Gulch, Felicity thinks her luck's about to change. A "word collector," Felicity sees words everywhere---shining above strangers, tucked into church eaves, and tangled up her dog's floppy ears---but Midnight Gulch is the first place she's ever seen the word "home." And then there's Jonah, a mysterious, spiky-haired do-gooder who shimmers with words Felicity's never seen before, words that make Felicity's heart beat a little faster. Felicity wants to stay in Midnight Gulch more than anything, but first, she'll need to figure out how to bring back the magic, breaking the spell that's been cast over the town . . . and her mother's broken heart.

It took me a little while to get into this one, probably because most of the middle-grade books I read are action-packed adventure ones. A Snicker of Magic is not an action-packed adventure. It's more of a colorful, slow-and-steady but magically immersive story.

What struck me the most as I read A Snicker of Magic is how perfect a read it is for kids who see the world a bit differently, especially kids with types of synesthesia. How wonderful to think that our differences in how we perceive the world could be "snickers of magic." Not just how we perceive the world, but our talents and skills and all the things that make is unique; feeling that those attributes are little bits of magic could give some kids a whole new outlook on life.

Note: I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley. ( )

Magical adventure for the middle grade crowd. ( )

From the delightful wordsmithing, to the wonderful characters, to the really excellent slices of the magical world, this book has all the charm one can hope for. Featuring wacky ice cream flavors, poetic synesthesia and troop of kindness-spreading Beedles, this is the story of finding home and holding onto it with all your might. ( )

What an enjoyable read traveling with Felicity on her journey in Midnight Gulch. You may get a craving for ice cream while reading this books, as well as a belief in the magic of the world around us. Felicity's family has been moving around a lot when they return to their Mother's hometown of Midnight Gulch, where legend has it, magic is still lingering. I loved hearing about the words that Felicity collected and her friendship that she built with Jonah throughout the book. She has to overcome some struggles with speaking in front of others and finding a place she can truly call home. This would be a great book to bridge the gap for a realistic fiction fanatic that is hesitant to try a fantasy novel! ( )