A Gift of Magic
| Author | Lois Duncan |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Supernatural fiction, young adult literature |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
Publication date | 1971 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover & paperback) |
| Pages | 183 (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0-316-19545-6 (first edition) |
| OCLC | 214877 |
| LC Class | PZ7.D9117 Gh |
A Gift of Magic is a 1971 novel by Lois Duncan about a grandmother who gives her grandchildren distinct gifts. Brendon is given the gift of music, Kirby is given the gift of dance, and Nancy is given the gift of magic.[1][2]
Background
A Gift of Magic was originally published in 1971 by Little, Brown and Company in hardcover.[1] In 2012, the novel was reissued with changes to modernize the content, and changes to the name and ages of some of the characters.[2][3] A 2012 audiobook based on the updated text was published by Hachette Audio and narrated by Casey Holloway.[4] Amanda Raklovits from the School Library Journal thought that she "delivers an adequate performance of Duncan's paranormal tale" and that her "youthful voice is appropriate for the main characters' ages, though she has a tendency to over-enunciate at times."[5]
Reception
In a 1971 review of the novel, Peggy Sullivan from the School Library Journal viewed the book positively, stating that "[b]ackground on extrasensory perception is well woven into the story".[6] Mari Ness wrote in a 2014 review for Tor.com that the updated novel was a stronger work, stating that A Gift of Magic "has a fascinating portrait of someone with immense talent who just doesn’t care about it, and several strong family moments".[2]
References
- 1 2 "A Gift of Magic". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- 1 2 3 Ness, Mari. "Rewriting After Three Decades: A Gift of Magic". Tor.com. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- ↑ Lodge, Sally (September 23, 2010). "Lois Duncan Thrillers Get an Update". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
- ↑ "A Gift of Magic". AudioFile. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- ↑ Raklovits, Amanda (January 2013). "A Gift of Magic". School Library Journal. 59 (1): 61 – via Academic OneFile.
- ↑ Sullivan, Peggy (November 1971). "Review of a Gift of Magic". School Library Journal. 18 (3): 122 – via Literature Criticism Online.