Teen Fiction - Fantasy

Old Magic

Name: Old Magic
Author: Marianne Curley
ISBN: 9781416989912

by Marianne Curley

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Overview

Jarrod Thornton is mesmerizing,

but Kate Warren doesn't know why.

The moment the new guy walks into the room, Kate senses something strange and intense about him. Something supernatural. Her instincts are proven correct a few minutes later when, bullied by his classmates, Jarrod unknowingly conjures up a freak thunderstorm inside their classroom.

Jarrod doesn't believe in the paranormal. When Kate tries to convince him that he has extraordinary powers that need to be harnessed, he only puts up with her "hocus pocus" notions because he finds her captivating. However, the dangerous, uncontrolled strengthening of his gift finally convinces Jarrod that he must take Kate's theories seriously. Together, they embark on a remarkable journey — one which will unravel the mystery that has haunted Jarrod's family for generations and pit the teens against immense forces in a battle to undo the past and reshape the future.

Synopsis

Jarrod Thornton is mesmerizing,

but Kate Warren doesn't know why.

Publishers Weekly

An appealingly witchy atmosphere combined with breathlessly over-the-top narration and a generous helping of high school intrigue go a long way toward camouflaging the slack plotting and clich d characterizations of this first novel by an Australian writer. Witch-in-training Kate is smitten with Jarrod, the new boy at school. Numerous chapters which Kate and Jarrod take turns narrating chronicle in great detail Kate's efforts to convince the doubting Jarrod that, in addition to possessing a vast reservoir of untapped magical power, he is also the latest victim of a centuries-old family curse. On the social front, loner Kate must cope with her potential soulmate's adoption by the school elite and his apparent role as the chosen boyfriend of the most popular girl, a standard-issue nasty-but-gorgeous villainess. Eventually, Kate and Jarrod leave their tiny Australian mountain town and travel magically back in time, to a medieval-lite version of 13th-century England, where they try to stop the curse at its source. Not surprisingly, the curse is lifted by novel's end and equally important back in the contemporary world, Jarrod commits to taking Kate to a very important dance. More old hat than old magic, but fun nonetheless. Ages 12-up. (Mar.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

About the Author, Marianne Curley

Marianne Curley lives in Australia with her family.

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Editorials

VOYA - Kim Carter

Having grown up with her grandmother Jillian, a practicing witch and healer, sixteen-year-old Kate recognizes power when she sees it. So when newly arrived Jarrod unleashes a windstorm in biology class, Kate steps in, calms him down, and gets him out of there before anyone else realizes what has happened. What surprises her, however, is how oblivious he is to his power and to the curse of disorder and disaster that has dogged his family for centuries. Not only that, but Jarrod is also angrily adamant that magic does not exist. As evidence to the contrary mounts, Jarrod decides to accept Jillian's help, and Kate and Jarrod travel back in time to 1252 to the English castle of Thorntyne and Jarrod's ancestors, Lord Richard and his estranged half-brother, the sorcerer Rhauk. There Jarrod must overcome his reluctance to claim his power, or Kate will die at Rhauk's hands and neither will see their present-day families again. Alternating narration between Kate and Jarrod, this novel provides dual perspectives on reality and relationships in a tale where the known competes with the unexpected and reason wars with emotion. With a solid story comprised of several age-old themes of fantasy and adventure as well as a savvy female nudging a clueless male protagonist into claiming his birthright, the book will appeal to young readers interested in magic, adventure, and budding romance. Reviewer: Kim Carter

Children's Literature - Cara Chancellor

Kate Warren knew there was something different about new-kid-in-school Jarrod Thornton from the first time he locked eyes with her. More specifically, she was probing his mind, and he was the first person—ever—to notice. Technically, Kate and her grandmother Jillian are witches, a fact that is widely speculated and has not exactly won Kate any popularity contests. When freak storms and unnatural disasters begin breaking loose whenever Jarrod gets angry, Kate begins to suspect that he is even more powerful than she is... and completely unaware of his gift. It takes two tragic family accidents and a surprising revelation about Jarrod's history for him to begin believing Kate's explanations of sorcery and ancient curses. Their last hope of awakening Jarrod's powers and saving his family is a dangerous trip through time to the year—1252—and the sorcerer who started it all. Curley gives her readers a lot to enjoy in this first novel: a magical yet realistic heroine, an awkwardly charming love interest, and a Middle Ages that combines the ethos of Wuthering Heights with spine-tingling black magic. Where the book falls short is its predictability. The love story is no surprise, nor are the dumb jocks and evil queen bees at Kate's high school. There also is some fancy narrative footwork to explain how Kate and Jarrod can change the past without altering the present. Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable read that could be used to make an interesting comparison of modern gothic fiction to its historical counterpart. Reviewer: Cara Chancellor

Publishers Weekly

School Library Journal

Gr 7-9-When Jarrod Thornton walks into the classroom, Kate Warren instantly senses that he is as different as she is. In anger, he unknowingly unleashes a storm in the science lab and Kate realizes that he has exceptional paranormal abilities that exceed her own. As an uneasy friendship forms, she helps Jarrod confront and internalize his talents. With her grandmother's help, the teens journey back to the Middle Ages and break the curse that has controlled the Thornton family for generations. On one level, this is a story about paranormal abilities, curses, and time travel. Deeper, it's an account of feeling different, friendship, and acceptance. The story is much like a train ride. The plot is fast and smooth and the characters' developing friendship is akin to the train's slowing and coming to a station stop. However, the language derails it until readers become used to the "Aussie-isms" throughout the text. (There is a glossary at the back of the book, but it is not all-inclusive.) It is obvious that Curley researched the architecture, peoples, and customs of the Middle Ages, and she skillfully integrates this information into the story. The characters are believable and are the strength of this first novel. While the message that it's all right to be different and to accept yourself for who you are is evident throughout, it's not overly dominant. Curley is definitely an author to watch.-Molly S. Kinney, Office of Public Library Services, Atlanta, GA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.