A Bitter Magic

Gr 4–6—Cisley watches her mother vanish completely during an illusion act involving a magic mirror, which leaves the 12-year-old alone in a parallel universe with her scheming uncle. Cisley is determined to find her mother and discover what kinds of magic are pure illusion and what kinds are real. Along the way, Cisley uncovers powers of her own. Unfortunately, she's stuck in Uncle Asa's Crystal Castle, a bizarre mansion (and tourist destination) filled with shifting mazes. Her loneliness and isolation aren't helped by her uncle's elitist attitude toward the servants and residents of the local community. Cisley's only friends are Elwyn, her pet lobster, and her tutor, Miss Porlock. By gradually becoming friends with Cole, a village boy, and getting to know the Roma who live in a local encampment, Cisley finds the strength needed to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance. The world Townley creates is mostly realistic, making the carefully crafted magical elements all the more frightening. The plot will be predictable for many readers, and the characters veer close to cliché, but Townley stays just this side of the line by offering an absorbing mystery and unusual fantastical elements. There are a few humorous aspects, such as when Cisley takes her pet lobster for a walk—which requires bringing a pail filled with water and stopping for repeated dunkings. The ending, both gripping and satisfying, features some darkly violent situations that may leave sensitive readers wide-eyed.