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Unabridged Digital Audiobook
Runtime: 8 hours, 12 minutes
Read by Cassandra Morris
Stories for kids tend to be fun, upbeat stories with only the lightest touches of conflict. But in the audio edition of A Snicker of Magic, author Natalie Lloyd mixes a magical tale with an honest take on some of the harsh realities of everyday life.
The story opens as 12-year-old Felicity Pickle arrives in the small town of Midnight Gulch, Tennessee, with her younger sister and their free-spirited mother. Felicity knows not to get too attached—because it won’t be long before her mother gets the urge to move on to someplace new—but something about the town still feels like home.
Midnight Gulch has a mysterious history. It was once filled with magic—until it all just disappeared. And Felicity is convinced that if she can bring the magic back to Midnight Gulch, she’ll be able to convince her mother to stay.
A Snicker of Magic is a surprisingly melancholy story, filled with characters that are generally weary and rather forlorn. Felicity is a sad and lonely little girl who’s never had a real friend. She struggles with her father’s abandonment and her mother’s inability to settle down, and her only real joy in life, it seems, is her magical ability to see words instead of just hearing them—an ability that she tends to keep quiet, scribbling her favorite words in a beloved notebook.
Other characters, too, struggle with their own loneliness and heartbreak—whether it’s Felicity’s country singer uncle or her lovesick bus driver. At times, it’s almost too much to handle. Their story, meanwhile, is unhurried and even a little old-fashioned—and some kids may find it a bit too heavy. But the storytelling is honest and heartfelt—and you can’t help but love these sweet, struggling characters.
In the midst of all of the sadness, though, there are also glimmers of hope—like Felicity’s word-collecting magic, the love of family and friends, and the Beedle, an anonymous do-gooder who performs random acts of kindness for those who need them most. It’s a wonderful, heartwarming idea—one that may just inspire readers of all ages to look beyond their own problems to reach out to others.
And it’s that kindness and compassion that makes A Snicker of Magic such a delightful read. It’s a magical story, but it’s also thoughtful and sincere. And though it may not be a wild, silly book, it’s a memorable one.
Charming yet whimsical and packed with emotions, A Snicker of Magic isn’t the typical kids’ book. But its honesty and heart make it a good choice for your next family road trip.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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