A Snicker of Magic
Written by Natalie Lloyd
Narrated by Cassandra Morris
4/5
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About this audiobook
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.
Natalie Lloyd
Natalie Lloyd loves writing stories full of magic and friendship, including A Snicker of Magic, which was a New York Times bestseller, and the Problim Children books. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband, Justin, and their dogs, Biscuit and Samson.
More audiobooks from Natalie Lloyd
The Problim Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Key to Extraordinary Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Over the Moon Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
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Reviews for A Snicker of Magic
293 ratings40 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book was fun and beautifully written. I love books that make me believe in magic, and this was definitely one of them. This book encourages students to think of unique traits that others may not understand as snickers of magic, which I think is wonderful. This book is all about embracing your quirks and owning who you are, while loving others for the same reason.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Though I can appreciate it as a great piece of literature, it wasn't something I would normally sit through. It was a good book with many conflicts and a grand resolution. Definitely geared towards 5/ 6th graders.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Heartwarming story, slow pace at times. Otherwise, excellent.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A magical word celebration of a book! And the narration is truly excellent. I have enjoyed every spoonfull of this book while driving under big skies and moving through my mornings.
I would like more of life to feel like this book.. magical good-hearted and full to the brim with music wonder.
Take a scoop.. its worth it. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5such a wonderful book - rated by 6 year old girl
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This story took me to a wonderful place in rural America, and, most specifically, it take me to a happy place that can exist within all of us.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Awesome so thankful that I have this app thank you
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A magically enjoyable place to live for 8 plus hours!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I really liked this book. very unpredictable recommend for children above the age 8
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Though I can appreciate it as a great piece of literature, it wasn't something I would normally sit through. It was a good book with many conflicts and a grand resolution. Definitely geared towards 5/ 6th graders.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5It was horrible I hate it the voice was too sassy I don’t recommend it to young people
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love this story but maybe you could make it a little bit shorter
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5From 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.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5I had to give this one up. I found it boring. I dint know why because everyone raved about it.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book i love it very magical enjoy this book ??????
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When I met the author Natalie Lloyd at the Connecticut Children's Book Fair, I wanted to read her story because she seemed so sweet and interesting. When I started reading A Snicker of Magic I immediately fell in love with the writing. Natalie Lloyd has a lyrical way with words that lull you into the story while the characters worm their way into your heart. I love the character of Felicity and her ability to see words. As someone who loves words and reading I thought it was the coolest thing ever to be able to see words hovering in different places and above people. The words she collects are unique, eclectic and sometimes brand-new. I was sad when the story ended because I wanted to find out more about Midnight Gulch and its unique magic. I recommend this book to kids in fourth grade and up who love a good story about family, friendships, and magic. I definitely plan to read more by Natalie Lloyd.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I like the idea of bringing magic to a town
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5middlegrade fiction (realistic, with a little magic). Sweet, inspiring but still terrifically relatable debut novel from Natalie Lloyd. I loved the idea of the Beedle, the characters were dynamic and relatively complex, and the ending nearly brought me to tears (I think some might find all the neatly tied up bits a little much, but I really liked it). Parts of the plot were a touch predictable, but not as much as 'When You Reach Me' was, and that one won the Newbery.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Stunningly written! The kid inside of me was giddy with joy while listening to it. Enthralled with the reader’s voice. She was suitable for book. ?
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5so good. the writing is lyrical. i think that's what you call prose that reads like poetry, right? and i loved the characters and the mythology so very much. love is magic. that pretty much sums up the whole book.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Felicity has grown up on the road but maybe she's come home when they arrive in Midnight Gulch. Ms. Lloyd gives younger readers a taste of magical realism in a town that has ice cream that stays frozen without a freezer, piano players that can control a thunderstorm, and a main character who see words all around her. The magic and the breaking of the curse are a fun aspect of the novel, but the love and friendship that develop in the characters are what makes this story so lovely.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5great book you should read/listen to its really good ☺☺
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Charming, beautiful and magical. This book is just plain “splendiferous!”
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5A small town in the rural south were stagnation, escape and a magical past intertwine is vividly brought to life in Llyod's debut. Interspersed with poetic language and quirky characters A Snicker of Magic will delight and challenge young readers. The pacing is slow, however, and the mystery surrounding the plot felt rather un-magical, despite the magic.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Felicity Pickle collects words - words that people are thinking about, or words they want. Some words glow, and some dance. Some have wings, and some have zebra stripes. Yet although Felicity has traveled all over the country with her mama and little sister, there's one word she's never seen - home. Felicity is tired of wandering from place to place. Making new friends can be harder than fractions. . .especially when words like loser and clutzerdoodle fill the classroom every time you open your mouth.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A Snicker of Magic, by Natalie Llyod, is a magical story about family and forgiveness. Felicity Pickle and her family has moved around a lot, having lived in six different states and barely starting the sixth grade. Felicity believes this is because her mom is cursed with a wandering heart. They move to Midnight Gulch, a town her mother grew up in, and Felicity can already feel that there is something different about the town. Felicity has a special talent; she is a word collector and can visually see words all around her. This helps her gain insight to what people are thinking and help her possibly see into the future (this is the first time she actually sees the word “home”). Felicity learns that Midnight Gulch used to be a magical town but is now cursed due to an infamous duel her great-great grandfather was involved in. The more Felicity learns about the town’s history, the more she wants to try to break its curse and save her mother’s wandering heart.
This is a great book to learn vocabulary. Since Felicity is a word collector, there were words popping up everywhere. However, this story took a long time for me to finally get into and there were so many characters in it that I often confused their storylines. One other thing, I felt that the author uses the word “spindiddly” a little too much. It’s used for everything. Those issues aside, it was a cute whimsical story about forgiveness and family that I think a lot of people would enjoy. I would recommend this book to 4th or 5th graders that enjoy quirky stories. –C.C. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A beautiful story, read very well. The reader's voice fits the story and the southern accent lends this book a wonderful atmosphere. More from this author and reader please!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/52.5 stars. I struggled paying attention to this. It was cute, but just not what I wanted at the time.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Sadly, my twee threshold was hit too early in the story and I had to skim the last half of the book.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5"Some books are magic that way. Your body stays right here, hiding in a tree, tucked away in a closet, sitting up against a crumbling old building." Florentine grinned. "But good stories take your heart someplace else. My body'd never been out of south Georgia. But my heart lived everywhere. I'd live a hundred lives without ever leaving my tree.
--Chapter 14
Okay, so this story wasn't about the magic of reading, but I really liked that quote.
Felicity's mom doesn't like to stay in one place too long. They are forever moving to new towns and changing schools. Felicity and her little sister Frannie have gotten used to moving, but this time, they move to the town of Midnight Gulch, Tennessee. Mama grew up here and this town was full of magic. But now, most of the magic is gone - there is only a "snicker' of magic left. Felicity has a bit of her own magic, she sees words and collects them.
At exactly that moment, I saw my first word of the day:
Believe
The letters were made of melted sunshine. They dripped down the window glass, warm and tingly against our faces.
Felicity is a great character and her new friend Jonah is magical himself. He knows what people need and he helps them anonymously. Felicity meets a lot of magical people in Midnight Gulch.
This is a very cute story. I fell in love with Midnight Gulch, a quiet town that happens to make amazing ice cream (oh and it won't melt for 24 hours). Dr. Zook's ice cream, in 45 marvelous and mysterious flavors, including, Chocolate Chip Pork Rind, Orangie's Caramel Apple Pie and Andy's Snickerdoodle Sucker Punch. The ice cream has a bit of magic as well, one of the flavors even brings back memories. If this was a real place, I would want to live there.
In Midnight Gulch, Felicity finds family, a best friend and a sense of belonging. She doesn't want to move again. But how can she get Mama to stay? She can see the wandering look in Mama's eyes already.
Home isn't just a house or a city or a place; home is what happens when you're brave enough to love people.
Recommended to:
Readers in grades 3-5 who like their realistic stories with a touch of magic.