Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Brandt offers a magical and heartbreaking look at family and what it means to fight for the things you believe in. Sometimes, however, the hardest thing to do is let go. This novel would work beautifully in classrooms to explore these themes, as well as branch out into cross-curricular subject areas like art, drama, science, and social studies. A free, thorough, and extensively practical Teacher's Guide, for which I consulted, is available for this novel.

When the US government decides that they want to build a dam in the magical valley that’s home to Sybaline Shaw and her family, Syb refuses to comply, and decides to use magic to stop the flood and stay in the land she loves. But her choice has unpredicted consequences, which will force her to question what bravery truly means.

"A Wilder Magic" reminded me of my love for Middle Grade; it was such a cute, whimsical survival story! Despite Sybaline being a young girl, who is obviously naïve when it comes to a lot of things and has less power over her own emotions, I think readers of all ages will be able to relate to her struggles. No matter how old one is, the unknown is scary, and change feels like a threat. What we're leaving behind is too precious for us, often, and the fear of losing it forever doesn't ever truly disappear. And that's precisely what this cute little story is about: we don't need for fear to disappear to defeat it. Sybaline's arc revolves around this theme, precisely, and it's masterfully executed.

Another beautiful theme in this book is family. The immediate spotlight goes to Syb's cousin, Nettle, who's by Syb's side throughout the entire story. Both girls are fiercely loving and stubborn, ready to go any necessary length to protect their family. Where Syb symbolises the fear of change, Nettle embodies our not being alone in neither the fear, nor the change. Another bond I was charmed by was Syb's relationship with her mother. With Syb's father gone to serve in the war, she's the only parent Syb has left, and I really loved seeing the healthy parenting. Syb's mother never bosses her daughter around, or dismisses her feelings, even if she sometimes is close to losing her patience. There were other members of Syb's family, such as the Aunts or Syb's younger cousins, but they weren't given as much relevance. I personally would've liked to see more of them, particularly of the Aunts; as well as of the family's history in the valley. We get glimpses at some of the most notorious members, such as Papaw, but I felt like there were so many more names we didn't get to meet.

This being a middle-grade book, it's quite easy to read and enjoy. The prose was the right amount of lyrical, without being too figurative, or too literal, and did a really good job when it comes to building the magical atmosphere of the valley or the dark fear of the dam. I could perfectly envision all the settings!

All in all, this book sure reads like a triumph for miss Brandt. Would totally recommend to anyone looking for a comfortably easy book to get lost in, or a present for a little future bookworm! Can't wait to read the author's freshman novel, and whatever she decides to write next.

Fun and sweet middle grade book that will captivate your attention from beginning to end. I'm not a sucker for middle grade books but this one was a nice, different, and entertaining little book that I can't wait to share with my little students.

Sybaline lives in a valley in Tennessee, which is about to be flooded, because the government wants to generate electricity. They, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been letting everyone know this was coming. But now the time has arrived, and they must move or drown.

Her family has lived there for generations, and there is magic there, magic that people who live there can draw from. The thought of moving to the city, and leaving that all behind is too much to bare, so she decides she will not. That she will stay. She decides to use the magic for “good” and protect the valley. For good, because if you use the magic the wrong way, it turns on you, and that’s not something she wants to happen.

She and her cousin devise a plan that makes it look as though they have each gone to visit the other, so that their mothers will not miss them in the move.

Once Sybaline makes that decision, the book takes off. Because, how can you keep back the waters of the dam. And what happens when you try to. And how high do you have to build a wall to protect your valley?

Kept me guessing until the very end. I like that in a book. Fun ride.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

I absolutely LOVED this book! I am a children's librarian, so I read quite a few middle grade books. This one was different from the many I have read. I enjoyed going on a different kind of journey to learn about what bravery really is. In A Wilder Magic, The story telling pulls you into a totally different world. You are right there for the journey. I typically prefer 1st person over 3rd person, but this book was so intriguing I didn't mind. I will be putting an order request on this book now for our library, and suggesting it to all the kids who love this genre... and a few who may not know they love it yet! :)

It’s been a while since I enjoyed a middle-grade fantasy book so much! There is so much to love in this book, so I have decided to put together a list of all the things you should read this book for.

-The strong sibling relationships. This book was all about family relations. I loved how the main character, Sybaline, and her three cousin sisters shared such a strong bond. Tevi, the youngest, was downright adorable, though I have to appreciate the courage she showed throughout the book.

-The positive character traits. None of the four cousins were pampered little children, they were all independent and headstrong young women. I think they would provide great inspiration to all little readers.

-The beautiful nature descriptions. Since the setting of the entire story is a picturesque valley, obviously the description matters. And this was done very beautifully throughout the book. Though I am usually not one for artistic depictions, I did pay a lot of attention to them in this book, and found it really easy to picture the scenery in my mind.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to all those who enjoy scenic descriptions, heart-touching platonic relationships and live-saving (or threatening) decisions and choices.

"She would never question what it meant to be herself either, or rather, if she did question it, she knew she would be brave enough to find all the right answers"
I am so so glad that I was able to enjoy and have my hands on this book! This book was so meaningful and had so many lessons to learn that it would be a good read for anyone even if it was made for Middle Grade readers. The magic system is very interesting and the characters are beautifully written with their own quirks and goals. The writing style was lyrical and really beautiful. I really enjoyed seeing the Syb's point of view and I related to her so much, especially when I was a kid, as I was afraid of change and still figuring out myself.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys middle grade books with themes of growth, family, love and sacrifice.

This book is full of magic and fantasy. It was enjoyable and engaging. The story pulls you in. The message of family and moving on is powerful and kids would be able to relate to it.

Absolutely adored this magical middle grade novel by Juliana Brandt!

Sybaline and her magic are described so well by the author that I was gripped from chapter one. I relate to Sybaline's feelings about hating change and feeling powerless against it. Her desperation leads her to use her magic to "save" her family, but the consequences are more than she bargained for, and well laid out in this novel.

The magic system was really creative, and I love the way it was tied to nature, and this land in particular. The novel gave a voice to a tragedy not spoken of often enough, and did it by a magical and unforgettable story.

Very much recommend to book friends of all ages, as Sybaline's story is one of facing hard times and learning to let go- things we all face at times.

Thanks to Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sybaline and her aunts' families are living in the valley for generations. The valley is not an ordinary one, it is magical. Everyone has magic but they aren't allowed to use it for something unnatural. Life is peaceful there until the Government decided to construct a dam and asked people to evacuate the valley as it will work as a reservoir. Sybaline doesn't want to leave home at any cost. It doesn't matter if they don't have another option. It doesn't matter if she has to use her magic.

I loved the starting of the book, the magic system was so unique and beautiful. The cousins bonding was written so well. The pace of the book was slow that after 50 pages  I started to struggle with everything, MC, world-building, relations, struggles and writing style. I skimmed read it to find out the ending but it wasn't also impressive.

A wonderful middle grade fantasy about your roots & identity and how those can be tied to a place. In this particular story, Sybaline and her family are tied to the Appalachian land by their magic, and leaving means losing their ability to do that magic. I enjoyed this unique magic system and could relate to Sybaline's fears and anxieties about losing that connection to the place you call home.

This is a Fantasy Middle Grade book with a lot of magic. I love the magic in this book. This was a super fun read with a lot of cute fun characters. This book is all about a family being ran off their village land, and the land holds magic within itself that the family can pull from. This is a heartfelt beautiful story that is all about moving on. I really enjoyed reading this book. If you have a kid that is about 9 years old and up that loves fantasy/magical realism, and they are facing moving then this book may help them a lot. I also think kids that loves magical realism/light fantasy will really enjoy this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Sourcebooks Young Readers) or author (Juliana Brandt) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Bittersweet and sometimes dark fantasy novel set in a magical valley in Appalachia. Sybaline Lark's family has lived in the valley and used its magic for generations but are forced to move when the state decides to flood the valley to build a damn in support of the war (WW1? WW2?) effort. Unwilling to leave, Sybaline and her cousin decide to stay behind and use their magic to create a protected bubble in the valley with unexpected and potentially devastating results.

I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I found it hard to really connect with Sybaline as a character and thus felt like I lost interest halfway through the story. I think I only made it to the end because I wanted to know how it would have ended for these cousins.

4/5 stars

** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**

I absolutley loved this book. It was emotional and magical all at the same time! I think this is great book that deals with being forced to move from your home beause of the goverment. I love that the character wants to do what's right and be brave and not stand up for what she believes in. I honestly would recommend this to adults and kids.

Such a Whimspical Book! Perfect for children of any ages! I cannot begin to express how well written this novel was and how Juliana Brandt was able to transport readers into another world!

Sybaline loves the valley where she was raised. Her family has lived there for generations, protecting it, loving it, and also loving the magic that living in the valley gives them. But when the government tells them they have to leave before the construction of the nearby dam is completed, or they will drown, Sybaline is furious. How dare the government kick them out of their home, especially when it’s the only place her family can use magic? But everyone else seems to have given up, and planning on moving to the city. Sybaline, however, isn’t going to give up on her home without a fight.

I received an advanced reading copy of A Wilder Magic in exchange for an honest review.

A Wilder Magic is a middle grade fantasy novel by Juliana Brandt. It almost feels like a historical fantasy, since it takes place sometime in the past in the United States, but there’s magic in this part of the world Brandt chooses to write about.

This is where I want to start my review: by talking about the magic system. I thought Brandt’s description of the limits of the magic Sybaline and her family have was exceptional. We had some very clear limits on what they could do, and even physical limits on where they could use it. It was very clever, since it both added to the environment and also ended up forming a huge part of the plot. Brandt managed to weave these problems into the rest of the story, and by doing so, strengthening the entire narrative.

Sybaline was also a very relatable character. Or, at least, I found myself easily relating to her. After all, if I had magic only in a specific part of the world, I’d also be incredibly angry if I was being forced to give it up. And, as the book is told through Sybaline’s POV, I ended up feeling a lot of her emotions very strongly. I was so mad while reading this book, mad at the government, mad at the characters who refused to fight, just mad. And then, once Sybaline fought back, I just started to get hopeful, and later, worried and scared, as she did.

I just thought this book was incredibly exciting. The plot never seemed to take the path I expected it to, and, even though it was a middle grade novel, Brandt didn’t hesitate in piling on problem after problem. I’ll admit, I was actually scared in this book. I had to put the book down when I was nearly finished and try to get some sleep, and my dreams were all about this story, about Sybaline, and me just wondering how she’d solve the major problem she’d gotten herself into. When I woke up, it was all I could do not to dive back in, but I eventually got the chance to, and I finished the rest of the book in one sitting. The ending, while I won’t say too much about it due to spoilers, was incredibly bittersweet, but perfect for the story Brandt created.

A Wilder Magic was a fun and quick read. It’s a story about home, about change and about fear. I really enjoyed it, and read it incredibly quickly. I’d recommend this to any middle grade readers, or any lovers of fantasy. I think this book has something for everyone, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it.

A Wilder Magic will be released by Sourcebooks Young Readers on May 4. You can pre-order your copy here.

As someone who moved around a lot as a child, I wish this book had been available to me then! It's such a winsome meditation on what home means and the lengths we'll go to to avoid change. I enjoyed the characters so much and, to be honest, really wish there would be a sequel. I'd love to know what happens next.

Cute and adorable characters and great family dynamics! Sybaline, the main character is brave enough with her choices. The writing is also very descriptive which allowed me to have a clear image of the valley where Sybaline live.