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	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Annelie Geissler
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Children’s, Teenage & Educational
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alechiadow.com

JUST A PINCH OF MAGIC

Alechia Dow

A sweet and magical middle grade debut that's sure to please even the pickiest readers.

Wini's family of enchanters runs a little bakery, but with the prices of magical ingredients skyrocketing, they're going under. Desperate to save her family's business, Wini takes a risk by casting a (sort of illegal) spell that would allow them to gather their own supply of their most needed magical ingredient: Love. But the spell doesn't work. And Wini soon discovers that it didn't just not work, it backfired. Badly. Now the whole town is in danger, and the Enchantment Bureau is sniffing around for whoever cast the wayward spell.

It's just been Kal and her dad for as long as she can remember. They've weathered everything together, including Kal's mental health struggles. But just as they're about to move to a new town for a fresh start, Kal's grandfather - who mysteriously vanished years ago - has suddenly reentered their lives with a desire to make amends. He joins them in opening their bookstore in the new town, but Kal can't help but wonder if he has anything to do with the whispers around her new home about wicked magic. And it's not just the whispers of the magical books in their shop.

When Wini and Kal cross paths - both hoping for the chance to finally make a friend without worrying about their family histories following them - the girls bond over being fellow outcasts. Together they search for the solution to fixing the magic gone awry in their beloved town - and just maybe get their dads to go out on a date.

Alechia Dow is a former pastry chef and librarian. She is the author of YA novels The Sound of Stars and The Kindred, and Just a Pinch of Magic is her middle-grade debut. When not writing, you can find her having epic dance parties with her daughter, baking, reading, or taking teeny adventures.

Available products
Book Published 2023-10-10 by Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends
Book Published 2023-10-10 by Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends

Comments

Dow (A Song of Salvation) delivers a magical story about family, friendship, and love that is both beguiling and surprising. An unforgettably rendered magical world paired with delicious descriptions of impeccable baked goods will leave readers wanting more.

YA author Dow's middle-grade debut is brimming with magic - and enticing recipes for readers to try. She holds space for the loneliness that both girls experience and for Kal's struggles with anxiety. Her superb worldbuilding and the authentic dialogue between the quirky, beguiling characters will draw readers in, while the heart-pounding tension and strong pacing will lead them to the satisfying conclusion.

Through an otherworldly setting, Dow explores themes of discrimination and judgment. Like a fine confection, the story includes enough brininess to offset the sugar, creating a satisfyingly piquant dish to appeal to both baking and magic enthusiasts.

Just a Pinch of Magic provides more than a pinch of fun. This delightful middle-grade debut is full of friendship, adventure, magicand recipes!

A sweet and satisfying modern fantasy novel ... Dow gives us the action and thrill of classic fantasy tales, with magical objects, haunted woods, and evil ghosts, but also looks thoughtfully at each girl's struggle to find her place, weaving in a powerful but not pedantic theme about the power of love and family. ... A tasty treat.

YA author Dow's middle-grade debut is brimming with magic - and enticing recipes for readers to try. She holds space for the loneliness that both girls experience and for Kal's struggles with anxiety. Her superb worldbuilding and the authentic dialogue between the quirky, beguiling characters will draw readers in, while the heart-pounding tension and strong pacing will lead them to the satisfying conclusion.