Like a Charm

August 1, 2023
Grades 4-7 For as long as she can remember, Ramya has lived with dyspraxia and feeling different, but she's not prepared for how truly unusual she turns out to be. After her grandfather dies, she receives a bizarre inheritance: an empty guidebook to the Hidden World of Edinburgh, which she is charged with completing. Ramya is one of very few humans who can see through the enchantments that magical creatures use to disguise their true appearances. She's suddenly thrust into a world populated by friendly trolls, distrusting vampires, surprisingly helpful kelpies, and menacing faeries. It soon becomes clear that something is terribly wrong in both the visible and hidden worlds, and Ramya appears to be the key to saving them both. McNicoll brings a striking Scottish setting and its otherworldly inhabitants vividly to life with cinematic descriptions. Neurodivergent Ramya is a wonderfully complicated protagonist, imbued with deep compassion and courage but also incredible rage at being othered by parents and teachers. A magical, modern fantasy for anyone who has felt that they don't fit in.

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Starred review from August 21, 2023
In this eloquently written duology opener by McNicoll (Show Us Who You Are), a 12-year-old with Scottish and British ancestry is seemingly the only one capable of seeing magical creatures that live among humans. Following an emotional blowout between then-five-year-old Ramya Knox’s parents and her maternal grandfather, Ramya is forbidden from seeing him. Seven years later, Ramya—who is resentful toward those who view her as “useless” because of her dyspraxia—is stunned to receive a blank book upon her grandfather’s death, inscribed with an ominous warning: “Beware the sirens.” Ramya soon discovers that her native Edinburgh is home to vampires, trolls, kelpies, and fae. What’s more, Ramya learns that she has a rare ability to see through their protective Glamour. Now she must take on the mantle her grandfather left behind: recording the truths about the Hidden Folk. But as she delves further into the enchanted world existing parallel to her own, family secrets emerge and nefarious beings stalk her. By spinning a dark and delightful Edinburgh setting elevated by innovative twists on Scottish mythology, McNicoll paints a vivacious portrait of one neurodivergent tween’s experience navigating the world. Ramya’s frustrations and vulnerability make for a resilient character who refuses to be defined by her challenges. Ages 8–12. Agent: Suzie Townshend, New Leaf Literary & Media.

Starred review from September 1, 2023
A neurodivergent tween discovers a hidden world. Twelve-year-old beret-aficionado Ramya Knox is dyspraxic. When her famous newsreader parents move the family from London to Edinburgh, she is reunited with her previously estranged maternal aunts and her cousin, Marley. Her grandfather recently died and left Ramya a magical book that only she can read, and with the help of a mysterious stranger, she soon learns that she can see Hidden Folk (like sprites, trolls, and vampires), who cloak themselves in Glamour to blend into the human world. The Hidden Folk are being terrorized and divided by the power-hungry and entirely evil sirens, who wish to cleave not only their own world but the human world as well. With loyal Marley by her side, Ramya discovers how nefarious and dangerous the sirens can be, and how her own differences may ultimately be what saves both worlds. McNicoll, who mentions in her author's note that she also has dyspraxia, has written a timely tale that stresses how damaging othering can be, how important friendship and belonging are, and how differences can and should be celebrated. While the worldbuilding is cleverly wrought and inviting, more sophisticated readers may easily anticipate the plot twists; this minor quibble aside, tenacious Ramya is wholly likable, and a cliffhanger ending hints at further adventures. Most characters seem to be white; Ramya has dark hair, and it's unclear whether her given name is intended to cue South Asian heritage. An uplifting tale of magic, community, and acceptance. (Fantasy. 7-12)

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October 1, 2023

Gr 5 Up-A title that will draw readers into a magical world where disability, family, and community take on all new meanings. Ramya Knox, a 12-year-old with dyspraxia, finds herself feeling quite alone. Her mum and dad are always busy with their jobs as news anchors, and she isn't close to her extended family, several of whom are a little strange. The one person who seemed to care, her grandfather, has passed away, leaving her with the seemingly impossible task of finding and documenting the lives of the Hidden Folk. As it turns out, Ramya has rare magical skills that may put her in jeopardy if she doesn't learn to rely on the community of misfits that thrive unseen in the city of Edinburgh. This book will keep readers turning pages to find out what happens next. McNicoll blends discussions of neurodivergence seamlessly into the plot, slowly building Ramya's social circle as she meets vampires, kelpies, fairies, and witches. Ramya sees into hidden worlds in a way that recalls fantasies that have come before, from the "Chronicles of Narnia" to the TV series Grimm. VERDICT An engaging fantasy/adventure story ideal for anyone experiencing social alienation; it's especially deft in its handling of the topics of neurodivergence and disability.-Talea Anderson.

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2023
In the aftermath of her estranged grandfather's death, Rayma is bequeathed a mysterious book and the cryptic message "Beware the Sirens." She subsequently discovers she has the ability to see through Glamours ("a magical shield...that supernatural beings use to disguise themselves") and detect the occult inhabitants of Edinburgh, Scotland. Rayma finds it hard to get along in her special school (she has dyspraxia, a neurodevelopmental condition that affects gross and fine motor skills), and her emotionally absent parents don't help her adjust to her learning differences. The mission her grandfather left her, to document the Hidden Folk and unite them in one community, gives her a sense of purpose. The Sirens, however -- no longer bound to the water but able to use their powers of manipulation to cause division and strife in society -- are making the world colder and meaner, and Rayma is the only one who can stop them. A decidedly unaffable protagonist, Rayma is nonetheless sympathetic, determined to value herself despite the pressures her academic challenges have placed on her prickly personality. Her insistence on focusing on her strengths in a world that only sees her deficits is admirable. With a plot that emphasizes family reunification, and unexplored avenues including a mysterious Stranger who guides Rayma, McNicoll leaves herself plenty of room for possible sequels to this passionate, solidly constructed middle-grade fantasy. Anita L. Burkam

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)