BOOK REVIEW: “The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel” by Natasha Lowe (Paula Wiseman Books, 288 pages, $16.99)
“The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel” is supposed to be ideal reading for children between the ages of eight and 12. I must be much younger than I thought … because as far as I’m concerned this charming tale is ideal reading for ME.
Natasha Lowe of Deerfield has shown off her whimsical, positive imagination in her previous books for young readers, “The Power of Poppy Pendle” and “The Courage of Cat Campbell.”
These books told the stories of young witches who were discovering their magical powers, trying to establish their own identities and also learning to cook.
“The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel” has similar themes, but like Poppy and Cat, Mabel is very much her own person with her own story.
“Miss Mabel” is set in the late 19th century. A horticulturally-oriented widow named Nora is surprised one evening to find an infant in a flowerpot in front of her house. She adopts the little girl and names her Mabel. Soon it becomes apparent that Mabel has magical powers — something that has never run in Nora’s family.
To help Mabel channel her gifts, Nora enrolls her daughter in the elegant Ruthersfield Academy, a famous school for witches. Mabel loves the camaraderie of her educational environment. She balks at many of the lessons she is supposed to learn, however.
Like non-witch schools in the 1800s, Ruthersfield aims to train its female students to be ladies, above all. Mabel and her classmates are taught spells that decorate a house, enhance their appearance or make a dinner party go more smoothly.
They are discouraged from experimenting with spells and from seeing themselves as creative or powerful.
Perhaps most frustratingly and even dangerously, the girls must learn to ride their brooms sidesaddle while wearing skirts. Mabel wants to soar astride in comfortable trousers. She also wants to invent spells that will change her household and the world.
As she tries to reform her school, Mabel is confronted with the knowledge (hidden from her by Nora) that she is adopted. Mabel needs common sense, courage and of course witchcraft to triumph over the challenges she faces. Triumph she does, however.
Natasha Lowe’s descriptive powers, humor and faith in humanity endear Mabel to the reader.
Colorful characters a-bound, including Mabel’s sour-faced nanny, Nora’s warm-hearted housemaid and a teacher who rides a newfangled bicycle and takes out a membership in the SOFTW (Society of Forward-Thinking Witches).
Lowe has included recipes in all of her books to date, and “Mabel” is no exception: an appendix lists the ingredients for a Victorian tea party. Like the rest of the book, it looks delicious.
Natasha Lowe will sign copies of “The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel” from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, at the World Eye Bookshop in Greenfield. She will read from the book at 1, and — at 2, magical treats will be served
Tinky Weisblat is the author of “The Pudding Hollow Cookbook” and “Pulling Taffy.” Visit her website, www.TinkyCooks.com