I realized this week-end that I have five (yes, five) books sitting around in various states of half-read sadness. So, I picked one up & made it my quest to finish it. The result – a very cool and fun read that I will probably go through again to catch what I missed. Sorcery & Cecilia was written by two authors who took turns writing the letters between the two main characters without discussing where the story was going. A very fun & challenging idea, and an activity I would love to try with my students to stretch their writing.
Summary: It is time for another London season, and cousins Kate and Cecy find themselves woefully separated, with Kate in London under the watchful eye of Aunt Charlotte with the goal of landing a well-to-do husband while Cecy remains at home in Essex with her father & Aunt Elizabeth. The novel consists of their letters to one another, and through these letters the reader sees a mystery develop.
In the world of Sorcery & Cecelia, magic is very real and wizards/witches are well-trained and respected members of society. Kate finds herself caught in a case of mistaken identity when a witch tries to poison her while she attends a ceremony at the Royal College of Wizards. Kate finds herself entering into a sham engagement with the Mysterious Marquis, both for her own protection and to save him from entering into any dangerous entanglements. Cecy, meanwhile, is trying to discover the true motives of their wizard neighbor, Sir Hilary, all the while learning to use her own magical skills.
The story is full of romance, intrigue, suspense, and polite society. If Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling had written a novel together, this might be the result. Any fan of Austen’s mannerly fiction will enjoy this, and those who have a soft spot for magical escapades will find themselves drawn in as well.
Themes:
Love
Good vs. Evil
Age Appropriateness:
Grades 5 & up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: none
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