Magic or Madness Bk. 2:
Magic Lessons
by Justine Larbalestier

    MAGIC LESSONS by Justine Larbalestier
    Category:  Paranormal
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  3/16/06
    Publisher:  Razorbill
    Reviewed by:  Jocelyn Pearce
    Rating:  5 Stars


    MAGIC LESSONS is the second book in Justine Larbalestier’s trilogy, and it’s just as wonderful and gripping as
    MAGIC OR MADNESS! In this book, there are just as many questions as in the first, as every answer Reason finds
    only leads to more questions. For everything that’s resolved, there are five more things that I was anxious to find out
    as I read on! There is plenty of suspense in this book.

    Reason, Tom, and Jay-Tee have all stepped through Esmeralda’s magic door into Sydney, leaving behind Reason’s
    evil grandfather, Jason Blake, as well as Jay-Tee’s older brother, Danny, in New York. They’re being taught magic
    by Esmeralda, even Reason and Jay-Tee, though they’re still not sure they trust her the way Tom does. They’ve had
    some bad experiences with magic, but they know now that they have to use it, or else they’ll go crazy, like their
    parents. However, every time they use magic, they lose a little time being alive. Magic is not the blessing it is in other
    books; in the world Justine Larbalestier has created, it’s more of a curse.

    The door between Sydney and New York is acting strangely. At first, they think it’s because of Jason Blake, but it
    turns out to be something much more frightening and mysterious. They’re not sure what it is, but Reason knows
    something about whatever it is that the rest of them don’t: It’s a Cansino. She and Esmeralda are related to it. One
    more thing: it’s old. As in, centuries old. Reason isn’t sure what to make of this information, but she doesn’t trust
    Esmeralda, so she’s not telling anyone.

    Then she loses her chance to share it. She is sucked through the door into New York. Reason’s not as lost as she
    was the first time; after escaping the scary, stinking old man-like creature standing in front of the door, she finds Jay-
    Tee’s brother Danny, and stays with him. She can’t go back to Sydney; the old man, the Cansino, is guarding the
    door. She could always buy a plane ticket home (or, rather, Danny could buy her one; money is nothing to him, and
    she has none), but there are a few things keeping her in New York. One, she wants to find out more about the man
    guarding the door, and maybe do something to get rid of him if Esmeralda figures out what he is. Two, there’s
    Danny…

    Sequels often don’t live up to the high expectations set by the previous books, but MAGIC LESSONS sure does!
    It’s just as great as MAGIC OR MADNESS. One thing that I like about these books is Justine Larbalestier’s magic
    system; it’s very original, and it seems more realistic that, if magic existed, it would have a price. That makes this
    much darker than a lot of books about kids who find out they have magical powers, and also adds some extra
    awesomeness to an already great book.

    The number of questions being far more than the number of answers also adds something to this novel. Even though I
    usually think that a book is made less wonderful by a cliff-hanger ending, I don’t think that’s the case in these books.
    First of all, the main conflict of the book is resolved, but, as all answers do in Justine Larbalestier’s books, those
    resolutions bring new questions to be answered in the following story. Nothing here has been what it has seemed to
    be so far, but everything also makes perfect sense. Add this to great writing, wonderful characters, and brilliant ideas,
    and you’ve got an amazing trilogy! I absolutely cannot wait for book number three.