A Gift of Magic
Written by Lois Duncan
Narrated by Casey Holloway
3.5/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
Lois Duncan
Lois Duncan (1934–2016) was an author of more than fifty books for young adults. Her stories of mystery and suspense have won dozens of awards and many have been named Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. Among the many honors and accolades she has received for her work, in 2015, Lois Duncan was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. Duncan was born Lois Duncan Steinmetz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; she grew up in Sarasota, Florida. By age ten she was submitting her work to magazines, and she had her first story published nationally when she was just thirteen. In 1994, Duncan released a nonfiction title, Who Killed My Daughter?, after her youngest child was killed in a crime that was never solved.
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Reviews for A Gift of Magic
138 ratings9 reviews
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I started this with great hopes, but it was predictable and I found the main character of Nancy overly whiny. None of the kids were very relatable, the mother was underdeveloped, and I kind of wanted to give the little brother a quick spanking. Overall an ok book, but I'm not a fan of the conceit the author used at the end.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lois Duncan never disappoints. This story of a girl with a special gift seems realistic and poignant - dealing as she does with life changes beyond her control. Autobiographical in nature.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An old woman lays dying and she bequeaths each of her grandchildren a gift: the gift of music, the gift of dance and the gift of magic. Nancy received the gift of magic and she comes to realize that using her gift for evil is very easy but to use her gift for good is so much harder. Lois Duncan delivers again! This is another wonderful book. Most of the book reads like a typical teen novel centering around the relationships of the siblings with each other and their recently divorced mother. Then the magic element is introduced and the atmosphere turns creepy. I've learnt I cannot predict a Lois Duncan ending and once again the story took a turn I hadn't expected and the very last sentence of the book is fabulous. I am really impressed with Duncan as an author. One thing that really impresses me is how her novels written in the sixties and seventies are not dated. Other YA authors should take note. Duncan does not use slang nor make pop-culture references and technology is very rarely mentioned. Occasionally there is a tiny indication that gives it away such as a mention of the Vietnam War or as in this novel with a mention of a Ford Fairlane. But her work (that I've read so far) is timeless and as relevant today as it was 30-40 years ago.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Years ago this was my all-time favorite book. I enjoyed how Duncan's protagonist enjoyed a unique ESP that let her know who was calling before the phone rang, and the suspenseful mystery was right up my alley.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/53.5 starsTeen twins, Kirby and Nancy, and their younger brother Brendan, move to Florida with their mom, and learn that their parents are getting a divorce. Nancy seems to have a harder time of it then either of her siblings. At school, she discovers that she has a bit of “magic” in her in the form of ESP. Her sister has a talent for dancing and brother a talent for music. They all try to come to terms with their parents’ divorce while Nancy tries to figure out how best to deal with her “gift”. I listened to the audio. It was a quick YA read, and things moved quickly, but likely due to being YA. I enjoyed it. I’m not sure any of the kids were particularly likeable, but they’re teenagers (at least the girls are), so...
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A really sweet story about a family of two girls and a boy with gifts of different things. Kirby is a ballerina, Nancy has magic/ESP, and Brendon is a musician.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Listened to the audiobook on the recommendation of a teen patron . . . and i'm rather surprised that she liked it so much. Originally published in 1971, this book sounds old, despite an updated reference to email. The entire family felt a little shallow, possibly because the audio performance was so mundane.
14 year old Nancy is dealing with her parents' divorce in a very egocentric way. While her twin sister and little brother are adjusting to their new home and school in Florida, Nancy stubbornly yearns for the nomadic life they shared with their journalist dad as he traveled the world on assignment. Nancy is so convinced her parents will reconcile, she is exasperated when her mom rekindles a relationship with an old boyfriend.
In the meantime, Nancy slowly (and I do mean s-l-o-w-l-y) comes to realize that her psychic abilities, taken for granted by her family, are a rare gift indeed. Used spitefully to the detriment of others, Nancy's powers finally do something good and readers get a rather heavy-handed moment of character growth. This short book then ties everything up in a neatly packaged epilogue with a last line that feels like a wink from the author.
Frankly, the only reason I finished this book was because I was listening to it in the car. A Gift of Magic reminds me of a 70"s television show--an uncomplicated, wholesome family drama (think Brady Bunch without the laugh track). I may have liked it then, but I'm not the audience for it now. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A fun story, but it was a bit predictable for me. I liked Duncan's exploration of ESP in this novel. Characters are quite likable and realistic.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Garrett children are all special: Brendan with music, Kirby with dance, but Nancy has ESP.