Monday, November 12, 2012

Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch


Genera: Fantasy/Sci-fi/Dystopian

Subjects: magic, supernatural, adventure, abilities, parallel worlds

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 310 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Scholastic

Summary/ product description: “On one side of the Rift is a technological paradise without famine or want. On the other side is a mystery.
Sixteen-year-old Glenn Morgan has lived next to the Rift her entire life and has no idea of what might be on the other side of it. Glenn's only friend, Kevin, insists the fence holds back a world of monsters and witchcraft, but magic isn't for Glenn. She has enough problems with reality: Glenn's mother disappeared when she was six, and soon after, she lost her scientist father to his all-consuming work on the mysterious Project. Glenn buries herself in her studies and dreams about the day she can escape. But when her father's work leads to his arrest, he gives Glenn a simple metal bracelet that will send Glenn and Kevin on the run---with only one place to go.
With MAGISTERIUM, Jeff Hirsch brings us the story of a complex, captivating world that will leave readers breathless until the very last page.”

My Rating: êêêê

My Review: I didn’t know what to expect from this book. The cover said fantasy, and the beginning was completely sci-fi, so I was confused about what was supposed to happen. What did happen was an amazing surprise, and the cover fit it perfectly. I was blown away by the creative world building put into this dystopian/fantasy. It’s totally different from the author’s first book, The Eleventh Plague. Heck, this book was way better.

Do be mad at me for spoiling this, but beyond the Rift, there’s a place full of magic, where technology doesn’t work. It’s like a EMP went off, and affected only half the world, taking away technology and giving people abilities. It reminds me of The Line series by Teri Hall, but a more extreme version. It’s really awesome. It’s also kind of like Under The Never Sky, or even The Other Normal (the fantasy stuff kind of…). One half of the world is high tech, the other has no tech, but magic.

Glenn is an okay character. She’s very scientific and does not want to believe in magic, her friend Kevin, who comes with her is more open minded. Glenn doesn’t want to believe that her mother is on the other side in this magical world, but when her and Kevin end up they, Glenn wearing the device that her father created, she has a harder time denying what she sees with her own eyes.  Everything she’s been told is a lie. There is no wasteland. There are people and creatures and villages.

The thing that Glenn discovers about her mother and herself will blow you away. And Kevin, as ridiculous as his hair style is, is a pretty great guy for helping Glenn. I recommend this book to the people who like both fantasy and sci-fi, and like the idea of merging them. Or if you like some of the books I mentioned.

Cover Art Review: Awesome cover. Love the colors and the birds. The girl’s head looks weird, but everything else looks okay. Lots of similarities to the cover of The Eleventh Plague.

 

~Haley G

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