Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.comMAGIC 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.
pada awalnya semua pasti menduga s pendobrak pintu new york-sydney itu Jason Black atau kaki tangannya-lah. ternyata setelah Reason d tarik k new york dy bertemu kakek2 tua-sangat tua, yang tersenyum dan sihirnya jauh lebih kuat dibandingkan kakek-neneknya (yg masih d curigai jahat). waktu Reason mencoba melawan dengan mudah s kakek2 melambaikan tangannya pada Reason alias menepis sihirnya. lalu si kakek nyuruh Reason pergi, beruntung ada ibu2 yang mencemaskan keadaan Reason di tengah musim salju karena dy cuma make piyama. reason berhasil menghubungi Danny yg secara otomatis datang menyelamatkan Reason. di Sydney jay-tee, Tom, dan Mere mencari dan berusaha menyelamatkan Reason. Jay-tee mulai sekarat karena 3/4 sihirnya sudah di minum Jason Black dengan meminta izin pada Tom, Reason berhasil bertahan hidup sedangkan Tom kembali ke rumah dengan keadaan sepoyongan. perasaan setelah diminum ini menyadarkan Tom klo Mere jg telah meminumnya *di buku magic and madness. Mere g jujur waktu dy sudah meminum Tom inilah yang membuat Tom kesal dan muali membenci Mere. seandainya Mere izin dengannya, izin meminta sihirnya tentu Tom akan mengizinkannya. New York.. Reason di temani Dany kembali k tempat Reason di tarik si kakek2, dari pelajaran sihirnya dengan Mere diketahui bahwa Reason tidak hanya memiliki sihir yang matematis seperti keluarga Cansino-nya tetapi juga sintesa semacam penciuman, merasakan, mendengar, dan melihat. respon penciumannya atas keberadaan si kakek2 adalah bau munntahan, buah busuk dan segala bau yang tidak sedap sehingga Reason mudah sekali muntah ketika menciumnya. bukan Reason yang menemukan si kakek tapi kakek itu yang menemukan Reason, Danny berusaha menolong Reason dengan beradu tinju malang bukannya berhasil menonjok kakek2, Dany malah terjaut dari tangga pintu. si kakek2 tidak meminum reason hanya memasukkan potongan dirinya ke tubuh Reason. setelah itu semua menjadi tidak sama bagi Reason. semua terasa lebih menyegarkan dan tidak lelah. Reason merasa lebih segar. dari tubuh si kakek Reason tau kalau dy juga Cansino sama seperti Mere dan Jason Black. tapi mengapa kakek itu tidak mati karena memnggunakan sihir yang terlalu banyak? dari sini Reason tahu kalau ada jlan yg bs menghentikan mati di usia muda atau gila hingga tua.
What do You think about Magic Lessons (2007)?
Sequel to Magic or Madness. The one where Reason gets sucked through the magic door from Australia to New York by a mysterious old man who has insanely strong magic and never speaks. Man, this was a mess. Critical facts (such as the old man's relationship to Reason and Esmerelda) would be revealed by someone "just knowing." But other important things were beaten into the ground; we'd see something happen to Reason in New York, and then we'd have an entire chapter of Reason recounting it for Tom back in Australia, and Tom telling JayTee. Also, alas, all ambiguity has now been removed from Reason's relationship with Esmerelda.I won't be seeking out book 3.(Locus poll 2007: #3 YA SFF novel.)
—Res
(part 1 of review)"Magic Lessons" by Justine Larbalestier is a 275 paged book. The main character in the book is Reason, Tom, and Jay-Tee. They are back in Sydeny after going through a magic door that goes to New York City. But, the door starts to shake and some odd shaped creature comes out of the door and attack Reason and every one else. After that, Esmeralda (Reason's grandmother) gives them their first magic lesson. Then at night in Sydeny the kids watch the door and when Tom and Jay-Tee are asleep the door shakes again and gets Reason, and then Tom and Jay-Tee wake up. Reason is back in New York and is helped by Danny (Jay-Tee's brother). But no one is sure who got Reason through the door without opening it.(part 2 of review) "Magic Lessons" by Justine Larbalestier is a 275 paged book. The main character in the book is Reason, Tom, Jay-Tee,and Esmeralda(Reason's grandmother). Right after Reason was saved by Danny, they went to his condo. Danny was suprized that Reason never watched T.V. or knew how a cell phone worked. After, Danny bought Reason some clothes to wear and it was night Reason could not sleep. She went in to Danny's room and then they had xxx. But in Sydeny Jay-Tee almost died so she ask Tom for his magic to stay alive. Then Jay-Tee found out that Esmeralda was dieing too. So they thought they could go through the door but when Mere (nickname for Esmeralda) touched the door something odd happened. When Reason was ready to open the door her Grandfather was following her. But Reason got in to the door in time. She found out how she went through the door. Her old ancestor wanted to get in to Sydeny and die there with his family. And in the end of the story Esmeralda finds out that Reason is pregnant.
—Sylviaanne
Middle book of the Magic or Madness trilogy. It maintains the magical setup of the first book and introduces a new twist - now there is a very powerful old man who is trying to get to Reason. She has to investigate why (while stuck in NYC and her friends and teacher are in Sydney) and figure out what to do about the impossible choice presented by magic. Not stellar, but it was a fun and quick read. There is some sexual content in the later chapters of this book, not graphic but you get the idea of what is going on. That might bother some people as the characters involved are both teens.
—Kalyn
