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Ordinary Magic

by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway (Goodreads Author), Hans Daellenbach

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 349 ratings · 118 reviews

In Abby’s world, magic isn’t anything special: it’s a part of everyday life. So when Abby learns that she has zero magical abilities, she’s branded an “Ord”—ordinary, bad luck, and quite possibly a danger to society.

The outlook for kids like Abby isn’t bright. Many are cast out by their families, while others are sold to treasure hunters (ordinary kids are impervious to sp...more

Hardcover, 277 pages

Published May 8th 2012 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens (first published May 1st 2012)

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Community Reviews

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Jul 15, 2012 Yearning To Read rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, books-of-incredible, children-s, fantasy, intriguing-idea, love-the-cover, netgalley-read, order-hardcover, surpassed-expectations, to-re-read, wizards, young-adult, 10-and-up, arc, reviewed, perfectly-titled

Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway
Pages: 288
Release Date: May 8th, 2012
Date Read: 2012, February 24th - March 1st
Received: ARC via NetGalley
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Recommended to: 10+

SUMMARY -
Abby is about to be tested for magic - will she be a Level 5? A 6? She comes from a very prominent family, where everyone uses magic well; her older sister tested at Level 9! But when Abby is discovered to be an Ord, a non-magical human, she is cast out by the society around her. Ords are unnatural - they...more

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Mar 19, 2013 TheBookSmugglers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: charming-mg, fantasy-awesomeness, hidden-gems, middle-grade-awesomeness, notable-reads-of-2013

Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers

Abby Hale leads a happy and normal life for a twelve year old - she goes to school every day and she's lucky enough to have a large, loving family and plenty of friends. And, just like anyone else her age, Abby cannot wait to be Judged, because Judgement means she will finally be an Adult and that she'll FINALLY be able to use magic (just like everyone else in the world). On the day of her Judgement, Abby is an excited mess of nerves and she wonders what...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Brenda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ordinary? What is that?

When ordinary is not normal and normal is an illusion, how can you be sure of what you know? Abby Hale is the youngest of five. On her twelfth birthday she heads to the guild where the mages will test her to discover her magical abilities. The Judging is an exciting to day and Abby can hardly wait to discover what her magical ranking will be. Her family has gathered. A celebration has been planned. So exciting!

Abby walks through the door and into the testing – her score…z...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ordinary Magic, extraordinarily dreamed up and written by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway, introduces readers to a world where magic is the norm-- everyone has it, uses it, lives with it. Except "Ords." Ords are, for those of us who are Harry Potter fans, Squibs: non-magical people born from magic folk. However, unlike in the world of J.K. Rowling, ords become "its," less than human, looked at by people as expendable, the shame of one's family, nameless things to be bought and sold into servitude (even t...more Ordinary Magic, extraordinarily dreamed up and written by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway, introduces readers to a world where magic is the norm-- everyone has it, uses it, lives with it. Except "Ords." Ords are, for those of us who are Harry Potter fans, Squibs: non-magical people born from magic folk. However, unlike in the world of J.K. Rowling, ords become "its," less than human, looked at by people as expendable, the shame of one's family, nameless things to be bought and sold into servitude (even though King Steve made ord slavery illegal) or simply forgotten.

However, having no magic also means that ords are IMMUNE to magic, making them valuable to "adventurers"-- men and women in search of treasures or relics or monsters to kill. Ords can bypass magical traps, spells, whatever, but are unable to benefit from magical healing and being saved if they fall off a cliff. Bummer.

On page one we meet Abby Hale, the youngest of five children born to a magical baker (or bake-ess, if you will) and flying carpet maker (that's how they travel-- awesome!). Abby is on her way to the Judging, a ceremony for 12 year olds to have their magic level evaluated for school.... I think you see where this is going.

Abby, it turns out, is completely devoid of any magic and one hundred percent "ordinary." At this point, society expects Abby's family to cast her out, sell her to the local Guild, or auction her to traveling adventurers. Instead, the Hales are a loving, tight-knit family who will do everything in their power to protect their daughter. Fortunately, Abby's eldest sister, Alexa-- a bada** witch-- runs a private school for ords in the city of Rothermere, where she can be educated on self-defense, survival, history, math, literature, and how to wash dishes. She meets friends along the way, runs into a couple sketchy adventurers, and has to learn a new way of life.

Ordinary Magic has a well-paced story with dimensional characters and heart-warming relationships, creating a world to which I'm excited to return. It's for anyone who loves fantasy, YA novels, a great story, and especially Harry Potter fans who are always on the hunt for another book to read after finishing that series. While the story centers around these ordinary children, the magical world is charming and open for even further development in future books.

I absolutely loved this book! Abby is a wonderful, witty girl with spunk, honesty, and a big heart; she's not perfect though: I found myself appropriately frustrated at her naivety and handling of certain situations.... but she's 12! Not only do I love and relate to Abby, but I also connected to the community surrounding our main character. The teachers, especially Becky, have mysterious backstories I'm still waiting to discover, and I'm interested to see how her friends Fran, Peter, and Fred develop. Oh and I love King Steve. He's just awesome.

Rich themes and an engaging story and characters left me wanting more, more, MORE! I was sad to leave Abby's world, wanting so much to continue my ordinary journey.(less)

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Dec 01, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

True rating: 4.5 stars.

A very enjoyable look at magic from the perspective of those who cannot work it and who aren’t affected by it. But the most magical thing about the tale is that it continues to grow on you right up until the final page. The characters become more and more interesting, and the plot slowly comes together until it explodes in full force. There is a warmth to the story also, due in large part to the author’s ability to make the reader care about her secondary characters, that...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Kaitlin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens-novels, fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. You know a book is good when as soon as you finish it, you immediately try to find out if there's a sequel, then begin crying and pounding at your desk when there isn't.

The fact that there isn't deeply upsets me for many reasons, not the least of which being we still haven't found Fran and the other missing students!

A lot of people have described it as Harry Potter in reverse but I found it more like taking Harry Potter and making the life of Squibs a hundred times worse. This book is at once a...more You know a book is good when as soon as you finish it, you immediately try to find out if there's a sequel, then begin crying and pounding at your desk when there isn't.

The fact that there isn't deeply upsets me for many reasons, not the least of which being we still haven't found Fran and the other missing students!

A lot of people have described it as Harry Potter in reverse but I found it more like taking Harry Potter and making the life of Squibs a hundred times worse. This book is at once adorable, disturbing, exciting and funny. The voice of Abby is so authentic, at once childish and shockingly mature. Every single character is so full of life, so realistic. They all feel like real people, despite the absolute fantasy of their surroundings. Even the villains of the story, especially Barbarian Mike. Even if you don't feel sorry for Mike or Trixie, you can at the very least admire their love and dedication to each other.

This book is definitely a page-turner, and every time you think they couldn't possibly top the horror of what Abby has just gone through, something else springs up. My heart broke for that little girl tied up in a dirty abandoned building, trying to work herself free all night long. It pounded for the attack on the school. Every side-character (or Trixie) treating ords with disdain made me bristle with anger, further disgusted because there are people in the real world who do actually treat others as less than human.

There were some very heavy themes in this book, including discrimination, acceptance and staying strong in the face of adversity. One thing that I will always remember about this book is the use of families. On the one hand, we have Abby's family. They actually reminded me of the Weaseley family with how big of a family they were, though not as poor. This family is full of warmth, affection and love, so much so that it spreads to those around them. By the end of the book, they've practically adopted Fred. Then, there are the other ord children's parents, the ones who don't want their own children to come home from school, the ones who would even go so far as to sell their children to adventurers. While disgusted, I was unfortunately not shocked that parents could do such a thing to their own child, having heard enough horror stories from my mother, a case worker for children's services. The fact that so many parents of ord children no longer wanted anything to do with them spoke volumes of the stigma ords faced very early on in the book.

I loved this book so much. I will definitely be reading it to my future children and recommending it to friends. What initially drew me to it was that it was a fantasy novel with a female lead and what kept me going was Abby's charm, Fred's humor, the Hale family's warmth, the entirely new and creative magical world and many, many other things.(less)

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Sep 15, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fantasy Novel-
This was a super cute book and great story. I absolutely love the concept behind the book of everyone being magical which is considered normal and Abby, the main character being ordinary because she doesn't have any magical powers. What really resonated with me most was the concept of Abby going away to attend school for ords. This reminded me so much when I went away to college and how different and scary it was. She mentions that she can't sleep at night because the sounds are di...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Patrick Samphire rated it 5 of 5 stars

4 1/2 stars.

Ordinary Magic is kind of the anti-Harry Potter. Which isn't to say that I've got anything against Harry Potter (I think it's brilliant), nor that the author has (for the record, I have no idea what Rubino-Bradway's opinion is of Harry Potter). It's simply that if you imagined the set-up for Harry Potter and completely reversed it, you might have the set up of Ordinary Magic.

In this world, just about everyone is born with magical talent, and magic permeates everything in the world. B...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Elisha Condie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens

This was an excellent little book. It takes a subject that is fairly common in children's literature - a world like ours where magic is commonplace - and turns it around enough to make it really new and refreshing.

Abby is twelve and about to go through aptitude test of sorts for magical ability. It's not a big deal, everyone is magical. Her own sister is a level 9 which is a really high score indicating powerful magical potential. Only when Abby goes through, she doesn't get far. She's got no...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Jenna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-readers, fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was a good, solid middle-grade series opener with a great number of lovely ideas and a well-introduced, if not well-rounded, cast of characters. While I enjoyed it, I felt it had a tone problem with some aspects (such as character names) undercutting the real menace of certain scenes.

There were also several moments that were just too lightly sketched to work (such as the relationship between Abby and her school-mate Peter), and I found the kitchen scenes at the school frankly baffling, wit...more

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May 15, 2012 Danielle Smiley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-e-books, middle-grade

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publisher Type: Traditional
My Rating: * * * * *

My Review:

Ever since Harry Potter, readers of all ages have been scouring bookstores' middle grade shelves looking for the next great magical adventure and Ordinary Magic is it! Two words to describe it? Crazy Fun!

I really can't help but continue on the Harry Potter thread here because if you took HP and turned it inside out and upside down, the results would be Ordinary Magic. Here we are introduced to a world spilling ov...more Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publisher Type: Traditional
My Rating: * * * * *

My Review:

Ever since Harry Potter, readers of all ages have been scouring bookstores' middle grade shelves looking for the next great magical adventure and Ordinary Magic is it! Two words to describe it? Crazy Fun!

I really can't help but continue on the Harry Potter thread here because if you took HP and turned it inside out and upside down, the results would be Ordinary Magic. Here we are introduced to a world spilling over with magic. So common is it that people don't know how to function without it. Magic can negatively affect children, so families are careful to avoid their children being touched by magic until they are twelve. At that point their level of magic is tested. And the worst thing ever is discovered. Abby is without magic. She is labeled an Ordinary. With the social stigmatization of being diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, Abby's family is encouraged to toss Abby out like trash or sell her like property. She is considered a curse, less than human, maybe dangerous, treated as contagious. Luckily, much unlike the Durselys, Abby's family loves her and views her as they always have, an adored daughter and sister.

It would be easy for me to continue on telling you of the plot. It's such a fantastic story!!! Alas, this is a review not an extended synopsis. Sigh.

So onto the review...
Incredibly well written, the OM world is vividly described and every character has depth and personality. Even our antagonists are well-rounded and not merely BAD. I love, love, love Abby's family. Each member is unique and special and I really want to know them more. Abby is a brave and tough, but in a very twelve-year-old way. There's lots of adventure and suspense and a few hints of romance. I enjoyed every moment of this book and would happily stand in line (as I did for Harry Potter) for the sequel.

Cover Art:
I'm sort of indifferent to this cover. I don't know that it would grab my attention enough to pick it up at a bookstore. I was actually drawn to the title most of all.

See more of my reviews at: http://knowntoread.blogspot.com (less)

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May 04, 2012 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

My Review: Imagine a world where ordinary people are just, ordinary, and the norm is the magical. Think of the world of Harry Potter in reverse. That would be Ordinary Magic.

Harry Potter fans might love this book. Ordinary Magic is about a world filled with magic, filled with special characters and special people. Enter Abby. Abby is an Ord. She just doesn’t realize it a first. In the coming of age for all normal kids, they are jud...more See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

My Review: Imagine a world where ordinary people are just, ordinary, and the norm is the magical. Think of the world of Harry Potter in reverse. That would be Ordinary Magic.

Harry Potter fans might love this book. Ordinary Magic is about a world filled with magic, filled with special characters and special people. Enter Abby. Abby is an Ord. She just doesn’t realize it a first. In the coming of age for all normal kids, they are judged based on their magical prowess. Abby doesn’t score, she has no magic.

Ords are considered social pariahs. They have no place in society. They have no magic, and they have no use. Except for those in the sort of black market trades. You see, magic can’t affect Ords. They can affect objects around them, but not the Ord itself. So they come at a high price, sort of. They can’t be purchased like slaves, only stolen or manipulated, or something to that degree.

Abby’s family is different though. Her family is very loving, nurturing and supportive. They love their child and don’t wish to abandon her to the world as others would. Instead they send her to a special school where Ords are taught to survive in the world without magic. For many, it is a place of refuge. Not many Ords are lucky enough to have a family like Abby’s.

Again, think Harry Potter in reverse.

I love, love, love how Caitlen Rubino handled her story. Harry Potter had a very magical sense in the story. Ordinary Magic does to, but also attacks issues, such as prejudice, in a manor that younger children can understand and learn from. The story sends a powerful message to the younger crowd, in a covert ninja like style, which is cool because this is a middle grade book.

The characters are robust and very fulfilling. YA literature has become about a couple of characters, developing them thoroughly but leaving out those around the supporting cast. Again, Caitlin doesn’t disappoint. Every character becomes an intimate attachment to Abby, both the good and bad. As a reader, I became attached and enchanted to the entire cast. I felt the full round of emotions Abby felt.

Beware! This story ends on a huge cliffhanger! I hate this! Why do series so often have to do this? Sure, I want to want to buy the next book, but I don’t like the anxiety waiting has to offer. Xanax please!? I mean really… I won’t go to in depth. I barely went in depth in the story. Ordinary Magic is roller-coaster fun ride of a book. I don’t want to spoil too much of the book. But the cliffhanger sucks.

All in all I loved Ordinary Magic. Keep in mind that it is a middle grade book. But the story is very fulfilling and magical and robust. I didn’t go into this book thinking I would really appreciate it. I’m not a big fan of middle grade books, but then I felt the same about Harry Potter. But Ordinary Magic has earned a place among one of my favorites. They story is very captivating. I don’t read as fast as my wife, and I tend to lose interest quickly. I flew through this book.

I recommend this book. It is hitting store shelves soon, so keep an eye out on it. It’s a worthwhile investment that both the kids and parents can enjoy, something that doesn’t happen often. (less)

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Apr 30, 2012 Jazz Sexton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ordinary Magic is a brilliant twist on the tradition of magic school ala Earthsea and Harry Potter. When twelve-year-old Abby Hale finds out she is an Ord, a person with zero magical ability, she is condemned by society as undesirable, and is open to being sold as a slave. The selling of Ords has been outlawed by the recently crowned King Steve, but not everyone cares about the law. Luckily for Abby, she has a family full of rational people who turn away the bigots looking to buy her.

This novel...more Ordinary Magic is a brilliant twist on the tradition of magic school ala Earthsea and Harry Potter. When twelve-year-old Abby Hale finds out she is an Ord, a person with zero magical ability, she is condemned by society as undesirable, and is open to being sold as a slave. The selling of Ords has been outlawed by the recently crowned King Steve, but not everyone cares about the law. Luckily for Abby, she has a family full of rational people who turn away the bigots looking to buy her.

This novel quickly won my heart with its witty cast. It's a feat of writing when minor characters have so much charm and personality that they feel like friends as much as the main character. Abby's brother Gil is a romance writer published under a woman's name, and her sister Alexa is a gifted, no-sense, butt-kicking magic user working in education. Rubino-Bradway does such a smashing job of connecting you with Abby's family that when it is finally time for Abby to move away to Ord school, you feel the same jitters Abby feels about leaving her comfort zone.

But once at school, a second cast of intriguing and sometimes frightening classmates are introduced along with the professors, whom are endlessly pleased when no deaths occur over the summer. Beneath the fun and playful tone of the story, there is a tale of very real danger and misery in Abby's world. While Abby is comfortable at school, many other Ords are homeless or being assaulted without any hope of seeing justice. But even the seemingly safe walls of Abby's school aren't enough to keep out nearly universal hatred, and some very unfriendly fae with some very sharp teeth.

Caitlen weaves the issue of Ord inequality to be parallels of racism, class systems, and ableism. In one particularly painful scene, Abby and her friends witness how an Ord whom is paid for work rather than enslaved is still made to perform stereotypes in order to entertain magic users. I found myself wondering if I should feel sorry for Ords--turns out I probably shouldn't. None of them seem to feel sorry for themselves, and don't envy magic users. The Ords often relish in their own way of doing things, but that is not to say they are portrayed as enjoying oppression. Ordinary Magic will raise questions about how you contribute to and combat oppression while delivering a thrilling story.

The ending leaves itself in a dangerous place. While this is the first in a series, the conclusion of Abby's first adventure is unresolved in troubling ways. This bit of realism does not itself feel out of place. Rather, it is the unmet call to action that feels strange. Rubino-Bradway has taken a risk that she will hopefully deliver on in forthcoming titles.

Ordinary Magic comes out May 8th from Bloomsbury USA. Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC.(less)

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Apr 24, 2012 Vicky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ordinary Magic is an Middle-grade fantasy novel set in a secondary world that feels very 21st-century - except that in this world, people use magic for almost everything. Making beds, getting breakfast, getting dressed, everything.

It’s Judging Day for twelve-year-old Abby Hale. Her family – siblings, cousins, aunts, and more - have all come to celebrate the festivities. There’s the family dress to wear and her mother’s special necklace. When she heads to the Guild for the Judging, she’s filled...more Ordinary Magic is an Middle-grade fantasy novel set in a secondary world that feels very 21st-century - except that in this world, people use magic for almost everything. Making beds, getting breakfast, getting dressed, everything.

It’s Judging Day for twelve-year-old Abby Hale. Her family – siblings, cousins, aunts, and more - have all come to celebrate the festivities. There’s the family dress to wear and her mother’s special necklace. When she heads to the Guild for the Judging, she’s filled with anticipation. Why shouldn’t she be? Once she’s been Judged, she’ll finally be able to use magic like an adult. There’ll be no more waiting for an adult to handle the most basic of things—getting clothes out of the drawers, making her bed, getting the kitchen to cook. Her siblings all did well on their Judging Days, all 5s or higher, with her oldest sister Alexa receiving a very rare 9.

(view spoiler)

Rubino-Bradway does a great job working with the awful realities of bigotry, bullies, slavery, and physical challenges all couched in a cute fantasy story. This is a fast-paced, good read about how families often have to cope with the very real struggles of children with challenges, even ones that happen later in their lives. It brings out ugly truths that most of us refuse to acknowledge, but exist in the shadows. It’s a great story – that is obviously part of a series since so many threads are left dangling – but still a good read.
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Apr 13, 2012 Kristina Cardoza rated it 4 of 5 stars

SUMMARY
Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway was very imaginatively written and was a fantastic story! Abigail Hale lives in a magical world--but that isn't extraordinary--and then, at her magic-power Judging she finds out that she is an "ord", a child without magic! There's lots of trouble that comes with being an ord: being looked down on by others, being wanted to be bought by adventurers and maybe stolen by them, and sometimes even being thrown out by your own family! Lucky for Abby, her...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Karen Yingling rated it 3 of 5 stars

On the day of her Judging, twelve-year-old Abby is very excited. After all, her older brothers and sisters are all doing well in their careers in magic, so chances are good her level will be really high as well. Unfortunately, Abby is an "ord" and has no magic at all. This is dangerous in her society, where "normal" means magicking up breakfast and being able to fly carpets! It also means that ords are discriminated against; Abby can no longer go to her regular school, and is in danger of being...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mg-fiction, books-for-kat-readers

I loved Ordinary Magic SO MUCH that it just makes me want to dance every time I think of it. Last night I tried talking about it to Patrick, but I was burbling so much - and I had to keep stopping to make squealing noises of excitement! - that it was hard to be coherent about it.

I love it THAT MUCH.

Ordinary Magic is an MG fantasy novel set in a secondary world that feels very 21st-century - just another modern MG setting except that, oh, yes, people use magic for almost everything...and it was o...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Mallori rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Mallori by: book smugglers

Maybe a 5.
I really enjoyed this book. It grabbed my attention right from the start and was a quick engaging read I didn't want to put down. I demand a sequel as soon as possible!
I checked this out from the library but will be purchasing a copy for my own bookself soon. Abby and her family are great characters, and the Green School is a fun place to read about and visit in your imagination.

In a world after the Harry Potter novels, you will have no problems drawing comparisons, but I think this st...more Maybe a 5.
I really enjoyed this book. It grabbed my attention right from the start and was a quick engaging read I didn't want to put down. I demand a sequel as soon as possible!
I checked this out from the library but will be purchasing a copy for my own bookself soon. Abby and her family are great characters, and the Green School is a fun place to read about and visit in your imagination.

In a world after the Harry Potter novels, you will have no problems drawing comparisons, but I think this story takes just the right amount of inspiration, so that Ordinary Magic stands on it's own feet. Rubino-Bradways' world is actually the opposite of Harry Potter's. Whereas there was never any doubt that Harry Potter was the chosen one, Ordinary Magic has flipped that paradigm on it's head. Everyone in this world uses Magic, and those born without magical abilities are second class citizens. Abby learns at the beginning of the story she is one of these outcasts- ordinary. I loved it!

Rubino-Bradway was quite smart in her world building. While the book is certainly fantasy with fantastical elements, there was elements of realism woven in so that the characters weren't all-powerful: While Ords cannot be burned by magical fire, if someone uses magic to start a real fire, the Ords can be hurt like anyone else. Learning to spot the difference, and using knowledge to protect themselves- what a great twist.

I really enjoy when authors add subtle depth and deep questions to otherwise fun and light books for middle grade and young adult readers.

The book never preaches- instead it examines xenophobia and fear of those who are different from the perspective of the person being feared and ridiculed. And anyone reading this story at surface value would say that the slavery of Ords is wrong, and that the magic-wielding population's fear, marginalization, and contempt for Ords is unreasonable.
However, in a brief passage mid-way through the book, one of Abby's new teachers talks about responsibility, and how an Ord's ability to walk through magical barriers means that they can rob banks and never be imprissoned for their crimes... suddenly the fear isn't as unreasonable.
So it makes the reader ask questions about "Is it right to hate people back for hating you?" Boom!

We see this fun and amazing magical world that would be great to live in, but then we see Abby's very real fear as she begins to realize that the world is a scary place for someone so handicapped and unvalued as an ord.

We see Abby struggle with the realities that a convict, someone who maybe wasn't that bad, showed her some kindness, must still face punishment for his crimes because they were crimes. I love when depth is added.
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Feb 08, 2012 Mrsinserra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book is a Middle Grades fantasy/paranormal book. It takes place in an alternate reality where "normal" people are magical and the freaks are "ords," or people who can't do magic. It is along the same lines as Harry Potter- except the school for special kids is the schools for "ords." The students we follow in this book are in their first year of school and the story is written with readers of the same age in mind with regard to reading level/difficulty of the book.

There are a four main kid...more This book is a Middle Grades fantasy/paranormal book. It takes place in an alternate reality where "normal" people are magical and the freaks are "ords," or people who can't do magic. It is along the same lines as Harry Potter- except the school for special kids is the schools for "ords." The students we follow in this book are in their first year of school and the story is written with readers of the same age in mind with regard to reading level/difficulty of the book.

There are a four main kid character who are best friends and there are the teachers, some of whom are ords and some who are magical. There are magical beasts, such as minotaurs that are good and creatures like red caps that are bad. All these characters are an important part of the story.

The main "adventure" in this novel surrounds the fact that Adventurers, people who take on quests to get magical items usually as a paid job, use ords as the tool to get through the magical obstacles and traps they find protecting said magical object. They use ords because magic does not work on an ord and they can just walk through the traps- most of the time.

Now in this country the selling and buying of ords is illegal, as per the rule of King Steven. So instead of trying to buy ords, which many still try to do but without as much success, two Adventurers, Mike and Trixie, decide to steal one. Unfortunately for them, they steal Abby who is still loved by her parents and siblings even though she is an ord. This leads to many an adventure in the book.

I don't want to spoil the story, since it is totally amazing, but it is both happy and sad. Sad because it is a cliff hanger and I want to read more of this story right now. Suffice to say I will be getting the next installment as soon as it comes out.

I would recommend this book to middle school kids- around 5th or 6th grade depending on their reading level, but also to adults who are fans of the Harry Potter novels and are jonesing for another special school/magic series to follow.

I read this as an ARC through NetGalley. I am not paid to give books positive reviews, this is just my honest opinion.(less)

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Jan 31, 2013 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-or-science-fiction

This was so cute and I really enjoyed it...until the ending. The trend of ending books in preparation for a sequel is getting to be not only annoying, but an indication of author laziness. Wrap up your books properly! And this book is particularly bad, the reader is swept up in a fascinating story, we have an adventure, the tension is ramped up and then BOOM! book ends with a weak promise that the grownups will keep working to resolve the huge horrific incident that happens about three pages to...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Andrea added it

Shelves: childrens, have-e-version, fantasy, schooldays

One of those books which divide me in response. "Ordinary Magic" has a lot going for it - it's fast-paced with a fascinating premise, a really strong sense of place and a more-ish voice. I think a lot of people would like it.

However, I found the huge amount of snappy patter conversation a bit like wandering onto the set of a Marx Brothers movie, and as I read, I kept being niggled to death by issues with the world-building.

This is a world full to the brim with magic. Everyone uses magic for ever...more One of those books which divide me in response. "Ordinary Magic" has a lot going for it - it's fast-paced with a fascinating premise, a really strong sense of place and a more-ish voice. I think a lot of people would like it.

However, I found the huge amount of snappy patter conversation a bit like wandering onto the set of a Marx Brothers movie, and as I read, I kept being niggled to death by issues with the world-building.

This is a world full to the brim with magic. Everyone uses magic for everything - food is conjured, magic carpets are the main mode of transportation, prisons have magical doors - even the showers are turned on and off with magic. And a tiny percentage of the population is born with no magic at all - Ords. They can't use magic and magic can't be worked on them.

At the age of 12, all children are officially tested on their level of magic. Before that they're not allowed to try and use it, and they're not allowed to have it used on them. Which I guess means for the first twelve years of their life, children must be having someone else turn the shower on and off for them and (given the way everything else depends on magic) presumably someone flushes the toilet for them too. This age testing thing makes little to no sense given the sheer ubiquity and reliance on magic in this world - let alone the likelihood of any child refraining from trying to use magic for 12 whole years. It's simply a device to have a big dramatic judging, life-changed-forever start to the novel.

And dramatic it is, since upon being judged an Ord, the child is apparently completely dropped from society, ostracised, treated as non-human and hated and feared.

The hatred was given little foundation and was particularly difficult to believe in. Ords are demonstrably not 'contagious' and live completely mildly in society for 12 years and then suddenly are apparently frightening? What are they going to do that they haven't been doing in the previous 12 years? The negative attitude toward Ords is so complete that almost all families abandon their children or want nothing to do with them, they are referred to as "It", addressed only as "Ord" and sold to adventurers as useful trap-clearing tools. [At least until King Steve came along and started trying to change this.]

Main character Abby is slightly different in that her family is deep-down nice and refuse to stop loving her. This (perfectly normal) reaction is apparently so unusual that when Abby goes to Ord-school, the other students resent her for having a family that doesn't hate her. While overall Abby comes across as an extrovert and occasional chatterbox, she also has a touch of virtuous martyr about her (seen both in this attitude toward her in school, her wanting to share her room because of trouble sleeping but not actually telling anyone, and most especially the weird victimisation of Abby by the cook which seemed to occur purely so Abby could stoically refuse to complain about it or resent it).

[I was also very confused as to why Ord school doesn't seem to have any general lessons on cooking, cleaning, sewing - all the things that other people do by magic which Ords will need to accomplish the hard way. Instead they get the standard history, maths, etc, plus self-defence, running away, and magic identification classes.]

Anyway - a very readable story which I wasn't able to fully enjoy because I was distracted by the world building.(less)

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Jun 11, 2012 John rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sf-fantasy, children-ya

12 year old Abby discovers she's one of the rare people in her world who cannot do magic, and on whom magic has no effect. She instantly becomes a shunned outcast--except in her immediate family, which is terrific in every way--and has to enroll in a special school for "ords". Though even given the kind of upbringing she's had she responds to her change of status in ways that are a little too levelheaded and emotionally stable she's so smart, funny and brave that it's hard to care; this is a fin...more

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May 20, 2012 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Imagine a world where muggles are the exception and not the rule!

12 year old Abby lives in a world where having magical ability is normal. Without it, you are labeled an 'ord'. An Ordinary person. Lower class. Abby's siblings are all older and very proficient with magic, but when she is tested...nothing...zip...no magic ability at all. Bad news for Abby. Some kids are shunned by their families if they aren't magical, imagine that?

Abby is sent to a school where she can learn to get by and functi...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I found Ordinary Magic by author Caitlen Rubino-Bradway to be fun, entertaining and adventurous. Abby is a strong and determined young girl, and I loved reading her reactions to the strange and sometimes dangerous situations. I can definitely see this being a popular book for ages 10 and up, especially for girls; although I think even boys will like all the magic and mahem in this story. A very engaging, and unique look at the magic world, poor Abby finds herself in the minority when she is decl...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Tori Emery rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: novels

Fantasy: This is my favorite book of the year so far. I really enjoyed the story and it was very easy to read. I didn't quite believe the main character, Abby, because she was almost too brave. This might just be my opinion because I know I wouldn't chase after bad guys or anything of that sort. But then again, it's a book intended for children so it doesn't have to be a super realistic type of character.
I think the author did a good job of making the friendships seem very believable and I coul...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Sammee (I Want to Read That) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review-read

4.5 Stars

Oh wow! I really enjoyed this one! It's full of adventure and brilliant characters and I had such a fun time reading it! I really did not want it to end.

Abby lives in a world were everyday magic is the norm, only to find herself an Ord - someone with absolutely no magic abilities. Ords are a commodity in this world and to keep Abby safe she is enrolled in a school for Ords. And it's here that the adventure really starts!

The writing is brilliant and Abby's voice is spot on! I loved her l...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Art Spencer added it

Imagine if you were the only "normal" person in a world filled with magic. That's the story in Ordinary Magic, where Abigail is an Ord, someone who cannot work magic even though everyone else in the world has magical ability. Unlike other families, Abby's chooses to keep her rather than sell her or disown her. Her family sends her off to a school for Ords where her sister acts as a liaison to the king and she learns how to protect herself and function without magic. Once at the school, she must...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Ronda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action_adventure, fantasy_and_sci-fi, kids_and_ya, library_lessons

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 01, 2013 Erin Stuhlsatz rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this world, everybody has magic. Each child, on her twelfth birthday, is tested to see how much magic. This test determines where she will go to school and what kind of future profession she might have. Abby's older siblings are all exceptional. Jeremy is a Level 6 who now teaches at a reputable magic school. Gilbert is an extremely famous romance writer (he writes under a pen name). Olivia is....very popular. Alexa is an unparalleled Level 9 who now runs a mysterious school. Abby is, as it t...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Sarah W rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, middle-grade, 2012, netgalley

Twelve-year-old Abby Hale’s waited years for her Judging Day and its festivities. Her siblings have all come home, even the over studious Jeremy. There’s the family dress to wear and her mother’s special necklace. When she heads to the Guild for the Judging, she’s filled with anticipation. Why shouldn’t she be? Once she’s been Judged, she’ll finally be able to use magic like an adult. There’ll be no more waiting for an adult to come rescue her for the most basic of things—getting clothes out of...more Twelve-year-old Abby Hale’s waited years for her Judging Day and its festivities. Her siblings have all come home, even the over studious Jeremy. There’s the family dress to wear and her mother’s special necklace. When she heads to the Guild for the Judging, she’s filled with anticipation. Why shouldn’t she be? Once she’s been Judged, she’ll finally be able to use magic like an adult. There’ll be no more waiting for an adult to come rescue her for the most basic of things—getting clothes out of the drawers, making her bed, getting the kitchen to cook. Her siblings all did well on their Judging Days, all 5s or higher, with her oldest sister Alexa receiving a very rare 9.

At the Guild the unthinkable happens. Abby doesn’t even pass the first level. She’s ordinary, an ord, and her parents are being advised on how to get rid of her. Thankfully for Abby, her parents defy convention. Their love for her can’t solve everything—the local school will no longer keep Abby enrolled. Its Abby’s sister Alexa who has a solution for this. She’s worked for the king for years in a job that she’s never been allowed to discuss. That job is working at a school for ords where Abby will learn how to live without the aid of magic. More importantly, she’ll learn how to defend herself for there are many people –and creatures—who would love to get their hands on an ord.

Why would anyone want an ord when families are encouraged to get rid of them and the majority of ords are treated like they are disease reason? It’s simple. Magic can’t touch them. The strongest, most expensive antitheft spells mean nothing at all to an ord. Booby traps don’t phase them all. For adventurers, there’s no greater tool than an ord. Before Abby even sets foot in her new school an unscrupulous pair of adventurers have tried to procure her as their newest ord, having lost their previous one to death. This pair doesn’t understand no for an answer and will use whatever means necessary to get an ord.

Abby joins a small group of first years at the school. All are children of magical families save Peter. Most of the students come from families that no longer want them. Many see the school as a refuge, but they will soon learn that safety is something they’ll have to fight for and not a comfort.

Ordinary Magic is an amazing middle grade fantasy. Not only does it twist many of the genre’s conventions but it is filled with well developed characters and relationships. Abby’s supportive quirky family is a joy to read about. The students struggle to come to know and trust one another with realistic stormy patches. This is a book to read and share over and over again.

I read an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. Ordinary Magic comes out on May 8, 2012.(less)

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About Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

Caitlen Rubino-Bradway is the author of Ordinary Magic and the co-author of Lady Vernon and Her Daughter, which she wrote with her mother. Caitlen lives and writes in New York City.

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Books by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

Jane Austen Made Me Do It: Original Stories Inspired by Literature's Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart

Lady Vernon and Her Daughter: A Novel of Jane Austen's Lady Susan

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Quotes from Ordinary Magic

“After ten whole minutes of painful silence, I finally raised my hand and told Mr. O'Hara I loved Miranda Blythe's romance novels, and I decided I liked him immediately when he didn't laugh or reassure me that we'd be reading real books. Like Mrs. Andrews had last year.
He did say, 'I'm afraid Ms. Blythe is not on the curriculum this semester. We'll be starting your education with the epic poets—boring, I know, but necessary building blocks. However, an extra-credit book report is always welcome, and you're free to choose whatever topic you like.'
Then Mr. O'Hara added, 'I think Ms. Blythe's works would be a particularly interesting topic for a report. In fact, if you want an example of the archetypal hero journey—'
'Wait, wait, wait.' Fred raised his hand. 'You read romance novels?'
'My dear boy,' Mr. O'Hara replied, 'I read everything.” — 4 people liked it

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