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73rd out of 200 books
—
489 voters
Magic Lessons (Magic or Madness #2)
Fifteen-year-old Reason Cansino has learned the painful truth that she like her mother, grandmother, and new friends Tom and Jay-Tee must face a choice between using the magic that lives in her blood and dying young, or refusing to use the magic and losing her mind. Now a new threat leaves Reason stranded alone in New York City, struggling to control a power she barely und...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
February 1st 2007
by Razorbill
(first published March 16th 2006)
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Having recently gobbled up Magic or Madness , I am now plotting how I can get the third book from this trilogy, Magic's Child , before I go mad... which is to say, as soon as possible.
Magic Lessons has the same roaring pace of Larbalestier's first book, but it further explores the troubling contradictions magic brings out in people. Namely: can you deal with other magic-wielders honestly when you know that some day your magic will wear out, and your only hope for survival is taking theirs? T...more
Magic Lessons has the same roaring pace of Larbalestier's first book, but it further explores the troubling contradictions magic brings out in people. Namely: can you deal with other magic-wielders honestly when you know that some day your magic will wear out, and your only hope for survival is taking theirs? T...more
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 salj...more
Reason Cansino has been magic her whole life, but she’s only know magic was real for 8 days. In that time she’s moved into Sydney to live with her evil grandmother, her mother’s been committed to a “Loony Bin,” and she’s stepped through a door only to wind up on the other side of the world, in New York City.
And if that’s not bad enough, she gets taken in by stories, only to end up in the clutches of her evil Grandfather, who’s worse than her Grandmother, who has to come through the door after he...more
And if that’s not bad enough, she gets taken in by stories, only to end up in the clutches of her evil Grandfather, who’s worse than her Grandmother, who has to come through the door after he...more
I'm enjoying this trilogy so far. Certainly, Larbalestier has a way of stringing out the answers, and one of the reasons you keep turning the pages is to simply find out what's really happening. I hope all the major loose ends are tied up by the end of the third book, and I look forward to seeing what happens to each of the characters by the end. Everyone has something at stake, and that's the beauty of these people. [return][return]If you enjoyed the first volume, you'll definitely enjoy this....more
The first book was amazing! I was so thrilled to finally get the next installment....but that thrill quickly wore off. Some of the writing in this book was plain bad, like for example, when Tom was on the phone, there was a loud beeping noise. He observed: I wonder if monkeys were behind this, cause it sounded like a monkey's burp' Passages like these served no purpose and were nonsensical filler. Also, at the very beginning, they start a paragraph 'We met with the three old ladies at the meetin...more
As this second book in the Magic trilogy begins, Reason, Jay-Tee, and their friend Tom are on the Australia side of the magic door, having decided to trust Reason's grandmother Esmeralda and learn whatever she can teach them about magic. But the evil Jason Blake, still on the NYC side, won't let them escape so easily. When something evil seeps through the door and attacks Reason, they assume it's from him, but she instinctively knows it's something more mysterious. So, empowered with a new, weir...more
The second installment in the Magic or Madness series is just as good as the first. I can't wait to finish the series.
Reason gets more answers to her heritage but many of the answers lead to more questions. After just escaping New York, Reason is sucked back through the door but her new found friends are left behind. She also discovers a mysterious force on the other side of the door which might answer her questions about a way to avoid death or magic at an early age.
She seeks out Danny, Jay-T'...more
Reason gets more answers to her heritage but many of the answers lead to more questions. After just escaping New York, Reason is sucked back through the door but her new found friends are left behind. She also discovers a mysterious force on the other side of the door which might answer her questions about a way to avoid death or magic at an early age.
She seeks out Danny, Jay-T'...more
The continuing story of Reason Cansino, who has recently discovered that she is "magic," and that she can either use her magic (and die young) or not (and go mad). Her mother Sarafina has warned her all her life about her grandmother Esmeralda, a powerful witch who has managed to live to her mid-forties by conserving her magic . . . and taking that of others. In this novel (soon to be followed by the third and final book, "Magic's Child"), Reason learns more about her ancestors and how to help h...more
This will be switching to my currently-reading status soon because I intend to work on reading all the books from the school library I currently have in my position for my english class.^^ seven or six someodd books.^_^
(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 ar...more
Life is hard. Especially when you are magic. For Reason and her friends, there are only two options: go mad from refusing to use their magic or die young using it.
The answer, according to Reason’s grandmother, is to use solely a tiny bit every week. Magic Rationing.
But then the door—the magic one that leads straight from Sidney to New York—begins to shake. Because something is trying to make its way through. Something with Reason’s DNA and the ability to pierce through her skin. And something th...more
The answer, according to Reason’s grandmother, is to use solely a tiny bit every week. Magic Rationing.
But then the door—the magic one that leads straight from Sidney to New York—begins to shake. Because something is trying to make its way through. Something with Reason’s DNA and the ability to pierce through her skin. And something th...more
Second in the Magic series and a good follow up to the first novel. Reason and her friends are still learning about their magic powers when they are threatened by something from beyond the door at Esmerelda's. This force finally sucks Reason back to New York, where she has to find and confront the remains of one of her ancestors. Meanwhile, JayTee nearly dies as her magic becomes very low, as does Esmerelda, who's magic is nearly gone. Only Tom's generosity saves Jay Tee and the mysterious new m...more
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...more
In this sequel to Magic or Madness, the story picks up shortly after the events of the last book. Reason & Jay-Tee are to begin taking magic lessons from Esmeralda. Things go badly awry however when someone or something starts trying to get through the door from Sydney to New York. As action packed and character driven as the last book this was well-written and paced.
I would have given the book a four except for the ending. Full review/rant is below due to spoilers.
SPOILERS
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I really li...more
I would have given the book a four except for the ending. Full review/rant is below due to spoilers.
SPOILERS
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I really li...more
Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.com
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 Esmer...more
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 Esmer...more
the second in larbalestier's magic trilogy. this book finds reason learning the terrible truth about magic users and their magic, they only have a certain number of spells before they die...and die young they do. she is forced to make choices that will shorten or extend her life and force her to grow up sooner than she should have to. then, surprise! there is an interesting ending that will be concluded in the third book! enjoy...they are great reads!
I really think that reading Liar first spoiled me for Justine Larbalestier's earlier books. They just don't have the same complexity. I don't think it helps, reading the second book in a series, that I didn't really get into the first book, very much. It's easy to read and pretty fun, but I didn't engage with the characters, and this second book felt even lighter on character development.
The whole Reason and Danny thing... while feeling quite realistic in one way, also seemed to be going way, wa...more
The whole Reason and Danny thing... while feeling quite realistic in one way, also seemed to be going way, wa...more
I loved the first book (Magic or Madness). It was wonderful, and I was addicted. THEN I found THIS thing.
I never finished it, to be perfectly honest, and I'm not really sure if I ever intend to. It was so boring. I had to force myself to read it, before getting bored and putting it down for good.
I really don't have much to say, because there's really not much to say. I just couldn't get through it. The end.
I never finished it, to be perfectly honest, and I'm not really sure if I ever intend to. It was so boring. I had to force myself to read it, before getting bored and putting it down for good.
I really don't have much to say, because there's really not much to say. I just couldn't get through it. The end.
I don't think I've ever seen writing like this before. It was confusing and rather boring. The transitions between points of view are confusing and more or less stop the story for the reader while they figure out whose point of view is being used. I kept hoping the story would get better, but it did not. Further, certain parts of the book read more like it was written for adults rather than children.
Not to my liking.
That said, I think it would work well for its intended audience. The setting (Australia and New York City) and the magic are different enough to be intriguing and the pace and language are good. But the characters spent too much time not knowing anything and doubting what and whom they thought they knew for me to really get into the story. Part of this may be because Magic Lessons is the second book of a trilogy of which I did not read the first. But based on this book, I'm sur...more
That said, I think it would work well for its intended audience. The setting (Australia and New York City) and the magic are different enough to be intriguing and the pace and language are good. But the characters spent too much time not knowing anything and doubting what and whom they thought they knew for me to really get into the story. Part of this may be because Magic Lessons is the second book of a trilogy of which I did not read the first. But based on this book, I'm sur...more
Woah! I thought that Reason found out "the truth" about magic in Magic or Madness, but the truth goes through a metamorphosis in a really terrific way that is very compatible with my own beliefs about magic and where it comes from.
I found myself really connecting to the second book in the trilogy. I've become attached to the characters - Reason and Jay-Tee especially. I also like that we don't really know who's good and who's not. The world of magic is more grey than black and white, and just when I think they should (or shouldn't) trust someone, I'm proved wrong. Overall, a good read.
Reason, Jay-Tee and Tom begin to learn how to use their magic - but are forced to make important decisions that may have long-term impacts. Reason is attacked by a weird type of magic and ends up back in NYC while her friends remain in Sydney.
Some resolution to certain parts of the story, but also a major cliff-hanger at the end.
Some resolution to certain parts of the story, but also a major cliff-hanger at the end.
Wow. There's so little that can be said about the book without spoilers... Still, it was fantastic.
Magic Lessons continues the story of Reason, Jay-Tee and Tom, keeping the same fast pace as the last novel and further exploring the rules of magic. The trio have only just begun to learn more from Esmerelda when a strange phenomenon occurs with the door that none of them can explain. Soon, they're questioning the fundamentals of magic they'd just begun to except, namely the choice of magic-weilder...more
Magic Lessons continues the story of Reason, Jay-Tee and Tom, keeping the same fast pace as the last novel and further exploring the rules of magic. The trio have only just begun to learn more from Esmerelda when a strange phenomenon occurs with the door that none of them can explain. Soon, they're questioning the fundamentals of magic they'd just begun to except, namely the choice of magic-weilder...more
One thing I have decided finishing the first 2 books is that this could EASILY have all been in one book so far. I did enjoy this book a bit better then the first, because I am getting to know the characters more. But I honestly feel like the story is just gearing up and hope book 3 gives us some something much bigger- because so far they have been pretty mild.
This follows Magic or Madness. I didn't like it as well as the first. The magic gets really bizarre. Reason has sex and gets pregnant. She and her friends discover what a curse it is to have magic talent. I still want to read the third book and see what happens even is I didn't like this one as much.
I didn't like it quite as well as the first one, but I'm still anxious to read the last installment. I thought some of the language was a little mature for a young adult book, though that's a problem I had with the first one too. It was a bit weird at the end, but I'm hoping it will pay off in the third book.
My reading of this was somewhat confused, as our class wound up reading only this one, and not the first book in the series. That being said, it seemed a bit uneven regardless of the syllabus mishap. Anyone want to convince me I should give it another try, from the beginning this time?
This is the second book in the Magic or Madness trilogy.
I was hoping that it was going to be a little more interesting but it just got . . . wierd. I'm going to have to read the next one to find out what happens but I don't expect anything that overwhelming. I don't know that I would let a young person read these, this second book is just so out there.
I was hoping that it was going to be a little more interesting but it just got . . . wierd. I'm going to have to read the next one to find out what happens but I don't expect anything that overwhelming. I don't know that I would let a young person read these, this second book is just so out there.
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Justine Larbalestier is an Australian young-adult fiction author. She is best known for the Magic or Madness trilogy: Magic or Madness, Magic Lessons and the newly released Magic's Child. She also wrote one adult non-fiction book, the Hugo-nominated The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction (Best Related Book, 2003), and edited another, Daughters of Earth: Feminist Science Fiction in the Twentiet...more
More about Justine Larbalestier...
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