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Abby Carnelia's One and Only Magical Power
SILLY MAGICAL POWERS, KIDS ON THE RUN. In a whimsical debut novel from the popular
technology writer. One day, Abby Carnelia, ordinary sixth grader, realizes she has a magical power. Okay, it’s not a fancy one (she can make a hard-boiled egg spin by tugging on her ears). But it’s the only one she has, and it’s enough to launch her into an adventure where she meets a ho...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
April 27th 2010
by Roaring Brook Press
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The boys seemed to like this one, and it planted an early seed of corporate distrust, assuming they did not take this as a pity party for Big Pharma and their struggles to make billions off pills.
Anyways, its hard to argue with the idea that all kids are special, and having it set loosely against a back drop of magic (I wouldn't read this strictly for a kid who is fascinated by magic, as that is a small part of the story). Pogue's humor got a few chortles out of the boys, but keep in...more
Anyways, its hard to argue with the idea that all kids are special, and having it set loosely against a back drop of magic (I wouldn't read this strictly for a kid who is fascinated by magic, as that is a small part of the story). Pogue's humor got a few chortles out of the boys, but keep in...more
This is a good story with some beginner writing problems, but I'm going to spend a few paragraphs saying what I just said. It'll be fun!
Now, first things first, let me, uh, disclaim that I have an advance reader's copy. It says right on the back that this is an "uncorrected proof" that "should not be quoted without comparison with the finished book". Fair enough. I don't *have* a copy of the finished book, so I'm going to just go ahead and quote from this one anyway...more
Now, first things first, let me, uh, disclaim that I have an advance reader's copy. It says right on the back that this is an "uncorrected proof" that "should not be quoted without comparison with the finished book". Fair enough. I don't *have* a copy of the finished book, so I'm going to just go ahead and quote from this one anyway...more
One of the sweetest, most thought provoking middlegrade novels I've read in a long time! The premise is that we all have some magic power however dumb and completely useless. Like saaaay spinning an egg with earlobe tugs or maybe even levitating a quarter of an inch, but ONLY if we are thinking about Bison....walking backwards...wearing...um...diapers? Most people never find their magical power...but this book is about a group of kids who do. A devouring read. Each chapter ended with a sentence ...more
One of the sweetest, most thought provoking middlegrade novels I've read in a long time! The premise is that we all have some magic power however dumb and completely useless. Like saaaay spinning an egg with earlobe tugs or maybe even levitating a quarter of an inch, but ONLY if we are thinking about Bison....walking backwards...wearing...um...diapers? Most people never find their magical power...but this book is about a group of kids who do. A devouring read. Each chapter ended with a sentence ...more
Abby Carnelia is a special kid. While helping her mother make lunch one day, she discovers she can make a hard-boiled egg spin simply by tugging on her ears. In support of this new talent, her parents send her to the prestigious Camp Cadabra to learn more about magic. Once there, she meets other kids just like her. But it soon becomes clear that something at the camp is not quite right. Abby and her new friends need to figure out exactly what is going on... before it's too late!
This ...more
This ...more
Miss Pippi the Librarian
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Shelves:
adolescent-audio-adventures,
juvenile-fiction
Abby Carnelia wasn't looking for magic. It appeared before with a simple tug of an earlobe. After tugging her earlobe, a hard boiled egg spun around. It's different, it's freaky. Did other kids have such powers?
Abby's journey is amusing. If readers enjoy everyday magic, this would be an excellent read to pass along. If readers are more into fantasy magic, this selection would be easy to pass up. The best part of the book would be the author's notes at the end of the story. I wish his...more
Abby's journey is amusing. If readers enjoy everyday magic, this would be an excellent read to pass along. If readers are more into fantasy magic, this selection would be easy to pass up. The best part of the book would be the author's notes at the end of the story. I wish his...more
Ages 10+.
A fun and "safe" read for kids. Abby Carnelia discovers that she has a magical ability, unfortunately it's not a terribly impressive one. She can make a hard boiled egg spin if she pulls on both her earlobes.
She soon finds out she's not alone, there are other kids out there with magical abilities but they all seem to be as unspectacular as her own.
There are bad guys, challenges and finally a big finish that proves that no matter how small you th...more
A fun and "safe" read for kids. Abby Carnelia discovers that she has a magical ability, unfortunately it's not a terribly impressive one. She can make a hard boiled egg spin if she pulls on both her earlobes.
She soon finds out she's not alone, there are other kids out there with magical abilities but they all seem to be as unspectacular as her own.
There are bad guys, challenges and finally a big finish that proves that no matter how small you th...more
I listened to the audio book read by David Pogue himself and found it to be pretty enjoyable. He isn't the best reader I've come across but he does a pretty god job of doing voices and conveying the story in an interesting way.
In her kitchen, while helping her mother make a salad, Abby Carnelia discovers her one and only magical power. Her power isn't something exciting or useful and she really can't believe that she has it. After a few days, she comes to terms with her new found ...more
In her kitchen, while helping her mother make a salad, Abby Carnelia discovers her one and only magical power. Her power isn't something exciting or useful and she really can't believe that she has it. After a few days, she comes to terms with her new found ...more
I loved the idea of kids having magical powers. In fact, it makes me wonder if everyone has some sort of magical power inside of them just waiting to be found. Abby had to tug on her ears while looking at a hard-boiled egg to make the egg spin. The funniest one was a girl who had to think of a bison walking backwards in a diaper to make her power appear. All of the powers were pretty useless, but that is part of what made the story so fun to read.
The story turned more serious when the drug...more
The story turned more serious when the drug...more
I was surprised to see a children's book by NYT tech writer David Pogue, but I recalled that he'd written at least one interesting blog entry about Harry Potter [he's a fan:], so thought I'd take a chance. I actually listened to the audiobook, about which my main complaint was the reader...until I found out that the author was doing the actual reading, so I guess his accents were forgivable if not entirely appealing.
Not a bad story, but not a great one as kids' books go. I do think I...more
Not a bad story, but not a great one as kids' books go. I do think I...more
I thought this was a really fun book with an interesting idea - what if you had one single magical power? Ok, maybe it is a totally useless power, like being able to spin a hard boiled egg when and only when you tug on both earlobes at the same time, but what if? That is what happens to Abby, and her adventures after give me a lot to think about! My only complaint with this book is that it didn't need to be as long as it was. There are just some parts where the author could have edited his work ...more
Things I Liked:
This book was a lot of fun to read. Abby was a regular girl, until she discovers her power. But, she still felt very much like your average tween looking to figure stuff out. The magical aspect of the book will appeal to fans of Savvy and The Girl Who Could Fly and the humor and fun will appeal to everyone else. A sweet and silly book that will have kids wishing they could figure out what their odd power is.
Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, the book see...more
This book was a lot of fun to read. Abby was a regular girl, until she discovers her power. But, she still felt very much like your average tween looking to figure stuff out. The magical aspect of the book will appeal to fans of Savvy and The Girl Who Could Fly and the humor and fun will appeal to everyone else. A sweet and silly book that will have kids wishing they could figure out what their odd power is.
Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, the book see...more
First of all, it is 3 3/4 stars. This book isn't so bad, but it seems too...harmless. It doesn't really have that kind of malice in it. I even just read for the sake of reading in the second grade with those books. They seemed fun, but BORING!!! It was boring because there was little to no emphasis on the danger. The danger is the imagination. The only part I liked was when the children spilled their secrets. ☺
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Entertaining tale. A nice blend of danger and derring-do. Maybe a bit heavy during the Big Reveal as the Big Pharma executive explained his evil motives. Also, the pop cultural references in this book will become dated like a NY Times column in no time. But still a good bit of enjoyable escapism.
I think boys will like this one despite the female main character.
I think boys will like this one despite the female main character.
Abby is a heroine who for the most part is ordinary. But she can move a hard boiled egg if she tugs on her ears. Through this power she, along with the help of a few other friends, finds her purpose in life.
I think I heard about this book on NPR; I somewhat enjoyed it but it was a simplistic in its message, even for a young adult book.
I think I heard about this book on NPR; I somewhat enjoyed it but it was a simplistic in its message, even for a young adult book.
Girl discovers she has a useless power mainly she can make only hard boiled eggs spin by pulling back her earlobes. She attends a magic camp to find people like her with useless powers, she gets noticed by one of the workers there when she performs in front of the camp. She and her friend Ben who helped her with the trick get sent away to a special camp for kids just like them, luxurious yet there's something off about it. Naturally there are guards, doors that unlock only from the outside, a...more
I've always enjoyed David Pogue and, even though this was considered a book for young readers, I really enjoyed it. Pogue interjects his "grownup" perspective here and there -- but really tells the story from the young Abby's point of view with an 11-year-old's tongue-in-cheek sensibility. I found the book delightful!
Well...it was short. And I guess it was okay. But I'm not really into books about kids with powers, who get taken to this wonderful superhero camp place, and they have friends, and they find out that the superhero camp is evil, so then they end up escaping by using their powers...though I've read a few of them now.
I was expecting something cute and fluffy when I picked up this book. It's not cute and fluffy. I was, in fact, horrified. This is not a children's book like The Penderwicks is a children's book. It's more like Harry Potter is a children's book, Harry Potter references not withstanding.
I will definitely be recommending this to our fifth graders and some fourth graders. Had shades of The Girl Who Could Fly, but a less suspenseful approach. I enjoyed the characters a lot. Their different strengths and attitudes also gave me a Benedict Society vibe.
What a odd but nice little story... Reminded me in the second half of the limit... What a great message and what a great activity you could do with this book with an elementary class as a brainbreak... Maybe even as a science experiment...
This is a wonderful read. I picked it up at the library after I looked at the cover and took a quick peek inside, hoping that I would like it. It turned out to be the first thought I had in the morning after I stayed up late to read it!
This is one of the best books I've read in a long time! I liked all the adventure and it kept you on your toes. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next in it.
Laura-Lagoona-Thalia-Sadie-
added it
it was an awesome book, but I think that it went to fast. I think that there should be a sequel to the book because it's still really awesome.
This was a cute, easy read. It was a unique idea but the reason I gave it only three stars was the plot was very predictable. Fun book for kids.
This was just ok. I am sure that people actually talk like the characters, but I thought they sounded silly. It was a very slow moving book and took awhile to hit the good part of the story.
This book was much better than I thought it would be, and it gives me hope for the future of children's literature. Best part: buffaloes, walking backwards, wearing diapers.
While this got off to a slow start things did pick up and make this interesting enough to continue.
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David Pogue, Yale '85, is the weekly personal-technology columnist for the New York Times and an Emmy award-winning tech correspondent for CBS News. His funny tech videos appear weekly on CNBC. And with 3 million books in print, he is also one of the world's bestselling how- to authors. He wrote or co-wrote seven books in the "For Dummies" series (including Macs, Magic, Opera, and Classi
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“If you really want to be totally accurate about it, the day that really changed Abby's life wasn't the day she discovered her power.
It was the day Ben sang to her in the Telekinesis lab.”
—
2 people liked it
It was the day Ben sang to her in the Telekinesis lab.”
“I actually prefer Abby," she said.
"I'm sorry?"
"Nobody calls me Abigail unless it's my mom and she's mad.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
"I'm sorry?"
"Nobody calls me Abigail unless it's my mom and she's mad.”
