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Bad #1
Bad Magic
A magical new series from Pseudonymous Bosh, the bestselling author of the Secret Series
Magic is BAD.
As in fake. Cheesy. Unreal. At least, that's what Clay, who has seen one magic show too many, thinks.
When words from his journal appear mysteriously on his school wall as graffiti, he never imagines that magic might be to blame. And when the same graffiti lands him at Earth Ranch, a camp for "troubled" kids on a remote volcanic island, magic is the last thing he expects to find there.
But at Earth Ranch, there is one strange surprise after another, until Clay no longer knows what to expect. Is he really talking to a llama? Did he really see a ghost? What is the scary secret hidden in the abandoned library? The only thing he knows for sure is that behind the clouds of vog (volcanic smog), nothing is as it seems. Can he solve the riddle of Earth Ranch before trouble erupts?
Elusive author Pseudonymous Bosch introduces an extraordinary new series that will have you believing in the unbelievable.
Magic is BAD.
As in fake. Cheesy. Unreal. At least, that's what Clay, who has seen one magic show too many, thinks.
When words from his journal appear mysteriously on his school wall as graffiti, he never imagines that magic might be to blame. And when the same graffiti lands him at Earth Ranch, a camp for "troubled" kids on a remote volcanic island, magic is the last thing he expects to find there.
But at Earth Ranch, there is one strange surprise after another, until Clay no longer knows what to expect. Is he really talking to a llama? Did he really see a ghost? What is the scary secret hidden in the abandoned library? The only thing he knows for sure is that behind the clouds of vog (volcanic smog), nothing is as it seems. Can he solve the riddle of Earth Ranch before trouble erupts?
Elusive author Pseudonymous Bosch introduces an extraordinary new series that will have you believing in the unbelievable.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2014
252 people are currently reading
3647 people want to read
About the author
Pseudonymous Bosch
40 books3,263 followersPseudonymous Bosch is the infamously anonymous author of the New York Times bestselling Secret Series and the Bad Books. Despite rumors to the contrary, his books are not actually written by his pet rabbit, Quiche; the rabbit is merely his typist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 465 reviews
August 26, 2014
Psuedonymous Bosch is the author of the Secret Series (for which I've read the first two). The first book in the series was The Name of This Book is Secret and featured the characters of Max Ernest and Cass, who were trying to uncover a secret. I remember liking the narrator of the story, with his cautioning the reader, asides, foreshadowing and funny way that he would have a conversation with himself. Think Lemony Snicket.
Opening line: "This book begins with a bad word."
Okay, so that line certainly had me wondering what direction this book was going to go. Well "bad words" are so bad aren't they? But, Clay's older brother Max Ernest has a great way of explaining it to three year old Clay after he mistakenly says a "bad word", "bad words are bad because they make people feel bad. That's what they do... And good words make people feel good...And magic words make people feel magic." Now your probably wondering, well then what does "bad magic" mean? I was too, but you'll have to read the book to figure that one out for yourself. He, he, now I feel bad.
When Clay was eleven, Max Ernest (yep, the one from The Secret series by the same author, nice tie-in by the way) disappeared without an explanation. Well, unless you count the note he sent saying that they wouldn't be hearing from him for awhile and not to worry. Clay's brother, Max Ernest means the world to him, he's the one that inspired his interest in magic and they are bonded by the magic they enjoy. So, when Clay is given an assignment by his language arts teacher Mr. Bailey to discuss the role of magic in the play The Tempest, his leg gets to jittering and he gets a terrible case of writers block. Magic was his and his brothers thing after all. Mr. Bailey then offers Clay a journal and says as long as he writes anything it it, he can get credit in class. Clay thinks this is the answer to his prayers, but when the very thing he writes in the book ends up as graffiti on the wall at school, with his signature tag, Clay is immediately blamed. Despite protesting his innocence, no one wants to listen to Clay. Clay's parents are even sending him to Earth Ranch, a camp for "struggling youth" on a island with a volcano and llamas to take care of for the summer. But Earth Ranch, isn't quite what it seems, there are ghosts, a dangerous volcano, and even his cabin mates have secrets of their own.
I liked how Bad Magic draws from Shakespeare's play The Tempest. It made me want to go back and read the play. Bosch did a wonderful job of providing just the right amount of details to give me an idea what the play is about though. One of the biggest changes I found about Bad Magic, was that the narrator from the Secret's series wasn't as "talkative" in Bad Magic. I think that's mostly because Bad Magic was more of an adventure/mystery story and Bosch used techniques that lend themselves to this sort of genre instead. That doesn't mean he was absent, but Bosch's asides in Bad Magic seemed more as an educational tool, but not in a preachy kind of way, but more of a way to explain the origins of the pop culture references of Gilligan's Island, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, and literary references like J.R.R. Tolkien, Sherlock Holmes, and Shakespeare that he used in the story. Bosch does still have conversations with himself, so he kept the humorous aspects I so enjoyed reading. Especially the one at the beginning of the story about "bad words" that he elaborates on in the Appendix as well. Overall, I really enjoyed Bad Magic, there is ample amounts of mystery, humor, and a diverse group of camp mates that make for an entertaining and educational read. Bad Magic had a satisfying ending but also left room for another book.
In exchange for an honest review, an ARC was received from the publisher for free via NetGalley
Opening line: "This book begins with a bad word."
Okay, so that line certainly had me wondering what direction this book was going to go. Well "bad words" are so bad aren't they? But, Clay's older brother Max Ernest has a great way of explaining it to three year old Clay after he mistakenly says a "bad word", "bad words are bad because they make people feel bad. That's what they do... And good words make people feel good...And magic words make people feel magic." Now your probably wondering, well then what does "bad magic" mean? I was too, but you'll have to read the book to figure that one out for yourself. He, he, now I feel bad.
When Clay was eleven, Max Ernest (yep, the one from The Secret series by the same author, nice tie-in by the way) disappeared without an explanation. Well, unless you count the note he sent saying that they wouldn't be hearing from him for awhile and not to worry. Clay's brother, Max Ernest means the world to him, he's the one that inspired his interest in magic and they are bonded by the magic they enjoy. So, when Clay is given an assignment by his language arts teacher Mr. Bailey to discuss the role of magic in the play The Tempest, his leg gets to jittering and he gets a terrible case of writers block. Magic was his and his brothers thing after all. Mr. Bailey then offers Clay a journal and says as long as he writes anything it it, he can get credit in class. Clay thinks this is the answer to his prayers, but when the very thing he writes in the book ends up as graffiti on the wall at school, with his signature tag, Clay is immediately blamed. Despite protesting his innocence, no one wants to listen to Clay. Clay's parents are even sending him to Earth Ranch, a camp for "struggling youth" on a island with a volcano and llamas to take care of for the summer. But Earth Ranch, isn't quite what it seems, there are ghosts, a dangerous volcano, and even his cabin mates have secrets of their own.
I liked how Bad Magic draws from Shakespeare's play The Tempest. It made me want to go back and read the play. Bosch did a wonderful job of providing just the right amount of details to give me an idea what the play is about though. One of the biggest changes I found about Bad Magic, was that the narrator from the Secret's series wasn't as "talkative" in Bad Magic. I think that's mostly because Bad Magic was more of an adventure/mystery story and Bosch used techniques that lend themselves to this sort of genre instead. That doesn't mean he was absent, but Bosch's asides in Bad Magic seemed more as an educational tool, but not in a preachy kind of way, but more of a way to explain the origins of the pop culture references of Gilligan's Island, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, and literary references like J.R.R. Tolkien, Sherlock Holmes, and Shakespeare that he used in the story. Bosch does still have conversations with himself, so he kept the humorous aspects I so enjoyed reading. Especially the one at the beginning of the story about "bad words" that he elaborates on in the Appendix as well. Overall, I really enjoyed Bad Magic, there is ample amounts of mystery, humor, and a diverse group of camp mates that make for an entertaining and educational read. Bad Magic had a satisfying ending but also left room for another book.
In exchange for an honest review, an ARC was received from the publisher for free via NetGalley
October 24, 2018
Qué decepción... Los primeros capítulos prometían, pero al final acabó siendo una de esas novelas que se enredan en una trama tan inverosímil que al final no saben solucionarla de manera coherente.
May 27, 2018
Reread May 2018:
I can’t believe it’s been 4 years since I read this. A lot has changed and I actually really enjoyed it. More than the first time around. It helped that I finally got to read the sequels too.
I’ll write more details in my review of the third book. But for now, all I’ll say is that I’m really glad that I came back to this series and this author. It felt like coming home.
Original review: December 2014
Before reading: GUYS I AM SO EXCITED!!!!! I just got a copy of Bad Magic as a Christmas present (I get to open one present on Christmas Eve) and I AM SO HAPPY!!!! I loved the Secret Series also by Pseudonymous Bosch and cannot wait to start reading this new book! Fingers crossed I love it (pretty sure I will :)
Happy Holidays, everybody!!
After reading: Actual rating is 3.5 stars
Well. Definitely not as good as The Secret Series (of course, that's a hard series to beat), but still enjoyable nonetheless.
I did like Clay, not as much as Cass or Max-Ernest, but he was nice. And funny sometimes. I liked the camaraderie between the other boys at Earth Ranch and Clay. The ending was quite surprising (in a good way) and I liked that most everything was solved but there are still a few loose ends leaving material for the rest of the series. And of course, Pseudonymous Bosch's writing is as good as ever. I liked that this time, most of his authorial interruptions were in the footnotes, not the actual story,
But one thing I did not like: I feel like all Bad Magic did was set the stage for the rest of the series and I was left feeling inexplicably disappointed.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I NEED THE SEQUEL RIGHT NOW!!!
I can’t believe it’s been 4 years since I read this. A lot has changed and I actually really enjoyed it. More than the first time around. It helped that I finally got to read the sequels too.
I’ll write more details in my review of the third book. But for now, all I’ll say is that I’m really glad that I came back to this series and this author. It felt like coming home.
Original review: December 2014
Before reading: GUYS I AM SO EXCITED!!!!! I just got a copy of Bad Magic as a Christmas present (I get to open one present on Christmas Eve) and I AM SO HAPPY!!!! I loved the Secret Series also by Pseudonymous Bosch and cannot wait to start reading this new book! Fingers crossed I love it (pretty sure I will :)
Happy Holidays, everybody!!
After reading: Actual rating is 3.5 stars
Well. Definitely not as good as The Secret Series (of course, that's a hard series to beat), but still enjoyable nonetheless.
I did like Clay, not as much as Cass or Max-Ernest, but he was nice. And funny sometimes. I liked the camaraderie between the other boys at Earth Ranch and Clay. The ending was quite surprising (in a good way) and I liked that most everything was solved but there are still a few loose ends leaving material for the rest of the series. And of course, Pseudonymous Bosch's writing is as good as ever. I liked that this time, most of his authorial interruptions were in the footnotes, not the actual story,
But one thing I did not like: I feel like all Bad Magic did was set the stage for the rest of the series and I was left feeling inexplicably disappointed.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I NEED THE SEQUEL RIGHT NOW!!!
July 30, 2014
Better Than the "Secret Series"; A Study in Misdirection
I really liked this book, but for lots of reasons that no one else seems to be mentioning.
First things first - I did not care that much for the first two volumes of the "Secret Series". The narrator was way too arch and intrusive for me, and I just didn't respond well to the antic cleverness of it all. I get it that lots of kid readers love that series and its comfortable jokiness, and I think that's wonderful, but it was just a bit too much for me. "Bad Magic" starts along the same lines, with pretty much the same cutesy narrator. But then, a few chapters in, just like that, the narrator for all practical purposes disappears into the background so that we can get to the great story that is being told.
That's terrific because this book, and the series it opens, is for older readers who I suspect may have grown out of "Secret Series" type tales. For the same reason, this book doesn't feel at all like the Lemony Snicket books that feature the Baudelaires. "Bad Magic" is more complex and character driven and less dependent on narrator wordplay. It has a complex plot with a lot of subtlety, no silliness and no zany action/adventure.
Here, we have passing reference to all kinds of pop icons, but the recurring reference is to Shakespeare's "Tempest". There are lots of obvious references but also many more subtle parallels that connect and reconnect as the story progresses; the result is a big step up in interest and depth. This step up in interest is complemented by the fact that much more attention is paid to characters and character development, motivations, feelings, and the interactions of the various players.
MILD SPOILERS. At the outset this looks like a "Holes" kind of book involving an island work camp for juvenile delinquents. It quickly transforms into a magical tale, and owes more to Peter Pan's Lost Boys, or to shows like "Lost", than anything else.
NO MORE SPOILERS, but trust me on this - the book moves through a couple of stages, each more interesting than the last. Just when you think it is "this" kind of book it becomes "that" kind of book. And that's not because the author doesn't know where he is going or has lost control of the narrative. Rather, it's more like the author is tricking the reader, (the magician's art of "misdirection"), with different styles and plots before truly revealing which way, and how magically and fantastically, this book is going to go.
The result is interesting and rewarding. The book is on an entirely different plane than other Bosch books. I would not be reluctant to revisit this author.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
I really liked this book, but for lots of reasons that no one else seems to be mentioning.
First things first - I did not care that much for the first two volumes of the "Secret Series". The narrator was way too arch and intrusive for me, and I just didn't respond well to the antic cleverness of it all. I get it that lots of kid readers love that series and its comfortable jokiness, and I think that's wonderful, but it was just a bit too much for me. "Bad Magic" starts along the same lines, with pretty much the same cutesy narrator. But then, a few chapters in, just like that, the narrator for all practical purposes disappears into the background so that we can get to the great story that is being told.
That's terrific because this book, and the series it opens, is for older readers who I suspect may have grown out of "Secret Series" type tales. For the same reason, this book doesn't feel at all like the Lemony Snicket books that feature the Baudelaires. "Bad Magic" is more complex and character driven and less dependent on narrator wordplay. It has a complex plot with a lot of subtlety, no silliness and no zany action/adventure.
Here, we have passing reference to all kinds of pop icons, but the recurring reference is to Shakespeare's "Tempest". There are lots of obvious references but also many more subtle parallels that connect and reconnect as the story progresses; the result is a big step up in interest and depth. This step up in interest is complemented by the fact that much more attention is paid to characters and character development, motivations, feelings, and the interactions of the various players.
MILD SPOILERS. At the outset this looks like a "Holes" kind of book involving an island work camp for juvenile delinquents. It quickly transforms into a magical tale, and owes more to Peter Pan's Lost Boys, or to shows like "Lost", than anything else.
NO MORE SPOILERS, but trust me on this - the book moves through a couple of stages, each more interesting than the last. Just when you think it is "this" kind of book it becomes "that" kind of book. And that's not because the author doesn't know where he is going or has lost control of the narrative. Rather, it's more like the author is tricking the reader, (the magician's art of "misdirection"), with different styles and plots before truly revealing which way, and how magically and fantastically, this book is going to go.
The result is interesting and rewarding. The book is on an entirely different plane than other Bosch books. I would not be reluctant to revisit this author.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
August 12, 2023
I really enjoyed this one. I read it with my ten year old and we had so much fun. It is an indirect continuation of his earlier books (which we’ve already read) and knowing those stories paid off in a big way (although they are absolutely not necessary to enjoy this).
It was funny. It was charming. It feels unique. It’s adventurous. A little spooky and a little magical. I don’t know- I just really adore the Pseudonymous Bosch stuff. I hope he’s not done. Will definitely pick up his next Bad Magic book.
It was funny. It was charming. It feels unique. It’s adventurous. A little spooky and a little magical. I don’t know- I just really adore the Pseudonymous Bosch stuff. I hope he’s not done. Will definitely pick up his next Bad Magic book.
March 26, 2020
This was a HILARIOUS book filled with jokes, fire, librarys, ghost girls, and magic. I love the author, i've read The Secret Series which he also wrote. After this, I am so excited to read the next one!
November 2, 2023
Zanimljiva priča ali što je više čitaš manje smisla
August 10, 2014
I received a copy of 'Bad Magic' by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read this in one siting! Great start to an exciting series for students in grades 4-6. There is magic, adventure and mystery all rolled into a past paced story. Just when you think you have things figured out, the plot shifts and the reader is surprised again.
September 25, 2018
Acompaña a Clay en su búsqueda de lo que es real y no mientras el autor nos da información tanto útil como inútil, conocemos personajes interesantes, nos topamos con aventuras a tutiplén y con un uso creativo y original de La Tempestad.
Reseña completa en THE BEST READ YET BLOG
Reseña completa en THE BEST READ YET BLOG
January 27, 2019
I received a free digital ARC via NetGalley for reviewing purposes.
When Clay is sent to a camp for mischievous children, the crime he didn't commit seems inexplicably linked to a mystery on the island and an even greater mystery in his own home.
I've wanted to read the Secret Series for a very long time as the writer reminds me of Lemony Snicket, but it wasn't until I received this book on NetGalley that I had access to Pseudonymous Bosch's work. This book has all of the elements I look for in a YA - puzzles, a secret library, a mystery, an eccentric narrator who inserts him/herself into the story, an appendix full of bonus content including magic tricks, sassy female characters, and plenty of pop culture references.
Sadly, this spin-off/tie-in was thoroughly disappointing and may have turned me off of Bosch forever. I didn't like Clay at all and the mystery wasn't enthralling enough to keep me hooked. Exposition took up a good portion of the book and most of it felt like I was having to tug at the vegetables on the farm to get one good hint at the mystery or having to walk the long, winding paths of the island myself (hint: exercise = not something I enjoy). I did find the appendix to be a bit complicated - footnotes would have served better to keep from flipping back and forth (a task made easier by the hyperlinks in the digital text - thanks for that blessing!) I also felt the ending was rather anti-climactic. The whole thing felt more like it should be a much shorter book for upper-elementary school students than a middle-grade novel.
But none of those things were that bad. I've read so much worse in my reading career. I guess in the end, the biggest mystery is why I didn't like this book. But I'm not gonna stick around to find out.
When Clay is sent to a camp for mischievous children, the crime he didn't commit seems inexplicably linked to a mystery on the island and an even greater mystery in his own home.
I've wanted to read the Secret Series for a very long time as the writer reminds me of Lemony Snicket, but it wasn't until I received this book on NetGalley that I had access to Pseudonymous Bosch's work. This book has all of the elements I look for in a YA - puzzles, a secret library, a mystery, an eccentric narrator who inserts him/herself into the story, an appendix full of bonus content including magic tricks, sassy female characters, and plenty of pop culture references.
Sadly, this spin-off/tie-in was thoroughly disappointing and may have turned me off of Bosch forever. I didn't like Clay at all and the mystery wasn't enthralling enough to keep me hooked. Exposition took up a good portion of the book and most of it felt like I was having to tug at the vegetables on the farm to get one good hint at the mystery or having to walk the long, winding paths of the island myself (hint: exercise = not something I enjoy). I did find the appendix to be a bit complicated - footnotes would have served better to keep from flipping back and forth (a task made easier by the hyperlinks in the digital text - thanks for that blessing!) I also felt the ending was rather anti-climactic. The whole thing felt more like it should be a much shorter book for upper-elementary school students than a middle-grade novel.
But none of those things were that bad. I've read so much worse in my reading career. I guess in the end, the biggest mystery is why I didn't like this book. But I'm not gonna stick around to find out.
December 22, 2014
I had really mixed feelings about this book. I had read Pseudonymous Bosch's Secret Series, and I enjoyed it, which is what got me started on this book. It was good for the most part, but the ending of 'Bad Magic' is what ruined it for me.
First off, the plot takes a really long time to get started. Once it does get started, it built up really quickly and gets pretty suspenseful. But then, at the last minute, most of the stuff is resolved, and it all kind of crumbles. There is all this really hard to explain, seemingly magic stuff going on, and the explanation for it is not at all satisfactory.
That was the main problem I had with this book. If the ending had been better, I would have enjoyed this much more. Of course, the plot could redeem itself in book 2...
First off, the plot takes a really long time to get started. Once it does get started, it built up really quickly and gets pretty suspenseful. But then, at the last minute, most of the stuff is resolved, and it all kind of crumbles. There is all this really hard to explain, seemingly magic stuff going on, and the explanation for it is not at all satisfactory.
That was the main problem I had with this book. If the ending had been better, I would have enjoyed this much more. Of course, the plot could redeem itself in book 2...
February 20, 2020
Bad Magic is a story about a kid named Paul-Clay. His name is Paul-Clay because his parents could not decide if he should be called Clay or Paul. Clay, which is what he prefers to go by, is a kind-of shy 12-year-old boy.
At the start of the book, Clay is in a play by Shakespeare called The Tempest. Clay played Antonio, Prospero's younger brother. He disliked this role because he related to the character in a painful way.
Prospero, by the way, is a wizard who manipulates other people's lives and makes them fall in love or think that they are dead. He eventually gives up magic and buries his magic staff and book in the ground.
The reason this story is like Clay's life is because his older brother loved magic tricks and riddles. He was his older brother's Antonio. When he turned eleven his brother disappeared from his life. He stopped sending postcards or letters from his college and pretty much ignored his family.
Clay is a talented graffiti artist. The walls in his room are covered in his name written over and over again each one in a different style.
Clay is given a journal by his teacher. The journal is actually the one used by Prospero in The Tempest. Clay writes on the first page of the book "Magic Sucks" in big bold bubble letters. He writes his name underneath this.
When Clay goes to school the next day, he is surprised to see his message, "Magic Sucks," written on the wall the exact same way he wrote it in his book.
He is sent away by his parents to a "camp" for juvenile delinquents. The place is called Earth Ranch. Earth Ranch is supposed to heal the child criminals through "animal husbandry."
All the other kids and concealers at Earth Ranch turn out to be playing parts in The Tempest. They are trying to get Clay to become a wizard by making him play a part in The Tempest without him knowing it.
I enjoyed reading this book immensely. It was both funny and charming. I loved how many footnotes the author added.
I did not like how there was so much stuff going on, it was hard to follow one story line. That is why my review is kind-of all over the place.
I liked the character E. Bailey because he was the person who kind of started the whole story. I also liked the idea of him playing the lead role in almost all of his plays.
I could not tell when this book too place. At some points it seemed to be present day, and at others it seemed to take place in the 1980s.
All in all, this book was very funny and enjoyable to read. The storyline is hard to follow at times, but it is fairly easy to read.
-Sam Kuntz
At the start of the book, Clay is in a play by Shakespeare called The Tempest. Clay played Antonio, Prospero's younger brother. He disliked this role because he related to the character in a painful way.
Prospero, by the way, is a wizard who manipulates other people's lives and makes them fall in love or think that they are dead. He eventually gives up magic and buries his magic staff and book in the ground.
The reason this story is like Clay's life is because his older brother loved magic tricks and riddles. He was his older brother's Antonio. When he turned eleven his brother disappeared from his life. He stopped sending postcards or letters from his college and pretty much ignored his family.
Clay is a talented graffiti artist. The walls in his room are covered in his name written over and over again each one in a different style.
Clay is given a journal by his teacher. The journal is actually the one used by Prospero in The Tempest. Clay writes on the first page of the book "Magic Sucks" in big bold bubble letters. He writes his name underneath this.
When Clay goes to school the next day, he is surprised to see his message, "Magic Sucks," written on the wall the exact same way he wrote it in his book.
He is sent away by his parents to a "camp" for juvenile delinquents. The place is called Earth Ranch. Earth Ranch is supposed to heal the child criminals through "animal husbandry."
All the other kids and concealers at Earth Ranch turn out to be playing parts in The Tempest. They are trying to get Clay to become a wizard by making him play a part in The Tempest without him knowing it.
I enjoyed reading this book immensely. It was both funny and charming. I loved how many footnotes the author added.
I did not like how there was so much stuff going on, it was hard to follow one story line. That is why my review is kind-of all over the place.
I liked the character E. Bailey because he was the person who kind of started the whole story. I also liked the idea of him playing the lead role in almost all of his plays.
I could not tell when this book too place. At some points it seemed to be present day, and at others it seemed to take place in the 1980s.
All in all, this book was very funny and enjoyable to read. The storyline is hard to follow at times, but it is fairly easy to read.
-Sam Kuntz
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2021
• Judul : Bad Magic - Sihir yang Buruk
• Penulis : Pseudonymous Bosch
• Penerjemah : Ine Milasari Hidajat
• Penyunting : Dion Rahman
• Penerbit : Elex Media Komputindo
• Terbit : 5 Maret 2018
• Harga : Rp 72.800,-
• Tebal : 368 halaman
• Ukuran : 13.2 × 20 cm
• Cover : Softcover
• ISBN : 9786020455808
"𝘕𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘬 𝘢𝘥𝘢 𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘩, 𝘬𝘰𝘬, 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘴𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨. 𝘐𝘣𝘶𝘬𝘶 𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵𝘶 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘬-𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢." (hal. 133)
Semenjak kakaknya, Max-Ernest, menghilang tanpa kabar, Clay mulai membenci sulap dan sihir. Padahal sebelum kakaknya menghilang sulap dan sihir menjadi bagian yang tidak terpisahkan dalam kehidupan Clay. Clay dan kakaknya kerap menggunakan kata-kata kasar sebagai mantra dalam sihir mereka. Kini itu semua hanya kenangan. Clay sekarang lebih memilih bermain 𝘴𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥 dan grafiti sebagai hobi barunya. Clay sendiri merupakan anak yang memilih untuk tidak tampil menonjol atau menjadi pusat perhatian. Namun, saat Clay melangkahkan kakinya di sekolah tatapan murid-murid lainnya tertuju pada Clay. Tidak hanya memberikan lirikan netra mereka juga turut berbisik-bisik di hadapan Clay. Clay yang tidak tahu apa-apa langsung dibuat takut dan gugup karenanya. Tak lama sumber masalah yang membuat Clay menjadi bahan omongan teman-teman satu sekolahnya pun terungkap. Terdapat satu grafiti besar bertuliskan "Sihir itu Payah" di dinding sekolah. Dan yang menjadikan Clay dicurigai sebagai tersangka adalah karena terdapat tulisan namanya di bawah grafiti tersebut. Faktanya bukan Clay yang melakukannya.
Memang benar adanya jika grafiti tersebut adalah hasil tulisan Clay. Tapi, Clay menulis itu semua bukan di dinding sekolah, namun di buku catatan yang diberikan oleh gurunya, Mr. Bailey. Clay punn dibuat bingung karena tulisan di dalam bukunya tersebut bisa terdapat di dinding sekolah. Sebagai hukuman Clay diminta untuk ikut kegiatan selama musim panas di Peternakan Bumi. Peternakan Bumi adalah sebuah perkemahan untuk anak-anak "bermasalah" yang terletak di sebuah pulau vulkanik terpencil. Clay sendiri tidak bisa menolak hukuman tersebut jika tidak ingin tinggal kelas. Mau tak mau Clay harus menghabiskan liburan musim panasnya di Peternakan Bumi. Sesampainya di sana Clay disambut oleh Leira, seorang gadis yang menjadi salah satu peserta perkemahan. Tidak hanya Leira di Peternakan Bumi Clay juga bertemu dengan Buzz, Pablo, Jonah, Kwan, hingga Flint. Namun, Clay tidak tahu menahu soal pualau tempat Peternakan Bumi berada serta apa sebenarnya tujuan dari diadakannya Peternakan Bumi. Hingga suatu hari sebuah perpustakaan misterius di pulau tersebut menampakkan sesosok gadis misterius di dalamnya yang membuat Clay penasaran. Siapakah gadis tersebut? Bisakah Clay menemukan jawaban dari misteri yang menyelimuti Peternakan Bumi?
"𝘉𝘢𝘩𝘸𝘢 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘬 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘱 𝘴𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪, 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘶 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘩𝘬𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪." (hal. 240)
Membaca judul bukunya "Bad Magic" pada awalnya saya kira akan memiliki nuansa sihir seperti di Harry Potter. Nyatanya Bad Magic lebih cenderung menunjukkan gayanya tersendiri. Di sini pembaca tidak akan menemukan sihir ala-ala penyihir, tapi lebih cenderung ke "sihir" dalam pertunjukan sulap. Bad Magic juga memiliki gaya yang nyeleneh, cuek, dan urakan yang mungkin tidak akan cocok bagi sebagian pembaca. Dan saya pun baru tahu jika trilogi Bad ini ternyata masih ada sangkut pautnya dengan The Secret Series. Tapi, untungnya buku ini masih bisa dibaca secara terpisah tanpa harus membaca The Secret Series terlebih dahulu. Bicara soal kover bukunya sendiri saya menyukainya. Bagaimana warna yang terang dan cerah mendominasi kover bukunya. Ini terasa tepat karena memang pasar untuk buku ini sendiri untuk kanak-kanak yang memasuki masa remaja. Tulisan judul buku yang berukuran besar ditambah aksen asap dari gunung berapi serta dua tangan yang seolah-olah sedang melakukan trik sihir berhasil menjadi 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 tersendiri. Sementara ilustrasi gunung berapi yang meletus ditambah sosok seorang anak yang berlari semakin menguatkan isi ceritanya. Kover buku yang pasti tidak akan mudah diabaikan jika netra berhasil menangkapnya.
Seperti kebanyakan novel 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 lainnya Bad Magic juga memiliki tema tentang sihir dan fantasi. Di sini pembaca akan berkenalan dengan tokoh Clay yang membenci sihir semenjak kakaknya, Max-Ernest, menghilang. Padahal dulu saat kakaknya masih ada Clay amat menyukai sihir. Kini setelah terlibat masalah yang tidak pernah diperbuatnya di sekolah, Clay malah terdampar di Peternakan Bumi. Selama musim panas Clay harus mengikuti kegiatan di perkemahan tersebut. Alih-alih mengikuti kegiatan dengan menyenangkan Clay malah mendapatkan tanya dalam pikirannya tentang apa sebenarnya Perkemahan Bumi ini. Sihir yang diolah oleh Bosch mungkin tidak akan terlalu keluar di buku pertamanya ini. Bad Magic seakan-akan hanya perkenalan sebelum memasuki petualangan yang sesungguhnya. Menariknya buku ini tidak memerlukan unsur fantasi yang terlalu kentara, tapi justru dengan menggunakan misteri pembaca malah akan semakin dibuat penasaran karenanya. Banyak pertanyaan yang melingkupi Perkemahan Bumi yang saya jamin nggak akan bikin tenang sebelum melumat habis ceritanya.
Tokoh utama dalam Bad Magic adalah Clay, seorang anak berumur dua belas tahun, yang biasa saja. Clay ini dari deskripsi yang diceritakan oleh penulis adalah sosok anak yang nggak mau terekspos dan lebih memilih berada di belakang layar. Clay hanya ingin seperti bayangan yang bahkan keberadaannya pun kerap kali tak digubris banyak orang. Clay juga merupakan orang yang mudah takut dan gugup. Jika sudah takut dan gugup Clay akan menggoyang-goyangkan kedua tungkai kakinya. Tapi, dibalik sikapnya yang terkesan masa bodoh Clay sebenarnya adalah anak yang berani dan peduli terhadap orang lain. Selain Clay kita juga akan berkenalan dengan "cacing-cacing" yang ada di Peternakan Bumi. Pertama ada Leira seorang gadis muda yang berpenampilan tomboi dengan 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘫𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴-nya. Leira sendiri adalah sosok gadis yang kerap kali mencuri untuk memuaskan kebiasaannya. Selanjutnya ada Kwan yang tengil, Pablo yang pemberontak, dan Jonah yang menghanyutkan. Semua tokohnya punya peran masing-masing, tapi sayangnya nggak terlalu terlibat banyak. Di sini hanya Clay seorang yang berusaha menguak misteri dari Peternakan Bumi. Penulis tergolong cukup berhasil membuat tokoh utama yang mencuri perhatian.
Ada dua 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 yang dipakai dalam novel ini. Sudut pandang orang pertama digunakan oleh penulis untuk menambahkan beberapa detail tentang cerita, tokoh Clay, dan berbagai hal lainnya. Sedangkan sudut pandang orang ketiga dipakai oleh Clay untuk menarasikan jalannya cerita. Menurut saya penggunaan dua 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 ini terkesan menarik. Di mana penulis seakan-akan dekat dan mengenal Clay secara langsung. Mungkin pada awalnya akan terasa aneh, tapi lama-lama pembaca pun akan terbiasa karenanya. Selain 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸-nya yang menarik, gaya bahasa dan bercerita penulis pun tidak kalah unik. Penulis menggunakan bahasa yang 'slengean' dan nggak beraturan. Selain itu gaya berceritanya juga "suka-suka" penulis yang diawal akan terasa membingungkan dan mungkin nggak akan cocok untuk beberapa pembaca. Untuk hasil terjemahannya bagus dan masih dapat dimengerti. Namun, karena gaya bercerita penulis yang nggak biasa catatan kaki yang selalu hampir ada sebenarnya sedikit mengganggu. Isi dari catatan kaki tersebut biasanya hanya berisi hal-hal yang nggak penting sebenarnya, tapi anehnya tetap menarik untuk dibaca.
Masalah yang akan kita temukan dalam Bad Magic terjadi saat Clay memasuki Peternakan Bumi. Di sana Clay yang awalnya hanya menganggap Peternakan Bumi sebagi kegiatan berkemah biasa, hingga Clay merasa curiga ada yang aneh dengan perkemahan tersebut. Ini diawali dengan cerita-cerita dari teman-teman satu kemahnya tentang pulau vulkanik tempat Peternakan Bumi berada. Selain itu kemunculan gadis berambut merah di perpustakaan terbengkalai yang ada di pulau itu semakin memantik rasa penasaran Clay. Namun, keingintahuan Clay ternyata memancing konflik yang membuat Clay menjadi bingung adanya. Permasalahan yang ditawarkan dalam Bad Magic sebetulnya lebih cenderung pada misteri yang melingkupi Peternakan Bumi. Pembaca seakan-akan diajak menyelidiki berbagai tanya yang melingkupi Peternakan Bumi. Konfliknya nggak heboh atau epik, tapi lebih ke mencari jawaban tentang suatu hal yang misterius. Meskipun konfliknya garing, tapi ini wajar karena Bad Magic merupakan babak perkenalkan dari petualangan Clay selanjutnya.
Bicara soal sihir yang terlintas di pikiran kita pertama kali mungkin mantra dan penyihir. Namun, Bad Magic membawa sihir ke dalam dunia sulap yang memabukkan. Penulis tidak berusaha membangun dunia yang rumit di dalamnya. Cukup dengan seorang bocah biasa dan dunia sihir yang mulai ditinggalkannya sudah cukup untuk menghipnotis pembaca. Entah ini bisa disebut kelebihan atau kekurangan, tapi novel ini mempunyai gaya bercerita yang lain daripada yang lain. Gaya berceritanya nyeleneh dan suka-suka. Namun, bagi saya gaya berceritanya justru menjadi poin 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘴 tersendiri. Beberapa ilustrasi yang disertakan menjadi gambaran yang akan memudahkan pembaca untuk berimajinasi.
Tokoh-tokohnya pun mudah disukai, walaupun nggak begitu menonjol. Kekurangan yang saya rasakan selama membaca mungkin terletak pada permasalahan yang cenderung masih terlalu buram. Selain itu keterlibatan dan alasan para tokohnya untuk terlibat juga nggak begitu jelas. Yang pasti mungkin ini baru perkenalan dari trilogi Bad ini. Semoga di buku selanjutnya semua pertanyaan yang ada di benak saya dapat terjawab. Secara keseluruhan Bad Magic dapat membawa 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘴 tersendiri yang jauh dari kata bosan.
"𝘚𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘢. 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢, 𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨-𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘪𝘫𝘪𝘬, 𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘶 𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘬𝘢." (hal. 308)
• Penulis : Pseudonymous Bosch
• Penerjemah : Ine Milasari Hidajat
• Penyunting : Dion Rahman
• Penerbit : Elex Media Komputindo
• Terbit : 5 Maret 2018
• Harga : Rp 72.800,-
• Tebal : 368 halaman
• Ukuran : 13.2 × 20 cm
• Cover : Softcover
• ISBN : 9786020455808
"𝘕𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘬 𝘢𝘥𝘢 𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘩, 𝘬𝘰𝘬, 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘴𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨. 𝘐𝘣𝘶𝘬𝘶 𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵𝘶 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘬-𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢." (hal. 133)
Semenjak kakaknya, Max-Ernest, menghilang tanpa kabar, Clay mulai membenci sulap dan sihir. Padahal sebelum kakaknya menghilang sulap dan sihir menjadi bagian yang tidak terpisahkan dalam kehidupan Clay. Clay dan kakaknya kerap menggunakan kata-kata kasar sebagai mantra dalam sihir mereka. Kini itu semua hanya kenangan. Clay sekarang lebih memilih bermain 𝘴𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥 dan grafiti sebagai hobi barunya. Clay sendiri merupakan anak yang memilih untuk tidak tampil menonjol atau menjadi pusat perhatian. Namun, saat Clay melangkahkan kakinya di sekolah tatapan murid-murid lainnya tertuju pada Clay. Tidak hanya memberikan lirikan netra mereka juga turut berbisik-bisik di hadapan Clay. Clay yang tidak tahu apa-apa langsung dibuat takut dan gugup karenanya. Tak lama sumber masalah yang membuat Clay menjadi bahan omongan teman-teman satu sekolahnya pun terungkap. Terdapat satu grafiti besar bertuliskan "Sihir itu Payah" di dinding sekolah. Dan yang menjadikan Clay dicurigai sebagai tersangka adalah karena terdapat tulisan namanya di bawah grafiti tersebut. Faktanya bukan Clay yang melakukannya.
Memang benar adanya jika grafiti tersebut adalah hasil tulisan Clay. Tapi, Clay menulis itu semua bukan di dinding sekolah, namun di buku catatan yang diberikan oleh gurunya, Mr. Bailey. Clay punn dibuat bingung karena tulisan di dalam bukunya tersebut bisa terdapat di dinding sekolah. Sebagai hukuman Clay diminta untuk ikut kegiatan selama musim panas di Peternakan Bumi. Peternakan Bumi adalah sebuah perkemahan untuk anak-anak "bermasalah" yang terletak di sebuah pulau vulkanik terpencil. Clay sendiri tidak bisa menolak hukuman tersebut jika tidak ingin tinggal kelas. Mau tak mau Clay harus menghabiskan liburan musim panasnya di Peternakan Bumi. Sesampainya di sana Clay disambut oleh Leira, seorang gadis yang menjadi salah satu peserta perkemahan. Tidak hanya Leira di Peternakan Bumi Clay juga bertemu dengan Buzz, Pablo, Jonah, Kwan, hingga Flint. Namun, Clay tidak tahu menahu soal pualau tempat Peternakan Bumi berada serta apa sebenarnya tujuan dari diadakannya Peternakan Bumi. Hingga suatu hari sebuah perpustakaan misterius di pulau tersebut menampakkan sesosok gadis misterius di dalamnya yang membuat Clay penasaran. Siapakah gadis tersebut? Bisakah Clay menemukan jawaban dari misteri yang menyelimuti Peternakan Bumi?
"𝘉𝘢𝘩𝘸𝘢 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘬 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘱 𝘴𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪, 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘶 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘩𝘬𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪." (hal. 240)
Membaca judul bukunya "Bad Magic" pada awalnya saya kira akan memiliki nuansa sihir seperti di Harry Potter. Nyatanya Bad Magic lebih cenderung menunjukkan gayanya tersendiri. Di sini pembaca tidak akan menemukan sihir ala-ala penyihir, tapi lebih cenderung ke "sihir" dalam pertunjukan sulap. Bad Magic juga memiliki gaya yang nyeleneh, cuek, dan urakan yang mungkin tidak akan cocok bagi sebagian pembaca. Dan saya pun baru tahu jika trilogi Bad ini ternyata masih ada sangkut pautnya dengan The Secret Series. Tapi, untungnya buku ini masih bisa dibaca secara terpisah tanpa harus membaca The Secret Series terlebih dahulu. Bicara soal kover bukunya sendiri saya menyukainya. Bagaimana warna yang terang dan cerah mendominasi kover bukunya. Ini terasa tepat karena memang pasar untuk buku ini sendiri untuk kanak-kanak yang memasuki masa remaja. Tulisan judul buku yang berukuran besar ditambah aksen asap dari gunung berapi serta dua tangan yang seolah-olah sedang melakukan trik sihir berhasil menjadi 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 tersendiri. Sementara ilustrasi gunung berapi yang meletus ditambah sosok seorang anak yang berlari semakin menguatkan isi ceritanya. Kover buku yang pasti tidak akan mudah diabaikan jika netra berhasil menangkapnya.
Seperti kebanyakan novel 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 lainnya Bad Magic juga memiliki tema tentang sihir dan fantasi. Di sini pembaca akan berkenalan dengan tokoh Clay yang membenci sihir semenjak kakaknya, Max-Ernest, menghilang. Padahal dulu saat kakaknya masih ada Clay amat menyukai sihir. Kini setelah terlibat masalah yang tidak pernah diperbuatnya di sekolah, Clay malah terdampar di Peternakan Bumi. Selama musim panas Clay harus mengikuti kegiatan di perkemahan tersebut. Alih-alih mengikuti kegiatan dengan menyenangkan Clay malah mendapatkan tanya dalam pikirannya tentang apa sebenarnya Perkemahan Bumi ini. Sihir yang diolah oleh Bosch mungkin tidak akan terlalu keluar di buku pertamanya ini. Bad Magic seakan-akan hanya perkenalan sebelum memasuki petualangan yang sesungguhnya. Menariknya buku ini tidak memerlukan unsur fantasi yang terlalu kentara, tapi justru dengan menggunakan misteri pembaca malah akan semakin dibuat penasaran karenanya. Banyak pertanyaan yang melingkupi Perkemahan Bumi yang saya jamin nggak akan bikin tenang sebelum melumat habis ceritanya.
Tokoh utama dalam Bad Magic adalah Clay, seorang anak berumur dua belas tahun, yang biasa saja. Clay ini dari deskripsi yang diceritakan oleh penulis adalah sosok anak yang nggak mau terekspos dan lebih memilih berada di belakang layar. Clay hanya ingin seperti bayangan yang bahkan keberadaannya pun kerap kali tak digubris banyak orang. Clay juga merupakan orang yang mudah takut dan gugup. Jika sudah takut dan gugup Clay akan menggoyang-goyangkan kedua tungkai kakinya. Tapi, dibalik sikapnya yang terkesan masa bodoh Clay sebenarnya adalah anak yang berani dan peduli terhadap orang lain. Selain Clay kita juga akan berkenalan dengan "cacing-cacing" yang ada di Peternakan Bumi. Pertama ada Leira seorang gadis muda yang berpenampilan tomboi dengan 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘫𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴-nya. Leira sendiri adalah sosok gadis yang kerap kali mencuri untuk memuaskan kebiasaannya. Selanjutnya ada Kwan yang tengil, Pablo yang pemberontak, dan Jonah yang menghanyutkan. Semua tokohnya punya peran masing-masing, tapi sayangnya nggak terlalu terlibat banyak. Di sini hanya Clay seorang yang berusaha menguak misteri dari Peternakan Bumi. Penulis tergolong cukup berhasil membuat tokoh utama yang mencuri perhatian.
Ada dua 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 yang dipakai dalam novel ini. Sudut pandang orang pertama digunakan oleh penulis untuk menambahkan beberapa detail tentang cerita, tokoh Clay, dan berbagai hal lainnya. Sedangkan sudut pandang orang ketiga dipakai oleh Clay untuk menarasikan jalannya cerita. Menurut saya penggunaan dua 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 ini terkesan menarik. Di mana penulis seakan-akan dekat dan mengenal Clay secara langsung. Mungkin pada awalnya akan terasa aneh, tapi lama-lama pembaca pun akan terbiasa karenanya. Selain 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸-nya yang menarik, gaya bahasa dan bercerita penulis pun tidak kalah unik. Penulis menggunakan bahasa yang 'slengean' dan nggak beraturan. Selain itu gaya berceritanya juga "suka-suka" penulis yang diawal akan terasa membingungkan dan mungkin nggak akan cocok untuk beberapa pembaca. Untuk hasil terjemahannya bagus dan masih dapat dimengerti. Namun, karena gaya bercerita penulis yang nggak biasa catatan kaki yang selalu hampir ada sebenarnya sedikit mengganggu. Isi dari catatan kaki tersebut biasanya hanya berisi hal-hal yang nggak penting sebenarnya, tapi anehnya tetap menarik untuk dibaca.
Masalah yang akan kita temukan dalam Bad Magic terjadi saat Clay memasuki Peternakan Bumi. Di sana Clay yang awalnya hanya menganggap Peternakan Bumi sebagi kegiatan berkemah biasa, hingga Clay merasa curiga ada yang aneh dengan perkemahan tersebut. Ini diawali dengan cerita-cerita dari teman-teman satu kemahnya tentang pulau vulkanik tempat Peternakan Bumi berada. Selain itu kemunculan gadis berambut merah di perpustakaan terbengkalai yang ada di pulau itu semakin memantik rasa penasaran Clay. Namun, keingintahuan Clay ternyata memancing konflik yang membuat Clay menjadi bingung adanya. Permasalahan yang ditawarkan dalam Bad Magic sebetulnya lebih cenderung pada misteri yang melingkupi Peternakan Bumi. Pembaca seakan-akan diajak menyelidiki berbagai tanya yang melingkupi Peternakan Bumi. Konfliknya nggak heboh atau epik, tapi lebih ke mencari jawaban tentang suatu hal yang misterius. Meskipun konfliknya garing, tapi ini wajar karena Bad Magic merupakan babak perkenalkan dari petualangan Clay selanjutnya.
Bicara soal sihir yang terlintas di pikiran kita pertama kali mungkin mantra dan penyihir. Namun, Bad Magic membawa sihir ke dalam dunia sulap yang memabukkan. Penulis tidak berusaha membangun dunia yang rumit di dalamnya. Cukup dengan seorang bocah biasa dan dunia sihir yang mulai ditinggalkannya sudah cukup untuk menghipnotis pembaca. Entah ini bisa disebut kelebihan atau kekurangan, tapi novel ini mempunyai gaya bercerita yang lain daripada yang lain. Gaya berceritanya nyeleneh dan suka-suka. Namun, bagi saya gaya berceritanya justru menjadi poin 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘴 tersendiri. Beberapa ilustrasi yang disertakan menjadi gambaran yang akan memudahkan pembaca untuk berimajinasi.
Tokoh-tokohnya pun mudah disukai, walaupun nggak begitu menonjol. Kekurangan yang saya rasakan selama membaca mungkin terletak pada permasalahan yang cenderung masih terlalu buram. Selain itu keterlibatan dan alasan para tokohnya untuk terlibat juga nggak begitu jelas. Yang pasti mungkin ini baru perkenalan dari trilogi Bad ini. Semoga di buku selanjutnya semua pertanyaan yang ada di benak saya dapat terjawab. Secara keseluruhan Bad Magic dapat membawa 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘴 tersendiri yang jauh dari kata bosan.
"𝘚𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘢. 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢, 𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨-𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘪𝘫𝘪𝘬, 𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘶 𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘬𝘢." (hal. 308)
September 14, 2014
Two years ago, students were sharing some of their favorite, laugh-out-loud books. One student reported loving - LOVING - The Name of This Book is Secret, and I've never forgotten her vigorous recommendation. While I haven't yet picked up of copy of Bosch's Secret book... I was delighted to have a chance to read Bad Magic.
And I wasn't disappointed, not one bit. You know how sometimes, someone recommends a book so highly, and you have these huuuge expectations... only to be disappointed? Not the case here.
In Bad Magic, we meet Clay, a boy with distant parents and an older, magician brother who kind-of-sort-of disappears. Clay gets linked to a graffiti crime, which he absolutely positively did not commit. However, it IS in his handwriting and he DID write MAGIC SUCKS! in a notebook his teacher gave him, so all evidence points to Clay. And he's punished. He's sent to a remote island for a summer camp, and that's where the real adventure begins.
I don't want to give away the story, so I won't reveal much more. Here's what I will say: The characters are entertaining, the plot is entertaining, and the setting, too, is entertaining. Clay meets up with a cast of characters that are funny and lively, and though the story is clearly fantasy-like, the dialogue and interactions are realistic. There is a mystery at the heart of this book, and Bosch leaves breadcrumbs along the way that inspire the reader to keep reading - this is a book that'll keep readers up too late at night, just to finish the next chapter... or two... or three... In a way, this reminds me a bit of Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars, because of the use of Shakespeare. And as a teacher, I'm totally into anything that makes young people think about looking into Shakespeare's plays.
Great book! Highly recommended.
And I wasn't disappointed, not one bit. You know how sometimes, someone recommends a book so highly, and you have these huuuge expectations... only to be disappointed? Not the case here.
In Bad Magic, we meet Clay, a boy with distant parents and an older, magician brother who kind-of-sort-of disappears. Clay gets linked to a graffiti crime, which he absolutely positively did not commit. However, it IS in his handwriting and he DID write MAGIC SUCKS! in a notebook his teacher gave him, so all evidence points to Clay. And he's punished. He's sent to a remote island for a summer camp, and that's where the real adventure begins.
I don't want to give away the story, so I won't reveal much more. Here's what I will say: The characters are entertaining, the plot is entertaining, and the setting, too, is entertaining. Clay meets up with a cast of characters that are funny and lively, and though the story is clearly fantasy-like, the dialogue and interactions are realistic. There is a mystery at the heart of this book, and Bosch leaves breadcrumbs along the way that inspire the reader to keep reading - this is a book that'll keep readers up too late at night, just to finish the next chapter... or two... or three... In a way, this reminds me a bit of Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars, because of the use of Shakespeare. And as a teacher, I'm totally into anything that makes young people think about looking into Shakespeare's plays.
Great book! Highly recommended.
March 24, 2016
3.5
Ok, I didn't like this book nearly as much as the second one. Perhaps it just took me a while to get used to the author's writing style, which I hear is Lemony-Snicket-esque. Not having read Lemony Snicket, I cannot vouch for this.
The thing that I do like about Pseudonymous Bosch is that I can't ever figure out where his books are going. I can't figure out any plot twists or such like that. And for me, that is major. Whenever I come across a book or movie that truly surprises me, it is a noteworthy occurrence.
Such was the case in this book. I thought that I knew everything when it started, but then things started to ... not add up. And then near to the end you think it has all been explained, only to be surprised once again.
I like this. I like trying to figure things out; it stretches the mind.
The books start off so realistic. I keep feeling like the solution to the problem that I am trying to figure out will have a rational explanation.
No. There is not a rational explanation in the least.
This is nice when I was trying to figure out the plot.
So why the 3.5 Stars?
I think that I like he concept and idea of the plot more than the actual reading of the book itself.
Ok, I didn't like this book nearly as much as the second one. Perhaps it just took me a while to get used to the author's writing style, which I hear is Lemony-Snicket-esque. Not having read Lemony Snicket, I cannot vouch for this.
The thing that I do like about Pseudonymous Bosch is that I can't ever figure out where his books are going. I can't figure out any plot twists or such like that. And for me, that is major. Whenever I come across a book or movie that truly surprises me, it is a noteworthy occurrence.
Such was the case in this book. I thought that I knew everything when it started, but then things started to ... not add up. And then near to the end you think it has all been explained, only to be surprised once again.
I like this. I like trying to figure things out; it stretches the mind.
The books start off so realistic. I keep feeling like the solution to the problem that I am trying to figure out will have a rational explanation.
No. There is not a rational explanation in the least.
This is nice when I was trying to figure out the plot.
So why the 3.5 Stars?
I think that I like he concept and idea of the plot more than the actual reading of the book itself.
July 28, 2014
I received a copy of 'Bad Magic' by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you like the mixture of magic, Shakespeare and intrigue around every corner, then this is just the book for you. Clay, a typical teenage boy, is given a journey by a teacher and after drawing in the journey the next thing he knows, he's being accused of graffitiing a school wall! Nobody will listen to his pleas of innocence and the next thing he knows he's being sent away to a summer 'camp'. But really this is a camp like no other. This was a lovely read with hilarious characters and crazy goings-on. If you like an adventure story with lots of suspense and mystery it won't just be children who want to read this - you'll be reading it too! A lovely Lemony Snicket style story which will appeal to young and old alike. Definitely worth a read.
If you like the mixture of magic, Shakespeare and intrigue around every corner, then this is just the book for you. Clay, a typical teenage boy, is given a journey by a teacher and after drawing in the journey the next thing he knows, he's being accused of graffitiing a school wall! Nobody will listen to his pleas of innocence and the next thing he knows he's being sent away to a summer 'camp'. But really this is a camp like no other. This was a lovely read with hilarious characters and crazy goings-on. If you like an adventure story with lots of suspense and mystery it won't just be children who want to read this - you'll be reading it too! A lovely Lemony Snicket style story which will appeal to young and old alike. Definitely worth a read.
January 27, 2020
I was kinda confused at times because for instance, the camp members were acting? So the whole mystery was a play. But I do plan on reading the sequel. ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2018
OMG!!! 🚼🎵🙌💙😍😙😚😱
.
Perkemahan, sulap, pulau terpencil, Shakespeare, gadis hantu serta perpustakaan terlarang. Buku ini benar-benar luar biasa dan jauh berada di atas ekspektasiku.
.
Cerita diawali dengan sebuah graffity di dinding sekolah bertuliskan MAGIC SUCKS!!! Semua orang tahu itu adalah buatan Clay. Walaupun Clay merasa tak pernah menggambarnya di dinding, tapi graffity itu sama persis dengan apa yang ia tuliskan di jurnal miliknya. Clay diskors dan harus menjalani hukuman. Lalu secara kebetulan, ada surat undangan baginya ke PERKEMAHAN BUMI bagi anak-anak "bermasalah".
.
Orang tua Clay yang eksentrik mengirim Clay ke sana sebagai hukumannya. Dan di sanalah petualangan Clay dimulai. Bertemu teman-teman baru yang juga "bermasalah". Ada Jonah yang suka berjalan dalam tidur, Leira yang klepto, Pablo yang menganut paham Anarkisme, serta Kwan yang menjadi bandar judi di sekolahnya 😂. Serta jangan lupa The Bad Guy-nya, Flint yang terobsesi dengan api.
.
Aku ngakak terus selama membaca buku ini, (walau pas menjelang ending aku ikut nyesek juga 😣. Aku tahu bagaimana perasaan Clay saat itu). Tapi Pseudonymous Bosch ini (atau siapapun nama aslinya) benar-benar seorang pencerita jenaka. Membaca tulisannya seperti mendengar erita dari seorang teman yang pembual dan besar mulut, tapi kalian selalu merindukan ceritanya 😀.
.
Aku langsung menyukai buku ini sejak kalimat pertama. Si Bosch ini (mulai sekarang kita sebut saja nama penulisnya dengan sebutan ini, biar gak rempong) seolah benar-benar mengenal Clay dan kakaknya. Aku penasaran, apakah di buku selanjutnya ia akan terlibat langsung dalam cerita? Kita tunggu saja 😆.
.
"Kata-kata buruk itu buruk karena mereka bikin orang-orang merasa buruk.", ~ (hal.4)
.
Hal menarik lainnya dari novel ini adalah catatan kaki yang bertebarang di banyak halaman. Isinya random, mulai dari penjelasan istilah-istilah hingga (kebanyakan) berupa "excuse" dari penulisnya 😂. Footnote ini juga ditulis dengan cuek yang malah terkesan jenaka.
.
Credite juga untuk penerjemah dan editor versi terjemahannya. Penulisnya, meski menggunakan kalimat-kalimat sederhana, tapi (kuduga) suka menggunakan padanan kata yang kurang lazim. Dan permainan kata-kata ini juga merupakan keunggulan tulisannya. Penerjemah dan editor harus berjuang keras agar "kekhasan" gaya penulisannya tetap terlihat dalam versi terjemahan. Dan aku merasa versi terjemahan elexmedia ini sudah sangat baik.
.
Plotnya cukup berlapis, seperti cerita dalam cerita, tapi masih cukup ringan bagi pembaca berusia middle grade. Endingnya juga dieksekusi dengan baik. Khas buku berserie, "selesai" tapi juga menyisakan rasa penasaran untuk buku berikutnya. Untung, buku ke-2 juga sudah di tangan. Jadi bisa langsung lanjut deh 😆.
.
Anyway, buku ini sangat direkomendasikan buat siapa saja, baik penggemar buku-buku middle grade atau bukan. 4,5 🌟
.
Perkemahan, sulap, pulau terpencil, Shakespeare, gadis hantu serta perpustakaan terlarang. Buku ini benar-benar luar biasa dan jauh berada di atas ekspektasiku.
.
Cerita diawali dengan sebuah graffity di dinding sekolah bertuliskan MAGIC SUCKS!!! Semua orang tahu itu adalah buatan Clay. Walaupun Clay merasa tak pernah menggambarnya di dinding, tapi graffity itu sama persis dengan apa yang ia tuliskan di jurnal miliknya. Clay diskors dan harus menjalani hukuman. Lalu secara kebetulan, ada surat undangan baginya ke PERKEMAHAN BUMI bagi anak-anak "bermasalah".
.
Orang tua Clay yang eksentrik mengirim Clay ke sana sebagai hukumannya. Dan di sanalah petualangan Clay dimulai. Bertemu teman-teman baru yang juga "bermasalah". Ada Jonah yang suka berjalan dalam tidur, Leira yang klepto, Pablo yang menganut paham Anarkisme, serta Kwan yang menjadi bandar judi di sekolahnya 😂. Serta jangan lupa The Bad Guy-nya, Flint yang terobsesi dengan api.
.
Aku ngakak terus selama membaca buku ini, (walau pas menjelang ending aku ikut nyesek juga 😣. Aku tahu bagaimana perasaan Clay saat itu). Tapi Pseudonymous Bosch ini (atau siapapun nama aslinya) benar-benar seorang pencerita jenaka. Membaca tulisannya seperti mendengar erita dari seorang teman yang pembual dan besar mulut, tapi kalian selalu merindukan ceritanya 😀.
.
Aku langsung menyukai buku ini sejak kalimat pertama. Si Bosch ini (mulai sekarang kita sebut saja nama penulisnya dengan sebutan ini, biar gak rempong) seolah benar-benar mengenal Clay dan kakaknya. Aku penasaran, apakah di buku selanjutnya ia akan terlibat langsung dalam cerita? Kita tunggu saja 😆.
.
"Kata-kata buruk itu buruk karena mereka bikin orang-orang merasa buruk.", ~ (hal.4)
.
Hal menarik lainnya dari novel ini adalah catatan kaki yang bertebarang di banyak halaman. Isinya random, mulai dari penjelasan istilah-istilah hingga (kebanyakan) berupa "excuse" dari penulisnya 😂. Footnote ini juga ditulis dengan cuek yang malah terkesan jenaka.
.
Credite juga untuk penerjemah dan editor versi terjemahannya. Penulisnya, meski menggunakan kalimat-kalimat sederhana, tapi (kuduga) suka menggunakan padanan kata yang kurang lazim. Dan permainan kata-kata ini juga merupakan keunggulan tulisannya. Penerjemah dan editor harus berjuang keras agar "kekhasan" gaya penulisannya tetap terlihat dalam versi terjemahan. Dan aku merasa versi terjemahan elexmedia ini sudah sangat baik.
.
Plotnya cukup berlapis, seperti cerita dalam cerita, tapi masih cukup ringan bagi pembaca berusia middle grade. Endingnya juga dieksekusi dengan baik. Khas buku berserie, "selesai" tapi juga menyisakan rasa penasaran untuk buku berikutnya. Untung, buku ke-2 juga sudah di tangan. Jadi bisa langsung lanjut deh 😆.
.
Anyway, buku ini sangat direkomendasikan buat siapa saja, baik penggemar buku-buku middle grade atau bukan. 4,5 🌟
September 16, 2019
I enjoy the Michael Connely, Hieronymous "Harry" Bosch series and I was drawn to this series because i thought the author Pseudonymous Bosch might actually be Michael Connely. I was mistaken. According to wikipedia Pseudonymous Bosch is actually Raphael Simon. I enjoy a lot of children's books like Hatchet and The Harry Potter series. I'm afraid this book didn't do it for me. For me a good book has to make it possible for me to suspend reality. This book was just caught half way between reality and something else.
July 31, 2018
I loved this book. I just sat down and read it in a couple of hours. When it was revealed that Earth Camp was (spoilers) all a play and Clay was the audience, I had a mini existential crisis. It was weird. Totally recommend it though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2019
4.5 stars
OK WOW.
I borrowed this book from my 12-year-old cousin and thought I'd give it a try and I never expected it to be this good. Humourous and plot twisty and legit amazing!
Probably the only Middle Grade read of the year, but still, I don't regret this one!
OK WOW.
I borrowed this book from my 12-year-old cousin and thought I'd give it a try and I never expected it to be this good. Humourous and plot twisty and legit amazing!
Probably the only Middle Grade read of the year, but still, I don't regret this one!
March 1, 2021
WOW, amazing. This story follows the little brother by 12 years of one of the previous series protaginists, Max-Ernest. Paul-Clay (called clay now) is now figuring out what has happened to his missing brother. His parents are completely opposite from the previous book, in which they were always angry at eachother and had to stay apart. While now, if they stay close together they start to love eachother even more.
November 27, 2021
*Listened to audiobook
I enjoy the authors other books so I had to read this one. It was interesting. Of course it was mysterious as always.
I really like it when I got to realizing it was a show of sorts.
Recommend!
I enjoy the authors other books so I had to read this one. It was interesting. Of course it was mysterious as always.
I really like it when I got to realizing it was a show of sorts.
Recommend!
April 3, 2020
I thought this book was really interesting, wall written, and absilutely amazing!
May 13, 2021
I....Pseudonymous Bosch
October 15, 2021
یه کتاب فوق العاده پر کشش...
بشدت جذاب و پر از غافلگیری
"زندگی یک داستانه یا داستان ها زندگی هستن؟"
بشدت جذاب و پر از غافلگیری
"زندگی یک داستانه یا داستان ها زندگی هستن؟"
July 4, 2024
Meh. This was fine. The resolution felt really clunky. The footnotes were entertaining. Parts of it felt like the author was trying a little too hard to be clever.
August 1, 2021
Honestly a wonderful sequel series to the secret series! I love clay with all my heart and will love to read more.
January 1, 2024
Love this book! Would recommend reading the Secret series(also by Pseudonymous Bosch) first, to help make it a little less confusing. This book is full of mystery and adventure.
July 25, 2023
Would have been a five, but the end feels rushed.
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