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Yuri's Brush with Magic
Yuri's Brush with Magic by Maureen Crane Wartski is an intelligent novel for preadolescents. Featuring Japanese folktales told in a contemporary setting, Wartski's adventure novel explores the complexity of family relationships and how generations-old misunderstandings can cause rifts that affect the children--and how to heal those rifts. Nine-year-old Tammy is worried--her mother lies in a coma and her father is overwhelmed. Out of nowhere her great-aunt, "Mean Yuri" Hamada, appears to whisk Tammy and her older brother, Ken, off to Emerald Isle. Ken plots to return home by impeding Yuri's resolve with acts of extreme brattiness. But Tammy is captivated by Yuri's storytelling, the way her brush brings old Japanese folktales to life on her canvas, her aunt's past. She's as concerned about a buried nest of loggerhead turtle that may not hatch. Wartski skillfully blends these subplots with themes of renewal and transformation.
175 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2010
About the author
Maureen Crane Wartski
20 books3 followersMaureen Crane Wartski (Maureen Ann Crane) was born on January 25, 1940 in Ashiya, Japan. She earned her B.A. degree from Sophia University in 1962. As a children's and young adult author, she won the Annual Book Award of the Child Study Committee at Bank Street College of Education for A Boat to Nowhere. In addition to writing children's books, she published romance novels under various pseudonyms, including Francine Shore, Evelyn Shannon, Cynthia Leigh, Laura Jorda, Cynthia Sinclair, and Rebecca Ward. She also wrote for magazines, such as Boy's Life. As well as writing, Wartski taught at Sharon High School in Sharon, Massachusetts, and pursued various creative arts, such as painting and quilt making. She was married to Maximillian Wartski, and travelled with him for his career in the military. Her two sons, Albert and Mark, were born in Thailand, before they moved to the United States in the 1960s. Wartski died on January 14, 2014 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 8, 2011
Tammy’s mother is in a coma after an accident, and Tammy and her brother Ken worry that she may never wake up. Life is difficult for the family as the children’s father spends a lot of time at the hospital when he’s not working, but the news that their Great Aunt Yuri is coming from Japan to help care for them during the summer is not welcome. Even though they’ve never met Yuri, they’ve heard stories about her, and they have nicknamed her Mean Yuri.
Tammy and Ken are determined to sabotage their time with Yuri so she will leave them, but as they spend more time with her and get to know her, they discover the story behind the family legend. There’s more to Yuri than they realized.
Yuri’s Brush with Magic by Maureen Crane Wartski charms with its Japanese legends and a paintbrush that seems to make its subjects come to life. Tammy is at the age where she still believes that fantasy tales may be real, but she’s old enough to know the consequences of real life tragedy. She desperately needs someone who can help her get through the dark times of her mother’s illness.
Yuri is a mystery who gradually reveals herself to the children, and the reader gets to see her unfold as Tammy and Ken do. While at first I was put off by the extremes of the supporting characters in the story, I began to see their personalities as parallel to some of the characters in the old legends. The nesting habits of sea turtles is also part of the storyline of Yuri’s Brush with Magic, and the author includes lots of sea turtle facts at the end of the book. They are great for discussion, and mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 9 to 12 can also talk about how miscommunication can lead to misunderstanding, the lessons taught in the old legends, friendship, and more.
Tammy and Ken are determined to sabotage their time with Yuri so she will leave them, but as they spend more time with her and get to know her, they discover the story behind the family legend. There’s more to Yuri than they realized.
Yuri’s Brush with Magic by Maureen Crane Wartski charms with its Japanese legends and a paintbrush that seems to make its subjects come to life. Tammy is at the age where she still believes that fantasy tales may be real, but she’s old enough to know the consequences of real life tragedy. She desperately needs someone who can help her get through the dark times of her mother’s illness.
Yuri is a mystery who gradually reveals herself to the children, and the reader gets to see her unfold as Tammy and Ken do. While at first I was put off by the extremes of the supporting characters in the story, I began to see their personalities as parallel to some of the characters in the old legends. The nesting habits of sea turtles is also part of the storyline of Yuri’s Brush with Magic, and the author includes lots of sea turtle facts at the end of the book. They are great for discussion, and mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 9 to 12 can also talk about how miscommunication can lead to misunderstanding, the lessons taught in the old legends, friendship, and more.
January 16, 2014
Tammy and Ken’s world seemed to crash to a sudden end when their father first asked, the told them they would be going away to spend the summer at the beach with “mean Aunt Yuri”! They had never met her, only heard how her parents and she had disowned and never communicated with their Nana again once she eloped with the children’s grandfather. Their Nana had told them often of her family, especially, of her younger younger sister, Yuri. She gad died without ever hearing from her family again. Now, out of nowhere, Yuri appears. They had never even seen a picture of her! They did not want to leave their father, their home, and their mother, who lay in the hospital bed.
Shortly after they arrived at the beachfront house, Ken devised a plan. Tammy did not really want to consent to his plan but he was older and she did not want to make him mad. In her efforts to assist him, she discovered intriguing things. Ken, soon became occupied in helping a neighbor man, while they both detested Halsey and his irritating grandmother!
The tale swiftly heightens the reader interest from the beginning. As characters and events are added, the story’s frenzy increases and ends in an unbelievable conclusion.
The book cover depicts this story very well. It is also very colorful and eye-catching. I cannot think of a more perfect title. The characters and surrounding scenes are very real.
This would be perfect for mid-elementary age to middle grade students to read. It is also recommended for family or summer program reading. There are incredible points for discussion within this captivating novel.
The review of this book, gives it a Five Stars rating.
This was sent to me for an honest review, of which I have given.
Shortly after they arrived at the beachfront house, Ken devised a plan. Tammy did not really want to consent to his plan but he was older and she did not want to make him mad. In her efforts to assist him, she discovered intriguing things. Ken, soon became occupied in helping a neighbor man, while they both detested Halsey and his irritating grandmother!
The tale swiftly heightens the reader interest from the beginning. As characters and events are added, the story’s frenzy increases and ends in an unbelievable conclusion.
The book cover depicts this story very well. It is also very colorful and eye-catching. I cannot think of a more perfect title. The characters and surrounding scenes are very real.
This would be perfect for mid-elementary age to middle grade students to read. It is also recommended for family or summer program reading. There are incredible points for discussion within this captivating novel.
The review of this book, gives it a Five Stars rating.
This was sent to me for an honest review, of which I have given.
July 25, 2011
Yuri's Brush with Magic is a book for the preteen to younger teen crowd. Well written and fast moving, it's an easy book to finish in just a few hours (for those of us FAST readers) but still very enjoyable for anyone that isn't a speed reader too. There are many different directions the author takes us in such as art, families, bullying and even Sea Turtle Conservation.
Tammy and Ken start out their time with their Aunt Yuri determined NOT to like her, to make life so difficult that she sends them home. But as time goes on they discover that she isn't as mean as they thought but instead is hurting and has a hard time trusting others to actually care about her. They also meet their neighbor Mr Sol who is handicapped and gives them little chores to do in exchange for Ken learning about nature photography and Sea Turtles. During the time there Tammy learns several of the Japanese folktales from her Aunt Yuri and while she listens the paintings her aunt paints while telling the stories seem to come alive.
This is a wonderful easy reading book that has a lot to say about bullying, standing up for each other and for what's right and learning to sympathize and support those that are hurting or sad. It would be a great book to read at bedtime with your kids or for your kids to read on a rainy afternoon or outside on the lawn.
There is also a great section at the end of the book with Sea Turtle Fun Facts and also an interview with Matthew H Godfrey, PhD, Biologist from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: North Carolina Sea Turtle Project.
Tammy and Ken start out their time with their Aunt Yuri determined NOT to like her, to make life so difficult that she sends them home. But as time goes on they discover that she isn't as mean as they thought but instead is hurting and has a hard time trusting others to actually care about her. They also meet their neighbor Mr Sol who is handicapped and gives them little chores to do in exchange for Ken learning about nature photography and Sea Turtles. During the time there Tammy learns several of the Japanese folktales from her Aunt Yuri and while she listens the paintings her aunt paints while telling the stories seem to come alive.
This is a wonderful easy reading book that has a lot to say about bullying, standing up for each other and for what's right and learning to sympathize and support those that are hurting or sad. It would be a great book to read at bedtime with your kids or for your kids to read on a rainy afternoon or outside on the lawn.
There is also a great section at the end of the book with Sea Turtle Fun Facts and also an interview with Matthew H Godfrey, PhD, Biologist from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: North Carolina Sea Turtle Project.
May 3, 2011
Yuri's Brush with Magic is a lovely and multi-dimensional story about family, hope, love, and a little bit of magic. In an age-appropriate way, it tackles many issues that a young person might encounter, including a serious illness/injury, an estranged family member, and bullying behavior. It also celebrates family relationships, conservation, Japanese folklore, and (click here for full review: http://www.storysnoops.com/detail.php...)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews