The Rundown
There is so much going on in this novel and all of it is wonderful! If you are a fan of magic realism, or YA fiction with gritty plots, then this is for you. I enjoyed this book from the start and fell deeper in love with every chapter. There is simply no scene wasted. The characters are superb, in fact, Edith’s character, in my opinion, provides an impeccable YA voice, such is the strength and conviction of her narration. I just loved her. As with all great YA works, the main character is not perfect, and the plot sees her stumble rather awkwardly from one mistake to the next. She overreacts, she lashes out, she behaves badly and experiences envy and jealousy, but at no point do we lose faith in her. Edith’s journey is a rather complex one and her flawed and likable character entices us to be with her every step of the way.
Edith is an awkward 12-year-old, who at the start of the novel has only three problems. One, she has not grown any taller in a year, two she is anxious about a piano recital she hopes to perform at Christmas, and three she is desperately attracted to her close friend Nemo, who just happens to be going out with Julie, a girl Edith strongly dislikes. However, a major spanner is thrown into the works when Edith discovers she is also Witch. So, on top of boy trouble, and her family life unexpectedly imploding, Edith has to learn how to deal with her new found powers.
This book provides the perfect coming of age journey, with a supernatural twist. Edith has a dramatic and sometimes sinister outer journey to go on, as she tries to harness her powers for good. But she also has the delicate and awkward inner journey that all young people must go through, that of growing up and finding out who she is. Social issues are handled extremely well in this story; such as divorce and betrayal, fitting in and discovering your sexual identity. As a reader I became increasingly attached to this young girl, such is the strength of the perfectly constructed plot and her endearing character. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who enjoys young adult fiction, even if magic realism is not their usual genre. It really is worth a read.
The Recommendation
Like all great YA books, The Recital focuses on the great emotional truths we all have to endure, such as family life, peer pressure, and sexual identity. This book gives us an almost painful insight into the mind of a young girl about to turn 13, with the added twist of drama, intrigue, and magic. Spellbinding in every way, I would recommend this book to young people aged 12 and up, and to any adult who enjoy the YA and magic realism genres.
