A review by cakt1991
Just A Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 I’ve loved all of Alechia Dow’s YA books, so I had a lot of faith that I’d enjoy her middle grade debut just as much. Just a Pinch of Magic is an absolute delight that swept me away. The setting itself has cozy small-town vibes with a magical twist, and I loved how each of the girls’ families’ specializations, baking and books respectively, appealed to two of my favorite things, and I loved the recipes sprinkled throughout. 

Wini and Kal are both interesting protagonists who bond over being outsiders, with Kal being new to town and Wini bearing the stigma of her mother’s past actions of having cursed the town. I loved seeing the two bond amid all the chaos, especially with Wini getting into more trouble for casting an illegal spell to try to “fix” her family’s situation. I love how the two bonded over their shared magical misadventures, not to mention their desires to see their two queer single fathers happy…possibly with each other. Their friendship was so sweet and positive, supporting one another through all their struggles and being the other’s biggest hype-person. 

The book is definitely more on the cozy, “just vibes” side, which likely won’t bother the target demographic as much, or those looking for something in that vein. But if you’re looking for something more epic in line with some of the other middle grade fantasy titles patterning themselves in the Percy Jackson vein, you’ll likely be disappointed. However, if you’re in the mood for a fun, whimsical, slice-of-life read with emphasis on female empowerment for young girls, I recommend checking this out!