To quote the incomparable singer/songwriter, Sara Bareilles, “December, you’ve always been a problem child.”
I think she might be on to something with that one. On one hand, it’s a time abuzz with holiday spirit, hot cocoa and cozying up to the fire with a good book, but on the other hand it’s a time that is grey, gloomy and lonely for some. It reminds me a lot of how in Richard III’s opening soliloquy that, even though they are in the winter of our discontent, it isn’t so happy for everyone (Richard in this case). So maybe it is the overall gloomy mood of the season or just a general feeling of ennui, but it got me thinking and wistfully staring out the window and sighing heavy sighs. It is in these moments that I turn to comfort books, and one such series is Tamora Pierce’s Circle of Magic.
The series itself follows the tales and adventures of four young magic users who come from all different walks of life, but don’t quite fit in at the magic school they are whisked away to. Conflicts and fights ensue and, because they are the troublemakers, they are sent to live in a small cottage/dormitory aptly named “Discipline” where they learn to hone their magic and grow as friends into a found family. The thing that I really love about this book is that the magic manifests itself in such mundane ways (mostly). Sandry’s magic, for example, manifests itself through fiber arts, weaving and sewing, an activity and skill that I do almost daily (magic not included). This was something that excited me as a young reader because normally magic would be depicted as something grand and all powerful, yet the inclusion of the other types of magic, depicted as if it was an artisan skill that was accessible to me and was ultimately imperative to saving the day, made me feel powerful myself.
Books that feature these sorts of magic systems are something that I like to call “magic in the mundane,” and why it is something that brings me comfort in these gloomy days. It reminds me that even though the world is vast and I am just one person in it with little influence, through focusing on the things that I can do, I can find joy. I can find hope in times that feel hopeless. December may be strong and a problem child, but I can fight back with a hand knitted scarf. If knitting or fiber arts isn’t your forte, here are some other books that feature a main character with mundane magic/abilities:
- A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher: As the name suggests, the main character is a teenage wizard who accesses her magic through baking bread, yet plays a pivotal role in defending her city against outside attackers with the help of her mischievous gingerbread men and sourdough starter familiar, Bob.
- The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg: In a world where your magic can only manipulate one manmade thing, our main character Ceony is dismayed to find out that she is forced to study paper magic. But when evil rears its head through people who practice the forbidden blood magic, her paper magic becomes incredibly useful to safe people she cares about.
- A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin: I am not one to doubt the soul-healing properties of a good cuppa, but in this book it quite literally is a form of magic! People specializing in this form of magic are called shennong-shi, and the main character is one of them! The book follows her tale of participating in a competition in order to win a personal favor from the princess of the land and hopefully save her sister’s life.
- The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann: In this dystopian magical world, thirteen-year-olds are separated into three groups: Wanted, Necessary and Unwanted. Alas, the main character is deemed Unwanted and cast out while his twin is considered Wanted. In the outside world, he and other Unwanted are adopted by a magician and taught magic through art and other creative endeavors, but when the Unwanted are discovered to still be alive and war breaks out, this magic will be important to ensure they survive.
- Spellsinger by Alan Dean Foster: When a law-student and guitarist is transported from our world to a more magical one, he comes to the shocking realization that, through the power of music, he is able to weave spells that have…unpredictable yet humorous effects, and ultimately will be useful to help protect against the looming threat that hangs over this world.
Feel free to check out these books or any other works on this list of items that JCLS has to offer, which includes characters who may have some interestingly specific takes on magic or abilities. If that isn’t to your taste, you can ask the JCLS Discovery Booklist team to create a more personalized list catered to you. Whatever you choose, hopefully it can help combat the negative feelings that winter brings. Focus on what you can do and not what you cannot, find joy in your art and passions, and remember what Aragorn says at the battle of Helms Deep “There is always hope.”