Sarah Armstrong, Big Magic, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, May 2022, 320 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760508432
Big Magic by Sarah Armstrong is the enchanting and thrilling story of eight-year-old Tulsi and her life in the circus with her mother, Merry and grandmother, Silvie. Complicating some of the challenges of the circus world, Tulsi has also inherited extraordinary magical skills from the women in her family. When Tulsi discovers her mother is missing, she must master her fledging magic and traverse worlds to rescue her mum.
Tulsi is a beautiful and memorable character, courageous and yet sometimes unsure of her power. How Tulsi copes as her magical talents unfurl alongside her experienced mother and grandmother is an important dynamic that adds a few extra dimensions to the quest to rescue her mum! Glorious cover art by New Zealand illustrator Julia Murray depicts Tulsi’s natural world-weaving magic in appealing splendour.
Sarah Armstrong has a journalism background and has written three novels for adults. Big Magic is her first book for younger readers, and she has conjured a brilliant story that balances action and adventure with family and fantasy. Big Magic is a CBCA 2023 Notable in the Book of the Year: Younger Readers category aimed at middle to upper primary years aged 7-12.
A second book about Tulsi, Magic Awry, is being released in 2023. Big Magic Teachers’ notes are available on the publisher’s website.
Reviewed by Angela Brown
