#that's j not true. i'm far from perfect but i think so few people deserve that kind of reaction. and my biggest revelation is i do not

[stuckinapril]

lived my whole life in guilt bc i thought i was responsible for people's feelings. newly realizing that other people are responsible for their feelings and reactions, even if they make it seem like i'm the problem. a lot of the time it really has to do w them and their own emotional regulation. i can't keep thinking i'm not allowed to have space bc of other people's insecurities. like i literally refuse to dim myself. other people are responsible for their feelings just as i'm responsible for mine.

#like i'm always gonna operate from a place of kindness but i've had to deal w so many people who're bad at communication/confrontation #which led me to think i'm the problem #that i deserve to be given the silent treatment or dismissed disregarded belittled etc #that's j not true. i'm far from perfect but i think so few people deserve that kind of reaction. and my biggest revelation is i do not #even if people want to make me think i do / that their reaction is justified / that i'm a burden etc #my biggest problem is i humor people like this for too long bc it's been normalized behavior to me #does this make any sense to anyone. it's the end of the year and i'm reflecting on so many things #p

[lifethroughrainbowglasses]

Eva Evergreen, Semi Magical Witch by Julie Abe

Category: Middle Grade Fantasy

Author: Julie Abe

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

“To show that I deserved this. That I'd fought for this with my blood, sweat, and tears, through the most frightening of storms and against even the most skeptical of mayors or meddlers. To show that someone like me could make her own dreams come true.” ― Julie Abe, Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch

Summary: Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch is about the young witch Eva Evergreen as she embarks on her quest to earn the title of Novice Witch. Eva is the daughter of one of the most powerful witches in the country but possesses only a little bit of magic herself. Despite the sneers from witches above her, she finds herself serving her year in a whimsical town along the coast helping people with her unique skill set. Suddenly a terrifying storm threatens the town and Eva worries her "pinch of magic" isn't enough to stop it.

Justification: Middle-grade fantasy is one of my favorite genres and age categories which is one of the reasons I decided to review it for class, but I also think it's important to review and evaluate books that aren't as well-known within the middle-grade fantasy genre. Students often read Harry Potter or Percy Jackson and are looking for something similar to read and this is the perfect book for those students. Middle-Grade fantasy is a relatively new genre and so many librarians and teachers haven't read and reviewed more recent books. I think it's important to include recent books written by diverse authors as options in curriculums and this book in particular is a great read-alike for students who love Harry Potter, Howl's Moving Castle, or has an interest in Studio Ghibli films.

Writing: Eva Evergreen is well-written and accessible to upper elementary and middle school students. The text is easy to read and whimsical with little spurts of sage advice sprinkled in throughout the text pulling readers of all ages into the story. Abe's description of the world makes the world magical in and of itself. “The scent of ink and freshly printed paper swirled invitingly in the air as I followed my parents into the bookshop.” The air moves and swirls around Eva, and the world reacts to her and her unique magic making her all the more special.

Characterization: I read a lot of middle grades and of all the middle grades I've read, Eva was one of the most wholesome and sweet characters so far. The characters in the story were dynamic and interesting and they felt unique to the world. Everyone had a story and meaning within the story. Ember, Eva's flamefox companion, was brought to life with their actions and reactions. Rin, Davy, and Charlotte were all fully realized and interesting with intriguing backstories of their own. This series has a second book and I'm planning on picking it up partly to know what happens to the side characters as well as Eva.

Theme: Eva Evergreen has a few central messages. The first of which is learning to love ourselves and our unique "pinch of magic." None of us do the same thing in the same way. We all have strengths and weaknesses and part of being human is learning how to make both of those work for us. The second message is the importance of friendship and the joy that relationships with others can bring us. There is so much that we can gain from being kind and friendly to others. That kindness almost always returns to us when it is right.

Abe, J. (2020b). Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

#Eva evergreen #Middle Grade #books #fantasy #whimsical #wholesome #cozy fantasy #cute