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The saga has the potential of Hogwarts and Spiderwick to draw young minds into a fantasy world.
A humorous story about a kooky, eccentric, off-the-wall Grandmother Witch who, after a magical mishap, travels back in time with her daughter and two grandchildren to embark on the unwanted adventure of a lifetime. Together, they must try to find a way back home-that is, if they can survive what lies ahead, as well as each other.
Brian Starr offers a lush story filled with provocative characters and compelling action. The bio with Martha May McKenzie and the Magic Cake Big Mistake reveals nothing of the writer’s background other than he loved to tell stories and draw pictures since he was a child. Therein lies the substance of this 40,000-word middle grade novel. The narrative and sketches that detail the saga of a mom, two children and grandmother pulled into a battle against dark magic will even fascinate adults.
Starr sets up incidents that seem beyond reality, such as a grandmother Martha May who insists to her adult daughter Jamie that she is a witch. The younger woman heartily disavows such fantasy and swears her mom not to tell the estranged grandkids Trinity and Lucas. That is long before the circumstances that lead to the adventure take off.
One of the tale’s strength is that adult readers can imagine such a scenario – a mother who suspects her mom is losing it, not eager to allow the woman free license with the children. Many middle school readers are apt to be transfixed by whether magic Martha is real. That aside, Starr spins a clever mystery through twists and turns that are like a carnival ride to the end. Sorry, no spoilers.
The tale is filled with intrigue, yet not simple. The author’s prose is well paced and unadorned, which makes the adventure easy to follow. Starr emboldens and enlarges words on key sentences, which enhances readability and comprehension. Readers can grasp the action just through the bold sentences and skip the paragraph details in regular type. Some readers will welcome the express route, but Martha May McKenzie and the Magic Cake Big Mistake does not waste words. The shorter approach is like watching a cartoon version of a classic novel.
The pencil sketches on the page confirm that Starr retains clever childhood traits. His free-hand pictures show pivotal moments in the story, and add a feel to the manuscript of reading a journal rather than a book.
The author set up a strong start to a Martha May McKenzie series. No hint on whether he plans more, yet the saga has the potential of Hogwarts and Spiderwick to draw young minds into a fantasy world.
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I review a broad range of works in fiction, nonfiction and poetry, especially related to history, politics, culture, and memoir. My works go back more than 40 years in a wide range of publications. I love a good story and really appreciate knowledge.
A humorous story about a kooky, eccentric, off-the-wall Grandmother Witch who, after a magical mishap, travels back in time with her daughter and two grandchildren to embark on the unwanted adventure of a lifetime. Together, they must try to find a way back home-that is, if they can survive what lies ahead, as well as each other.
About the author
Growing up, I had a big imagination! I enjoyed telling stories and drawing pictures, and I loved to make people laugh. That often got me into trouble with teachers. One of my teachers tried separating me from my "audience" using a giant cardboard box—true story. But it didn't work. I escaped! view profile
Published on September 16, 2023
Published by
40000 words
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Reviewed by
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