The House at the Edge of Magic

Gr 3-6–Sparkes creates a whimsical tale of magic and home. Orphan girl Nine’s life as a petty thief is disrupted when she steals a tiny house ornament from a woman at the marketplace. Upon knocking on the door she is whisked inside the strange and wonderful house, filled with kooky characters and unexpected nooks and crannies. The occupants are under a curse and enlist the begrudging Nine into helping set them free. Readers will be kept on the tips of their toes as they explore the house with Nine, a place where metaphor becomes reality and bizarre events are routine. While there isn’t any defining theme within the magic construction to bring structure, Sparkes leans into the randomness to create an unpredictable and colorful world. The setting within the magical house is detailed, but Nine’s world outside and the characterizing parts of her past are left bare. This leaves room for Nine to evolve and create a new life with her friends.