THE COURAGE OF CAT CAMPBELL
PRAISE FOR CAT
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL SAYS: –"...Lowe’s charming addition to the world of Potts Bottom follows Cat’s determined progress toward her goal, showing her failures and triumphs in a realistic arc. The author’s treatment of the mother-daughter relationship smoothly blends whimsical fantasy elements with scenes that readers will recognize from their own family squabbles. Cat’s adventures in courage give new treatment to the familiar idea that parents want their children to avoid making their own mistakes. To this, Lowe adds some truly laugh-out-loud moments between Cat and her friend Peter. The book concludes with “magical” recipes to bake at home. Stock both of Lowe’s novels at your library: fans of Matilda or Alice Miranda will be happy to meet another spunky girl." PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY SAYS: -"...Lowe echoes the whimsy of J.K. Rowling and Anna Dale with vibrant descriptions ("A burst of pink smoke covered the table, with showers of green sparkles shooting out like fireworks"), a cozy atmosphere (several "magical" recipes are included), and charismatic characters." BOOKLIST SAYS: - "Since the day she was born, Cat has wanted nothing more than to be a witch and study at the exclusive Ruthersfield Academy. Sadly, she shows no signs of having been born with the gift, and, crushingly, her mother, Poppy, is a talented witch who refuses to even discuss magic. In this charming sequel to The Power of Poppy Pendle (2012), Poppy has grown up and runs her own successful bakery. When a run-in with a spider activates a recessive magic gene in 11-year-old Cat, she is given a copy of The Late Bloomer’s Guide to Magic and tries to live by its advice—“don’t let fear stand in your way”—as she fights with her mother to be allowed to attend the academy, conquers her fear of spiders, and finds herself face to face with a notoriously evil witch who has escaped prison. Fans of the first novel will delight in this gentle, affirming fantasy, which is as focused on Poppy and Cat’s relationship as it is on Cat’s magical quest. Recipes from The Late Bloomer’s Guide are included." KIDSREADS SAYS: At the heart of many children's books is the idea that it takes courage to be yourself, especially under pressure from others to conform or change. THE COURAGE OF CAT CAMPBELL by Natasha Lowe explores this idea and still gives readers a story where the other kind of courage --- bravery in the face of danger --- is important, too. THE COURAGE OF CAT CAMPBELL is a great book. Lowe's narrative flows nicely, and she uses the magical elements that so many young readers respond to to tell a moving story. Cat is a fantastic heroine, at turns brave and hesitant, frustrated and determined. The dynamic with her mother is compelling as well. Even the minor characters are nicely drawn and the novel wraps up happily but not without some welcome realism, as Cat continues to struggle with magic and the difficulties of being a Late Bloomer. For readers who are as passionate about baking as Poppy is, there are even some delicious (and magical?) recipes in the back of the book. Missouri Association of School Librarians Readers award nominee! |
"Nem Zentar Topello: Don't let fear stand in your way." - from The Late Bloomer's Guide to Magic.
The one thing Cat Campbell wants more than anything else in the world is the one thing she can’t have – magic. That is until the day Cat discovers she has indeed inherited her mother’s magic gene. But as a ‘late bloomer’ Cat’s magic is difficult to control and not only does she have to battle with spells going wrong, she also has to face the disapproval of her mother, who gave up being a witch long ago and wants nothing more to do with magic Things start to change though when Cat comes across a book called The Late Bloomer’s Guide to Magic, written many years ago by a wonderful witch, and in it Cat finds not only the encouragement she needs but some spells that actually work. When the town of Potts Bottom is turned upside down after the notorious and feared witch Madeline Reynolds escapes from high security Scrubs Prison, Cat grabs at the chance to prove herself, her magic, and to help her family and town. Following the advice of THE LATE BLOOMERS GUIDE TO MAGIC, “Believing in your magic and yourself is half the battle,” Cat sets off on the riskiest adventure of her life. TIPS FOR THE LATE BLOOMER FROM THE LATE BLOOMER'S GUIDE TO MAGIC Congratulations on inheriting the magic gene! Witchcraft is a challenging profession but it can also be extremely rewarding, even for the late bloomer. Below are a few pointers that I hope any late bloomers out there might find useful. 1. Believing in yourself and your magic is half the battle. 2.Pay attention to your breathing when you are mixing potions. Magical ingredients are sensitive to vibrations and can react badly with nervous energy. 3.Use a calm, deep voice when chanting your spells. 4. A positive attitude is just as important as being skillful with your wand. 5. Try not to give up if your spells don’t work correctly the first time. It can take patience and a few tries to get the magic right. 6. Don’t ever compare your success to that of other witches. Be your own best self. 7. Try not to worry too much about the future. If you spend all your time fretting about your career as a witch (whether you’ll ever be good enough, etc…) you’ll miss out on all the wonderful magical moments going on right now! 8. Be proud of your late bloomer status. (If you are interested in joining the Society for Late Bloomers, please feel free to drop me a line. We are a small but growing organization.) 9. Most important of all – have fun with your magic. Keep your sense of humor at all times, and remember that laughter helps keep spells light and airy, which all good magic needs. 10.And finally, let us not forget what the great witch, Annabelle Jones said when she defeated the forces of evil, “Nem Zentar Topello – Don’t let fear stand in your way.” |