Melissa Keil is a writer, children's editor and compulsive book-buyer. She has lived in Minnesota, London and the Middle East, and currently resides in her hometown of Melbourne. Her debut young adult novel, Life in Outer Space, was published in 2013 - the inaugural winner of the Ampersand Prize, Hardie Grant Egmont's initiative for debut authors. The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl was published in 2014 and was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year (Older Readers) and the Gold Inky. Say hello at www.melissakeil.com or www.facebook.com/MissMisch77 or find her on Twitter @MissMisch77
'Another winner from Melissa Keil, this time involving a
genius-level girl whose anxiety threatens to overwhelm her
completely. Sophia suddenly finds herself spending time with
history geek and nerd magician Joshua, and Keil explores the
notions of timing, attraction, and of course, mental health through
a thoroughly entertaining, diverse and satisfying story. A terrific
Australian voice, Keil is consistent and authentic. No long review
here, just all the love.'
- Trish Buckley, CBCA Reading Time
'Melissa Keil's The Secret Science of Magic is a
heartwarming story. Keil avoids pigeonholing characters and issues.
Here she considers diverse personalities and intelligences, while
subtly touching on race.
Year 12 students Sophia and Joshua share the narrative. Sophia is a
maths genius with an eidetic (photographic) memory. She seems to be
at the higher end of the autism spectrum. People have always tried
to "fix" her, so she's unsure how to be normal and has learned to
be silent rather than embarrass herself. She's awkward but not shy,
needs space, loves Doctor Who and can quote from Game of
Thrones.
Joshua barely speaks at school. He is remarkable for his height and
for hiding behind his messy hair. He does magic tricks and his
longstanding but unnoticed interest in Sophia is kindled because
she sees magic in maths.
He can't focus on things that don't interest him, so his academic
studies are faltering. Outside school, though, he is a different
person: he could never be overlooked and stands out "like a cosmic
spotlight is following him".
He is friends with Camilla and Sam, characters who return from
Keil's first novel, Life in Outer Space. Josh makes his move
with magic tricks, leaving a two of hearts in Sophia's pencil case.
He progresses to the grand romantic gesture of a flaming paper rose
and screens a Doctor Who Christmas special on the vintage
projector in biology.
Sophia starts to notice Josh "like a nebulous element in the
universe that has suddenly become perceptible" but mistakes her
symptoms of love for illness. He is encouraged by her willingness
"to meander down our weird conversational rabbit holes" but is
always aware of timing, the magician's fundamental tool, as he
pursues the secret science of magic.'
- Joy Lawn, The Australian
'Melissa Keil is one of the best new voices in Australian YA
fiction. Her wonderful contemporary rom-coms are always populated
with a brilliant cast of well-drawn characters, and The Secret
Science of Magic is no exception. The two teenagers at the
heart of Keil's third novel are Joshua, an amateur illusionist who
taught himself magic to help manage crippling social anxiety, and
Sophia, a maths genius with an eidetic memory and a terrible fear
of burning out and disappointing everyone around her (not least
herself).
As the end of high school looms, Sophia's panic attacks increase,
exacerbated by her best friend's impending departure, an
ill-advised enrolment in drama class, and sudden occurrences of
unexplained phenomena that seem, well, to be somehow centred around
her. The person responsible for the phenomena is - of course -
Joshua, who has loved Sophia from a distance for over five years
and recently decided to make a long, complicated, elaborate play
for her heart. A play that involves exploding roses and trick
coins, and definitely has absolutely nothing to do with avoiding
the big question of what he's going to do after he finishes Year
12.
Like her previous novels, Keil's The Secret Science of Magic
is a book with a lot of heart that deals with complex questions of
love, identity, friendship and family in a sympathetic and
realistic manner. Sophia is a fantastic character, and her
first-person narrative reminded me how refreshing it is to read a
story from the perspective of a female character who is almost
certainly on the autism spectrum. Sophia's observations of the
world around her are unexpectedly witty, and her pragmatic view of
the world contrasts beautifully with Joshua's empathetic and
romantic nature. If you're looking for a sweet, sparkling YA novel
with hidden depths and one of the sexiest first kisses I've read,
then this is the one for you.'
- Lian Hingee, digital marketing manager, Readings
Another winner from Melissa Keil, this time involving a genius-level girl whose anxiety threatens to overwhelm her completely. Sophia suddenly finds herself spending time with history geek and nerd magician Joshua, and Keil explores the notions of timing, attraction, and of course, mental health through a thoroughly entertaining, diverse and satisfying story. A terrific Australian voice, Keil is consistent and authentic. No long review here, just all the love.
-- Trish Buckley * CBCA Reading Time *Melissa Keil's The Secret Science of Magic is a heartwarming story. Keil avoids pigeonholing characters and issues. Here she considers diverse personalities and intelligences, while subtly touching on race.Year 12 students Sophia and Joshua share the narrative. Sophia is a maths genius with an eidetic (photographic) memory. She seems to be at the higher end of the autism spectrum. People have always tried to "fix" her, so she's unsure how to be normal and has learned to be silent rather than embarrass herself. She's awkward but not shy, needs space, loves Doctor Who and can quote from Game of Thrones.Joshua barely speaks at school. He is remarkable for his height and for hiding behind his messy hair. He does magic tricks and his longstanding but unnoticed interest in Sophia is kindled because she sees magic in maths.He can't focus on things that don't interest him, so his academic studies are faltering. Outside school, though, he is a different person: he could never be overlooked and stands out "like a cosmic spotlight is following him".He is friends with Camilla and Sam, characters who return from Keil's first novel, Life in Outer Space. Josh makes his move with magic tricks, leaving a two of hearts in Sophia's pencil case. He progresses to the grand romantic gesture of a flaming paper rose and screens a Doctor Who Christmas special on the vintage projector in biology.Sophia starts to notice Josh "like a nebulous element in the universe that has suddenly become perceptible" but mistakes her symptoms of love for illness. He is encouraged by her willingness "to meander down our weird conversational rabbit holes" but is always aware of timing, the magician's fundamental tool, as he pursues the secret science of magic.
-- Joy Lawn * The Australian *![]() |
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