Literary Merit: Excellent
Characterization: Excellent
Recommended: Highly recommended
Level: High School

I absolutely ADORED this book from beginning to end, to the point where I was able to finish it in a day once I actually sat down and committed myself to reading it (a rare occurrence for me these days). It's quirky and fun like a John Green novel, without ever being quite as heavy or soul-crushing. The characters are creative and interesting, and the relationships are honest and believable. I found myself laughing out loud at certain points in this novel, and relating heavily to the main characters at others. This book was an absolute joy to read, and I think any high school reader who is a fan of romance will love the story and characters.

The Secret Science of Magic follows two very different teenagers: Sophia Reyhart and Joshua Bailey. Sophia is a literal genius, able to figure out even the toughest mathematical equations without blinking an eye. She sees the world through a very scientific, logical lens, and often has trouble connecting to others because of it. Joshua, on the other hand, makes friends fairly easily, but harbors a not-so-secret love of magic and illusions. Joshua also has a bit of a secret: he's been crushing hard on Sophia since the first time he saw her during a school assembly. As it's now their senior year of high school, Joshua is determined to make his move; Sophia, on the other hand, is terrified of what the future will hold, and fears she might be drifting further and further away from her best friend Elsie, who plans to move to America for college. Upon meeting one another and finding that they share an instant connection, Joshua and Sophia soon learn that being normal might just be a little overrated after all.

Where can I even begin with this book? There are just so many wonderful things about it, and even my criticisms are mild and nearly non-existent. Sure, the romance feels a little cheesy and unrealistic, but the characters are so lovable and fun that it's very easy to find yourself absorbed in the story anyways. In fact, the cheesiness almost adds to the charm of this book, exploring the concept of first love in a new and unique way. I think, however, that the aspect of this book that resonated the most with me was Sophia herself. I have always thoroughly enjoyed YA books that accurately represent social anxiety, as I myself have suffered from it for many years. I may not be a genius like Sophia (my math is probably more terrible than Joshua's), but I heavily relate to being terrified of change, as well as viewing social interaction as tiresome and unnecessary at times. I'm not sure where or how Melissa Keil did her research, but she nailed many of the emotions I myself felt as a teenager, so I applaud her for her accuracy and attention to detail.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was the very casual representation of other cultures and sexualities, which is always extremely important in YA. Not only are Elsie and Sophia's families Indian (even speaking Hindi in some moments), but there is casual mention of both lesbian and gay characters in the book. Though it is never directly stated, it is also heavily implied that Sophia's brother might be gay, or at the very least have a non-conforming gender identity. As a straight, white woman, I find it extremely important to be exposed to stories about people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, races, and religions from my own, as I feel that it makes me a more well-rounded individual. This is also extremely important for teens, as it helps to open minds and bridge gaps in a world full of growing tension between those with different ideologies and backgrounds. The best part? Melissa Keil does it completely casually, without preaching a message or trying to make a statement. This is simply a beautifully (and hilariously) told inter-racial love story, and it's portrayed as being perfectly normal and natural.

I also really loved the non-romantic relationships in this book, from Elsie and her brothers to Sophia's friendship with Elsie. My heart broke for both Elsie and Sophia as they struggled to keep their friendship afloat, as I could clearly sympathize with both sides. Sophia is socially awkward, and has trouble expressing how she feels, even to her best friend. She's terrified of losing Elsie as a friend, but isn't sure what to say without making things worse. Elsie, on the other hand, feels disposable, and like Sophia doesn't actually care about her because of the stiff way in which she carries herself. Both friends feel lonely and helpless, and both rely on one another to feel whole once again in the end. I also liked that both were portrayed as being very different, but still very smart. Elsie loves gossip and romantic movies, while Sophia is preoccupied with solving equations and writing to her hero, Grigori Perelman. In the end, however, both are made emotionally stronger because of their friendship, and both are portrayed as being smart and independent. This made my girl-power loving heart very happy, as I always love to see strong female friendships in YA literature.

As I mentioned above, I also really enjoyed the family dynamics between the characters, and how each relationship between siblings differed drastically. For example, Joshua views his younger sister with both affection and exasperation, helping her to establish her own unique identity while encouraging her to be herself. Toby and Sophia, on the other hand, have a much more tenuous relationship, with neither party being able to fully express their feelings without resorting to snapping. Elsie and her brothers, on the other hand, have a rough-and-tumble horseplay vibe, always teasing one another and talking smack. While I was reading, I noticed a lot of similarities between these relationships and my relationship with my own brother, who I know will always have my back despite our bickering. The parents in this story were largely absent, bringing the focus to the younger characters, and I thought this was a smart move on the part of the author. This is the stage in life where teens are trying to figure themselves out and form their own identities, and it was cool to see these teens do that without a lot of interference.

Overall, this book seemed to be about embracing the things that make you unique, while also learning to open up and lean on others for support when you need it. Sophia's drama class (and the teacher constantly trying to change her) seems to be a metaphor for her personal journey, as she finally learns that she isn't broken, and that it's okay for her to process the world differently from those around her. Similarly, it's okay to not know exactly what you're going to do before entering college, just as it's perfectly normal and okay to be terrified of an uncertain future. I think there are a lot of struggles and feelings in this book that teens could personally relate to, as I found myself retrospectively relating to the characters as I read. The story is a romance, yes, but it's also much more than that. It's a coming-of-age tale about two characters who have always felt like outsiders, and finally learn that being themselves is the best way to go in the end. I think it's incredibly important for teenagers to hear this message, and I would highly recommend it to high school seniors who might be unsure of themselves.

All in all, this book was quirky, fun, and full of laughs. Due to language and some sexual references, I would recommend this book to a high school audience, particularly an audience with a higher reading level (there are a lot of big words in this book due to the genius characters). While I might not be the best judge (I have the sense of humor of a twelve-year-old, after all), I found myself laughing out loud many times in this book, and think any fan of realistic fiction will find themselves falling in love with these quirky, hilarious characters. Underneath all of the fun, there's an even better message: never be afraid to be entirely, unabashedly yourself, and seek out those people who will build you up rather than push you down. I was certainly impressed with my first foray into Melissa Keil's work, and plan to read some of her other novels in the very near future. ( )