04/20/2020
In small-town Georgia, being a magicker is only slightly more acceptable than being gay, which makes things very difficult for high schooler Sam, who is both. With his best friends Delia and James, the group makes up the entire roster of their high school’s magic team, the Fascinators. Sam leans heavily on Delia as he pines for James’s affection, while James spends time at church and drinking heavily to escape his circumstances. Trouble begins as James steals a book from True Light, a cultlike magical group looking for ways to increase their numbers. When new student Denver joins the team and begins a friendship with Sam, his relationship with Delia and James begins to fracture under the strain of the secrets they have been keeping from each other. Eliopulos, making his YA debut, crafts a world in which magic is part of everyday life, but the narrative follows a more realistic journey as his main characters navigate friendship, first loves, and heartbreaks, all in witty banter. Though the fantastical elements serve as mere catalyst for Sam to realize who he is and who he wishes to become, Eliopulos excels with interpersonal relationships, building out the complexities of childhood friends on the precipice of adulthood. Ages 13–up. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (May)
“The Fascinators is a potent brew of magic, romance, betrayal, and the transformative power of friendship—bewitching!” — Elana K. Arnold, Printz Honor-winning author of Damsel
"The Fascinators is a fascinating exploration of the places where magic intersects with love and friendship, bringing some together while pulling others apart. You won't be able to stop turning the pages of this book once its powerful spell takes hold." — Christopher Barzak, author of Wonders of the Invisible World
"A magical exploration of queer and religious themes." — Kirkus Reviews
"Fans of what might be called magic-magical realism will find this a compelling read." — Booklist
"Part paranormal thriller, part introspective character study, this title challenges readers to accept themselves, build empathy, and stand strong in the power of personal beliefs. An #OwnVoices title for fans of Becky Albertalli." — School Library Journal
"Eliopulos, making his YA debut, crafts a world in which magic is part of everyday life, but the narrative follows a more realistic journey as his main characters navigate friendship, first loves, and heartbreaks, all in witty banter... Eliopulos excels with interpersonal relationships, building out the complexities of childhood friends on the precipice of adulthood." — Publishers Weekly
"The Fascinators is a fascinating exploration of the places where magic intersects with love and friendship, bringing some together while pulling others apart. You won't be able to stop turning the pages of this book once its powerful spell takes hold."
"Fans of what might be called magic-magical realism will find this a compelling read."
The Fascinators is a potent brew of magic, romance, betrayal, and the transformative power of friendship—bewitching!
"Fans of what might be called magic-magical realism will find this a compelling read."
03/01/2020
Gr 7 Up— High schooler Sam and his close friends, James and Delia, are the Fascinators—magickers capable of summoning storms, reading minds, and performing spells. Despite the rest of their community not fully accepting their magical abilities, the trio take their gifts seriously, meeting after school to hone their skills. As an out, queer teen living in rural Georgia, Sam struggles with his identity and self-esteem in a landscape of judgmental side glances and unending microaggressions—especially when it comes to James. He can no longer deny that his feelings for James have grown beyond friendship, even if Sam knows James may not be on the same page. When the Fascinators take on a new member, Denver from Nashville, his openness and kind demeanor quietly begin to strengthen Sam's confidence. But the group grapples with their collective strength when James gets into trouble experimenting with dark magic at a party. Strategizing to use their magical powers, they rally to find a book of spells that James stole from a powerful cult group called True Light who are hell-bent on reclaiming their property. As Sam and his friends confront True Light, the group's loyalties are questioned. Sam is forced to reflect on his own willingness to sacrifice everything for his friends, and how much of himself he is prepared to lose in the process. Sam's inner dialogue is relatable and dynamic. VERDICT Part paranormal thriller, part introspective character study, this title challenges readers to accept themselves, build empathy, and stand strong in the power of personal beliefs. An #OwnVoices title for fans of Becky Albertalli.—Elise Martinez, Racine, WI
Narrator Michael Crouch takes on the drama of an amateur magic club facing off against a power-hungry cult. Set in a world in which everyone has magical abilities but only some people choose to use them, this YA novel follows twelfth-grader Sam and his best friends, Delia and James, who are the lone magickers at their small-town Georgia school. Their preparations for one last magic convention are disrupted by new arrivals, romantic entanglements, and betrayal—not to mention a deadly scheme hatched by a group of fanatical magickers. Crouch's narration, as deft as ever, uses pitch, inflection, and judiciously deployed Southern accents to balance quiet characterizations with compelling pacing. Overall, it's a skillful, accessible performance with solid appeal for young fans of fantasy. R.A.H. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
SEPTEMBER 2020 - AudioFile
Narrator Michael Crouch takes on the drama of an amateur magic club facing off against a power-hungry cult. Set in a world in which everyone has magical abilities but only some people choose to use them, this YA novel follows twelfth-grader Sam and his best friends, Delia and James, who are the lone magickers at their small-town Georgia school. Their preparations for one last magic convention are disrupted by new arrivals, romantic entanglements, and betrayal—not to mention a deadly scheme hatched by a group of fanatical magickers. Crouch's narration, as deft as ever, uses pitch, inflection, and judiciously deployed Southern accents to balance quiet characterizations with compelling pacing. Overall, it's a skillful, accessible performance with solid appeal for young fans of fantasy. R.A.H. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
SEPTEMBER 2020 - AudioFile
2020-02-26
Seniors Sam, Delia, and James are the three (and only) members of the Friedman High Fascinators, their school’s magic club. The trio hopes to do well at their last magic competition before college, but the “infinite question marks” surrounding Sam and James’ feelings for each other are nothing if not distracting. Rather than talk it out, James keeps partying and spending time with Amber, a girl from his church. Meanwhile, the club recruits new-to-town Denver, a boy who seems keen on Sam. When James steals a spell book at a party, a group of dark magic practitioners haunts the Fascinators until they return it. But even if they give it back, will their lives be the same? Eliopulos, an editor at HarperCollins, makes his YA debut with a strong, queercentric premise. The tight, third-person–omniscient focus on Sam offers a contagious flair for the dramatic. Though light on the specificities and rules of magic, Eliopulos draws powerful parallels between queerness and magical ability in a Deep South where the fear of both is present but not prevailing. However, with all the crescendo of the promising premise, the ending tumbles toward anticlimactic. Multiple unanswered questions hint at a potential sequel. The cast assumes a white default, though black-haired Amber has dark brown skin and other character names code for diversity.
A magical exploration of queer and religious themes. (Fantasy. 12-18)
