Magic is like a dream. Delightful. Terrifying. Unreal.

Rose Alice Anders is Little Luck. Lucky to be born into the Anders family. Lucky to be just as special and magical as the most revered man in town—her father. The whole town has been waiting for Rose to turn twelve, when she can join them in their annual capturing of magic on New Year’s Day and become the person she was born to be.

But when that special day finally comes, Rose barely captures one tiny jar of magic. Now Rose’s dad won’t talk to her anymore and her friendships have gotten all twisted and wrong. So when Rose hears whispers that there are people who aren’t meant for magic at all, she begins to wonder if that’s who she belongs with.

Maybe if she’s away from all the magic, away from her dad telling her who she’s meant to be, who she has to be, Rose can begin to piece together what’s truly real in a world full of magic.

* An SLJ Best Book of the Year * A CCBC Choices Pick of the Year *

What happens when the magic you were promised isn’t the magic you find?

• Parental Pressure: Rose is “Little Luck,” the daughter of the most magical man in town. But living up to her father’s legacy feels impossible, especially when his love seems conditional.
• Family Secrets: As Rose questions her place, she uncovers the truth about her family’s past and discovers relatives she never knew she had.
• A Complicated Friendship Story: After failing to capture enough magic, Rose’s closest friendships get “twisted and wrong,” forcing her to figure out who her real friends are.
• Finding Your Own Magic: A heartfelt journey about discovering that true power isn’t about how many jars you can capture, but about being brave enough to be yourself.