Natalie Lloyd's SPINDIDDLY debut novel, now in paperback! A Snicker of Magic joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content! Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart. But when she arrives in Midnight Gulch, Felicity thinks her luck's about to change. A "word collector," Felicity sees words everywhere -- shining above strangers, tucked into church eves, and tangled up her dog's floppy ears -- but Midnight Gulch is the first place she's ever seen the word "home." And then there's Jonah, a mysterious, spiky-haired do-gooder who shimmers with words Felicity's never seen before, words that make Felicity's heart beat a little faster. Felicity wants to stay in Midnight Gulch more than anything, but first, she'll need to figure out how to bring back the magic, breaking the spell that's been cast over the town . . . and her mother's broken heart. Praise for A Snicker of Magic * "This tale offers all [the] earmarks of fine storytelling, including colorful, eccentric characters, an original, highly likable narrator and a mighty "spindiddly"plot." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review* "From every angle, Lloyd's first novel sparkles and radiates warmth . . . Working in the folksy vein of Ingrid Law's Savvy , Lloyd offers a reassuring, homespun story about self-expression and the magic that resides in one's mind and heart." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review* "A delightful and inspiring debut . . . Mibs Beaumont and her magically gifted clan from Ingrid Law's Savvy would feel right at home here. As Felicity loves to say, "Yes...yes...yes!" -- School Library Journal , starred review Natalie Lloyd is the New York Times bestselling author of novels full of hope, wonder, and magic for young readers. Her books include: A Snicker of Magic , The Key to Extraordinary , Over the Moon , Hummingbird , and The Witching Wind . She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband Justin, and their three spoiled dogs. Visit her online at natalielloyd.com From A Snicker of Magic Mama slowed the van and leaned her arm across me. "Take a look, June Bug. We're here." She pointed to a sign that somebody'd painted up and shoved sideways into the hillside. A flickering spotlight shone up at the words: Midnight Gulch, Tennessee A Proper Place to Call Home "Used to read different, before they painted over it," Mama said. "It used to say―" "A magical place to call home." I whispered. I didn't need her to tell me. I could already see the word, MAGICAL, shining as bright as sunshine-letters, even through all those layers of paint. I could see other words too. The stars above us spelled out: summer wonder homespun I heard a poem tangled up inside a rush of the midnight songs the crickets were whistling: Finally, At last, Forever, and now, Here you are. I didn't say another word to Mama that night, but I could feel something good even then: the YES in my heart, the swirling-around in my belly, the prickly, tingling all the way from the freckle on my finger to the tip of my pinky-toe. That much wonderful could only mean one thing. There was still magic in Midnight Gulch. This is how I turned it loose . . .