More Than Magic by Kathryn Lasky (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Girls who enjoy spunky heroines such as Merida from Brave (Disney/Pixar) and Ella from Ella Enchanted will want to join Rory and Ryder in their adventures in our world—and the world beyond the TV. An exciting new middle-grade fantasy from Kathryn Lasky, bestselling author of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. 
 
Ryder Holmsby is the same age as Rory, the popular TV cartoon character her animator parents created. Ryder and Rory are alike—bold and brave! But Ryder is a bit lonely: Mom passed away a couple of years ago, and Dad is dating a woman with snooty teenage daughters. Ryder doesn't fit in with them at all. 
 
And then: Shazam! Rory jumps out of the TV into Ryder's bedroom to tell her that the TV studio behind her parents' show is trying to turn Rory into a dopey princess—no more adventures. She needs Ryder's help! The two girls team up with a crew of animated and real-life friends to save the day in both worlds.
 
Kathryn Lasky, bestselling author of the Guardians of Ga'hoole series, the Wolves of the Beyond series, and the Horses of the Dawn series, delivers a whimsical tale in which inner strength is the greatest form of magic.

My thoughts-

I was drawn to More Than Magic because I liked the title and the cover intrigued me. I love discovering books my kids can read with characters they can relate to. My kids have not gone through anything as traumatic as the death of a parent or a divorce, but I think any kid can relate to feeling like they don't fit in. Even in adult fiction, I tend to gravitate towards stories that have at least a touch of fantasy to them, so I really loved the intertwining of Ryder's story with Rory, the cartoon character her mother created before her death. In my head I could see how Ryder was jumping into the screen and turning into a cartoon herself when she goes on adventures in Rory's world. That is such a fun concept for a middle grade book! I recommend this book to older elementary aged kids and younger middle school aged kids or to the young at heart. It was a fun tale filled with hope and magic.