image of person or book cover 6579207038801595090.jpg
y separately published work icon Magic or Madness series - author   novel   young adult   science fiction  
Issue Details: First known date: 2005... 2005 Magic or Madness
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

A trilogy of novels in which a teenager needs to come to terms not only with the magical background of her own family (centred on her terrifying grandmother) but also with the abject and destructive force of magic itself, which enacts a terrible price for its use.

Exhibitions

Affiliation Notes

  • Writing Disability in Australia

    Type of disability  Primarily mental illness.
    Type of character Varied, primarily secondary.
    Point of view Unconfirmed.

Includes

1
y separately published work icon Magic or Madness Justine Larbalestier , Camberwell : Penguin , 2005 Z1200695 2005 single work novel young adult "Reason has lived for fiteen years in the outback with her mother, Sarafina. They're on the run from Reason's grandmother, Esmeralda who practices magic, and performs horrifying dark rituals." (Source: Trove)
2
y separately published work icon Magic Lessons Justine Larbalestier , Camberwell : Penguin , 2006 Z1306527 2006 single work novel young adult fantasy "When fifteen-year-old Reason is pulled through the magical door connecting New York City with the Sydney, Australia, home of her grandmother, she encounters an impossibly ancient man who seems to have some purpose in mind for her." (Source: Trove)
3
y separately published work icon Magic's Child Justine Larbalestier , Camberwell : Penguin , 2007 Z1386879 2007 single work novel young adult fantasy 'Reason Cansino must uncover the secret of the magic in her family's background to save the lives of her friends Tom and Jay-tee.' (Source: Trove)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 2005
      2005-2007 .

Works about this Work

Abject Magic : Reasoning Madness in Justine Larbalestier's Magic or Madness Trilogy Troy Potter , 2014 single work criticism
— Appears in: Children's Literature in Education , September vol. 45 no. 3 2014; (p. 255-270)

'This paper explores the representation of magic and madness in Justine Larbalestier’s Magic or Madness trilogy (2005–2007). Throughout the series, magic is constructed as an abject and disabling force that threatens to disable magic-wielders, either through madness or death. Despite being represented as a ubiquitous force, the consequences of magic are gendered, and the female protagonist of the trilogy, Reason, sets out to remove the threat of magic. The intersections between ableist, magical and feminine discourses are explored via a feminist disability politics and Kristeva’s concept of abjection. While, at times, the trilogy challenges the ability/disability binary schism, the narrative closure reaffirms dualistic constructions of reason/madness, ability/disability, reality/fantasy and masculine/feminine. Thus, rather than redressing social attitudes towards mental illness and critiquing normative constructions of disability and the other, Larbalestier’s trilogy reaffirms dualistic and normative constructions of mental illness.'

Interview: Justine Larbalestier Tansy Rayner Roberts (interviewer), 2008 single work interview
— Appears in: Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine , no. 32 2008; (p. 80-82)
Justine Larbalestier Lili Wilkinson (interviewer), 2006 single work interview
— Appears in: The Newsletter of the Australian Centre for Youth Literature , December no. 3 2006; (p. 6-7)
Justine Larbalestier Lili Wilkinson (interviewer), 2006 single work interview
— Appears in: The Newsletter of the Australian Centre for Youth Literature , December no. 3 2006; (p. 6-7)
Interview: Justine Larbalestier Tansy Rayner Roberts (interviewer), 2008 single work interview
— Appears in: Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine , no. 32 2008; (p. 80-82)
Abject Magic : Reasoning Madness in Justine Larbalestier's Magic or Madness Trilogy Troy Potter , 2014 single work criticism
— Appears in: Children's Literature in Education , September vol. 45 no. 3 2014; (p. 255-270)

'This paper explores the representation of magic and madness in Justine Larbalestier’s Magic or Madness trilogy (2005–2007). Throughout the series, magic is constructed as an abject and disabling force that threatens to disable magic-wielders, either through madness or death. Despite being represented as a ubiquitous force, the consequences of magic are gendered, and the female protagonist of the trilogy, Reason, sets out to remove the threat of magic. The intersections between ableist, magical and feminine discourses are explored via a feminist disability politics and Kristeva’s concept of abjection. While, at times, the trilogy challenges the ability/disability binary schism, the narrative closure reaffirms dualistic constructions of reason/madness, ability/disability, reality/fantasy and masculine/feminine. Thus, rather than redressing social attitudes towards mental illness and critiquing normative constructions of disability and the other, Larbalestier’s trilogy reaffirms dualistic and normative constructions of mental illness.'

Last amended 8 Feb 2019 14:28:56
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