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.
Writing Disability in Australia
| Type of disability | Primarily mental illness. |
| Type of character | Varied, primarily secondary. |
| Point of view | Unconfirmed. |
Magic or Madness
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)
Magic Lessons
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)
Magic's Child
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)
'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.'
'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.'
