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Peter Marino (author of "Dough Boy") has crafted yet another brilliant book for anyone who has ever experienced insecurity (and let's face it, who hasn't?). The book is designed for teens, but reads well for adults. In fact, I would argue that "Magic and Misery" reads even better for adults than "Dough Boy", although both would be great reads for any age. Marino's dialogue is witty and sharp, particularly in the characters of TJ and Pan, who are best friends, despite being unpopular with their classmates. The two share a self-deprecating wit that is often laugh-out-loud hilarious to the reader. Unlike Dough Boy, this book centers on a young girl, who is not nearly as unpopular as Tristan. Because of that, the humor is not quite as sharp or biting as it is in "Dough Boy", but it is still present, and the novel is still hysterically funny at times. While I would argue that "Dough Boy" is simultaneously funnier and more depressing than "Magic and Misery", this novel is no less effective or well-written. It simply has a more even, and in many ways, more mature tone. As before, the characters are fully defined and three-dimensional. While this novel has two clearly defined villains (in Samsonite and Torno), the novelist does show us other sides to the villains' personalities (for instance, Torno has two ailing and elderly grandparents whom he has affection for), and it's made clear that their meanness is more reflective of their boredom than their cruelty. Not that their meanness is any less painful for TJ or Pan, but it makes the reader understand that even the "Villains" can be human. I'd like to see that in a "Twilight" novel please! :O) I found all of Magic's characters to be honest, believable, and so well described that I could imagine each of them popping up in my daily life. Marino's primary achievement in both novels is the lack of stereotypes. Oh sure, some characters start out as the dumb jock, the gay guy, the awkward girl, and so on, but he ladens each character with such depth, such pathos, and such dimension, I found myself empathizing with all of the characters, including the parents and the villains. While detesting how certain characters treated TJ and Pan, I never felt that those characters were two-dimensional or cliched. I found each character to be fully human and believable. When I first heard these books were for teens, I had doubts if I would enjoy them (I'm a 31-year old man). Certainly at moments I wished "Dough Boy" would be darker, but I never had that wish with this novel. While it isn't "dark" per se, the tone felt right. It felt suspenseful, mysterious, funny, and sad at all the right moments. I actually teared up at several key sections, and found myself laughing out loud at several others. Marino is a master at his craft, and frankly, I believe he is at the top of his game with this novel. It is a tribute to his extreme talent as a writer that I felt engaged by each and every character; engulfed in laughter or tears by each and every scene. When "Dough Boy" ended, I felt a slight disappointment, like I wished there was more. It was a brilliant novel, but it left me with a craving. At the end of "Magic", I felt complete. Perhaps the two novels together gave me what I wanted, or perhaps "Magic" simply has a more satisfying finale. I don't know why. In any case, I felt at ease, I felt like I was in the hands of a master novelist reading these books, and I believe you'll enjoy them as well. Dan GuytonRead full review