Families who loved Abby Carnelia's One and Only Magical Power by David Pogue often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child feels like their personal quirks or odd talents don't quite fit in or carry any real value in the real world. It is an ideal choice for the middle-grade reader who feels overshadowed by high achievers and needs to see that 'average' or 'weird' can actually be a superpower in disguise. Abby Carnelia discovers she has a magic power that seems utterly pointless: she can make a hard-boiled egg spin just by tugging on her earlobes. When she heads to a camp for kids with similarly 'useless' gifts, she finds a sense of belonging, only to realize that a shadowy corporation has more sinister plans for their unique abilities. It is a fast-paced, humorous adventure that tackles themes of self-confidence and corporate ethics without feeling heavy-handed. For ages 8 to 12, it provides a perfect bridge for kids moving from silly humor into more complex mystery and social dynamics.
