Natalie Lloyd’s 2014 novel, A Snicker of Magic, is a middle-grade magical realism story that follows the tale of Felicity Pickle as her family moves to the formerly magical town of Midnight Gulch. The novel explores themes like The Impact of Loneliness and The Power of Words as Felicity navigates the town’s history and her family heritage to learn where all the magic has gone and why her mama moves the family around so much. A Snicker of Magic is Natalie Lloyd’s debut novel and was named Parents Magazine’s Best Children’s Book of 2014. Another novel by Lloyd is Hummingbird. This study guide refers to the 2018 Scholastic Gold paperback edition of the novel.

Content Warning: The source material for this study guide features an outdated and offensive term for Romani people in several instances when referring to the characters’ nomadic lifestyles.

Plot Summary

Felicity Pickle’s family, including Mama, her sister Frannie Jo, and their dog Biscuit, move to a town called Midnight Gulch, Tennessee. Mama grew up in the town, and her sister, Cleo, still lives there. Midnight Gulch used to be a magical town, but the magic has been gone since long before Mama was born. Mama has moved her family all over the country, and Felicity hopes Mama will choose to finally settle down in Midnight Gulch. Felicity has a special ability to see words that appear around people, objects, and buildings. Some words hang around, while others fade quickly. Felicity collects these words in a blue book.

On her first day at her new school, Felicity learns the tale of the Brothers Threadbare. These brothers, Stone and Berry Weatherly, were a magical duo of musicians. Stone played the guitar, and Berry played the banjo. Eventually, they began to feud, so they settled their differences with a magical duel. The loser, Stone, was cursed with a wandering heart, destined to fail at everything and never settle down. Though Berry won the duel, his magic became useless without Stone, and he left town, too. After the duel, people in town stopped using their magic. Felicity’s teacher announces that the school will be holding a talent show, or “Duel,” on the anniversary of the brothers’ duel. Felicity’s heart tells her to sign up, but she is scared because she struggles with public speaking. After class, Felicity finds a note from “the Beedle” asking her to meet on the playground.

Felicity meets the Beedle, a boy her age named Jonah. Jonah tells Felicity about his “know-how,” a special ability that allows him to know what is bothering people and how to fix it. Jonah’s know-how tells him to help Felicity compete in the Duel. Jonah also wants to be Felicity’s friend. Felicity tells Jonah about her ability with words, and Jonah vows to help Felicity collect words and stories so she can write poems for the Duel.

That evening, Felicity asks Aunt Cleo about the Brothers Threadbare. Cleo describes the brothers’ magical talents in painting and sewing. Stone used to paint the Gallery, a wall on the side of an old building, with magical murals. Mama used to paint but hasn’t in a while. Cleo believes the brothers regretted their duel but were too proud to apologize.

Jonah brings Felicity to the home of Oliver Weatherly. Oliver is the grandson of Berry Weatherly and is the original Beedle. The Beedle has been doing anonymous acts of kindness in Midnight Gulch for 50 years. Oliver tells the story of the day Stone Weatherly landed his hot-air balloon in Oliver’s yard, searching for Berry. When Oliver told Stone that Berry left town years ago, Stone bestowed his guitar to Oliver, asking that it go to a good home if Berry never shows up to claim it. Oliver says that the brothers dueled over a person but doesn’t elaborate. Oliver recites the words of the curse, and Felicity writes them down.

Felicity rushes home to find Mama packing and Frannie Jo distraught. Felicity announces that she’s going to compete in the Duel, so they cannot leave town yet. Mama agrees to stay until after the Duel.

One day, Felicity and Frannie Jo meet a strange man dressed as cowboy. Cleo introduces the man as the girls’ uncle Boone. Boone has been estranged from the family, performing in Nashville, but he’s returned home with his banjo and a broken heart. Boone quickly bonds with his nieces and reconnects with his sisters.

During Felicity’s next outing with Jonah, they visit a woman named Florentine, who carries a canvas bag of magical burdens. Florentine’s grandmother kept the burdens in a cabinet; they kept the family safe but were full of sad magic. When Florentine left home, she took the burdens to keep her safe. She found love, but the burdens eventually got in the way. She stays in Midnight Gulch searching for something to help her set the burdens down for good.

That evening, Felicity persuades Aunt Cleo to tell her what’s going on. Cleo reveals that Felicity and Frannie Jo’s great-great-grandfather was Stone Weatherly, who lost the duel. His curse lives on in their family. Felicity realizes this is why Mama cannot settle down. Cleo says the curse was cast by a witch who left town. When Cleo was still a child, Berry came searching for Stone. Berry gave the family his banjo, which Boone now possesses. Cleo gives Felicity a locket that Berry gave them.

The next day, Jonah introduces Felicity to Rosie Walker, an old woman who achieved fame in Nashville. She now owns Stone Weatherly’s guitar. Oliver gave it to her with the instructions to always start her sets with the song “Fair and Tender Ladies.” Rosie attributes her success to the magic of the song.

Felicity learns the story of Isabella Thistle, whose family worked with shadow magic. Isabella dated Stone, and when they broke up, Berry pursued her. The brothers’ jealousy over Isabella led to their duel. They asked Isabella to create the curse. When she left town after the duel, she took something with her and left something else, but no one knows exactly what.

The townspeople wish someone would paint the Gallery again, and Felicity volunteers Mama. She hopes Mama will rediscover her love of painting and decide to stay in town. As Mama works on the Gallery, Boone plays his banjo while people drop by to watch Mama. Rosie Walker asks Boone to play “Fair and Tender Ladies.” When he plays the song, it causes Felicity’s locket to burn hot and ripple with the music.

On the day of the Duel, Felicity’s family shows up to support her. Felicity’s classmate Toast brings Rosie’s guitar to play. Boone also brings his banjo. When Toast comes near her with Rosie’s guitar, Felicity realizes that the Weatherlys’ instruments are essential for breaking the curse.

Felicity goes on stage and talks about the Brothers Threadbare, the curse, and what they needed to do to break it. When Boone and Toast play “Fair and Tender Ladies” together, they break the curse. Felicity’s locket opens. Inside is a scene of Isabella Thistle dancing with one of the Weatherly brothers. Felicity realizes Mama has left the Duel and, and she finds her at the Gallery finishing her painting. Felicity gives Florentine her the locket in exchange for the magical burdens. The next day, Mama unveils her finished mural of Midnight Gulch, where she has included her family among the residents, revealing her choice to stay in town. Felicity and Jonah open Florentine’s bag to find two jars filled with shadows. They open the jars and release the shadows of the Weatherly brothers, who enter Mama’s mural and make amends. They fly off in a painted hot air balloon.