Marna – Book One, by author Jason Hauger, is a heartfelt story that follows an unlikely friendship between a human boy and a magical creature, both of whom convey a gentle message about letting go and growing up, as well as the beauty of temporal connections and the lasting impact they leave in our hearts. We meet David who is described as a quiet boy awaiting his fifth-grade year. He is leaving the neighborhood swimming pool for home. He is lonely, lacks confidence and hopes to be seen as “cool” in the new year. His sight is quickly drawn to “the only monarch butterfly of the year,” his mother’s favorite, which prompts him to get his phone and snap a quick photo for her. However his excitement is rudely interrupted by the village bully, who snatches the phone from him before mocking him with a sneer. The bully then threatens to annihilate the butterfly’s wings which sends David into quick action that leaves him oblivious of his fears for the first time in his life as he steps in to protect it.
This bold step is rewarded with the butterfly resting trustingly on his hand and thereafter, with the arrival of a new magical friend who opens for him a door to an extraordinary world of wonder, flight and fearless friendship. David introduces her to his mother who loves her instantly. With excitement building and as the new friend helps around the house, he is however left to uphold a secret which if revealed may set the stage for a myriad of grave conflicts and magical risks. Unbeknownst to him, however, their bond as delicate and vibrant as the butterfly’s wings he earlier protected, is soon to face a hidden danger, more toxic than the bully’s insults and which will force David to make an impossible choice that will be far more life-threatening than just guarding a secret.
This is a soft, charming book that mixes everyday life with a bit of magic which young readers will love. Its chapters feel more like short standalone kinds of episodes, with each one of them ending in a warm, satisfying way that is bound to leave the readers’ imagination with a quiet sense of wonder. There are chapters such as chapter 4 that offer the reader a vivid tapestry of sensory experiences and which allow the protagonist’s wonders to become the reader’s own. A chapter like chapter 5 offers bittersweet moments as well as a quiet sense of worry, fear and uncertainty that ground the plot in real emotion while touching on important lessons including the sometimes fragile nature of friendship and two, the difficult but necessary process of growing up beyond comfort and innocence, and towards the courage to let go of what we cannot keep.
Marna by Jason Hauger is that story where you are not just reading words but you are left remembering the feeling. I didn’t find it rushing through the action or shouting its themes at me, rather, I felt like it was taking my hand and walking me right beside the main character, showing rather than telling, and allows its truths and lessons to unfold naturally in front of my eyes while also inspiring me with experiences that demonstrate the true power of empathy and bravery. I believe that young readers from the age of 6 will feel right at home with its relatable characters as well as its gentle and hopeful tone which respects their intelligence and which avoids talking down to them.
