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Welcome to Dabs & Company
for
Creativity & Innovation!
featuring the young adult novel
The Magic Pencil
by Karen E. Dabney
The Magic Pencil, a powerful novel for young adults, is the story of Malcolm Bakersfield and the star of his latest and greatest dream, Nia Stellar.
Nia is "the new girl" at Gillespie School. Malcolm quickly notices she's definitely different from all of the other kids he knows.
One day, Malc forgets to bring his pencils to school and borrows one from Nia. When he begins to use it, the pencil glows and his writing flows! Malcolm becomes as mystified as Nia is mysterious.
Many wonderful things continue to happen with Nia on the scene. She challenges Malc to be better than his best and he soon discovers amazing things about himself and the world! But whenever he gets the chance to ask Nia if the pencil has special powers, her answer is usually just a laugh.
We join Malcolm in his quest to discover the secret to the power of the pencil! And we'll uncover hidden powers within ourselves, along the way.
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Raves for The Magic Pencil!
"Karen's work is unrivaled in young adult literature."
Jimmy Santiago Baca, author
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"A valuable addition to the canon, destined to be a classic."
Karl C Klein, author
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"I loved the book!! The characters are engaging right from the beginning."
Eileen Monteiro, artist
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"Every blue moon a writer comes along with a work that is so vivid and compelling its cover can't be closed until it has been read. I'm proud to have a cousin as talented as Karen."
Wayne Dabney, photographer
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"This book is important!"
Nancy Fanzini, artist
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"No matter what you might think The Magic Pencil...is about--it is more! More educational, more fun, more poetic, more inspirational...and more magical! I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning from this book!"
Glenda A. Bixler, I P Book Reviewer* * *
"As an educator, I appreciate "the voice" in which Ms. Dabney wrote her novel. It is from the perspective of a young person and should be an easy read for young adults. A must for the library of every young adult, but can be appreciated by older adults as well!"
Jan Cunningham, teacher
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"I followed it instantly; in fact it was cool, festive and enticed me on. The language tone perfectly fit the mindful main character who was able to switch how he talked, changing from informality to formality depending on what group he was in, and who was in earshot...
"I give it an enthusiastic well-sharpened TEN PENCILS UP !!!"
Peter Joseph Swanson, author
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"The characters communicate with each other using different types of colloquialisms, while switching back to speaking standard English. They demonstrate that in many communities people are able to use language comfortably depending on the situations or the culture they are interacting in at any given time. It was a great idea to see it actually played out in the story."
RM Jackson, RAWSISTAZ (tm) reviewer
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"I thought the Magic Pencil was a very powerful book. I was very impressed by the author's style of writing. Very seldom does one read the work of such a consummate writer. This book inspired me to be the most superlative I can be. Thank you for. . . this wonderful book."
Michael B., age 14
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"Reflections on The Magic Pencil
The book was quite interesting; I love how in the first chapter, it explains that these students are crazy about pencils, and that there's even someone who collects them.I also like Nia, the different poems and the part when Malcom is learning how to cook.This is a great book, and I hope others will enjoy it too!"
Erika S., age 12
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"Malc talks just like me and my friends when we're being all casual!"
A. J., age 16
"The copy that I purchased for my students looks like The Velveteen Rabbit. The students pass it around and whisper about it."
Regina Hendrix-Brown, teacher
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"As a parent, I loved the way LIVING black history is effortlessly integrated within the casual conversations among peers and adults. I loved the way the adult characters are portrayed and provided such strength in character, volition and beliefs."
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"As a matter of fact, Dabney’s grasp of the colloquial language is so masterful that, at times, I felt as though I were reading a Geneva Smitherman book.
"Given the quality of books rolling off the press these days, The Magic Pencil is a rare book. It is a marvelously didactic read, and can actually teach and instruct readers with good, sound, moral, philosophy. Haki Madhubuti once said that a book must engage the community. In that sense, Dabney’s book is accountable and responsible to the task of what this sort of book ought to achieve. That makes TMP a must-read."
Push Nevahda, Urban Book Source
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