We Could Be Magic
Tabitha
—Tabi to her friends—has always been enchanted by Sommerland. When she was little, the Sommerland movies made her believe in true love and happily-ever-afters. Then she visited the Sommerland theme park, where she had a beautiful moment with her favorite character, Princess Madeline. After that, Tabi became determined to get a job at the park. She wants to bring others the kind of joy that visit brought her. And ideally, she wants to do it as one of the actors portraying Princess Madeline.
So far, so good: Tabi gets into the Sommerland High School Summer Program. She may be starting in a pretty unglamorous position—slinging chips and cheese at a nacho stand—but auditions for new character actors are coming up. And in the meantime, she can bring joy to park guests right where she is.
Tabi’s love for Sommerland is undeniable. She is passionate about creating magical experiences for guests—and she’s good at it. Not every staff member at Sommerland has her enthusiasm, but she meets a cute boy named James who loves bringing joy as much as she does—and seems to like hanging out with Tabi, too. Now, if she can just ace her audition, everything will be perfect. This is Tabi’s chance to show her knowledge of, and love for, the Sommerland characters. No one knows Princess Madeline better than she does. Surely the judges will see that.
But character actors are expected to, when in costume, look as much as possible like their characters. And Princess Madeline is thin. All the Sommerland princesses are. Tabi is not. Is this the end of her childhood dream? Or is there another path to becoming a princess?
Tabi is exuberant, kind, and hard-working. After failing her first audition because she didn’t realize dancing would be required, she practices dance steps constantly to be ready for the next audition. She holds onto her dream even as it becomes clear that only a certain type of girl – with a certain type of body – has ever been cast as a Sommerland princess. Well-intentioned and determined, Tabi is easy to like and to root for. She even manages to win over her jaded, skeptical roommate, who ends up helping Tabi and James with an audacious plan.
Sommerland is clearly a Disney analog: it’s both a movie studio and a massively popular theme park sometimes described as “the most magical place on Earth.” It even has its own versions of Disneyland quirks, like hidden kitties (for the Sommerland mascot, Kitty Wise) instead of Hidden Mickeys (images of Mickey Mouse hidden around Disneyland). These details help the park feel lived-in and real, and will be fun Easter eggs for Disneyland fans.
The art is colorful and vibrant, full of whimsical theme park landscapes, fantastical costumes, and a wide variety of uniforms and outfits. The characters are just on the realistic side of cartoony, with expressive faces and postures. There is clear contrast between the bright, magical world of the Sommerland park and the more utilitarian world behind the scenes: employee dorms, costume and uniform storage, actor auditions, and so on. Still, even when Tabi is just in her dorm watching videos, the art is lively and fun.
This is a charming romp with a goodhearted, sympathetic heroine and a fun and interesting setting. Hand it to Disney fans and anyone looking for a sweet, summery romance.
We Could Be Magic
By Marissa Meyer
Art by Joelle Murray
Feiwel and Friends, 2025
ISBN: 9781250379399
Company Age Rating: 12-18
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13)
Character Representation: African-American, Black,
