Special Proper Magic by Michael McAdam is the story of two cousins, Holly and Adrian, who have special powers. Holly can speak to ghosts, and Adrian has the capability of telekinesis, where he can move inanimate objects with his mind. Holly meets her cousin for the first time when she travels from Boston, Massachusetts, to Colchester, England, to spend the summer with Adrian in their mansion. With both of their parents preoccupied with work, Adrian and Holly explore each other’s magical powers and get the opportunity to put them to good use when Adrian finds out that Ethan, the son of his mom’s best friend, has gone missing. Along with their powers, Adrian and Holly are also intelligent and intuitive, and this powerful combination only amplifies their ability to find the missing Ethan.

Special Proper Magic by Michael McAdam is an adventurous, charismatic, and heartwarming story. Even though the story is about Adrian's and Holly’s paranormal powers, it is also about their ability to develop a friendship through their understanding and acceptance of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Adrian and Holly appear to be outsiders, primarily through their choosing, as they don’t feel they fit in, but a brighter side emerges in their personalities when they find each other. Holly becomes less critical and warmer, while Adrian becomes more expressive and open about who he is. Both characters are endearing, and their playful and sweet banter is entertaining, keeping me engaged. I loved reading this imaginative and light-hearted story.

Special Proper Magic is a young adult paranormal novella by Michael McAdam. Thirteen-year-old Adrian Whitingahm lives a peaceful yet somewhat lonely life when he has to spend his summer at his family's mansion, Locksley Hall, in Little Colchester, England. But this summer, it will be different because his cousin, Holly Weaver, has arrived with her parents from Boston, Massachusetts, to spend their holidays in Locksley Hall. Initially circumspect toward each other, Adrian and Holly soon develop a mutual understanding when they discover each other's secret powers. Holly can communicate with ghosts, and Adrian has the ability to move things with his mind. When a young teenager named Ethan goes missing, the cousins take it upon themselves to find the boy and solve the mystery of his disappearance. But standing in their way are some malevolent spirits from beyond.

A combination of magic, mystery, and thrills makes Special Proper Magic an engaging tale well worth spending your time reading. Author Michael McAdam weaves an immersive sleuth story splashed with a dash of the paranormal that has the reader turning the pages, filled with excitement, eager to know what's going to happen next. Both Adrian and Holly are likable characters, with colorful personas that make them pop out of the pages and make an impression on the reader. The evolution of their relationship dynamic from initial skepticism to basically kindred siblings was one of my favorite aspects of the book. I would recommend Special Proper Magic to young adult readers who love paranormal mysteries.