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Mickey Dubrow is the author of The Magic Maker, Always Agnes, American Judas, and Bulletproof. For over thirty years, he wrote television promos, marketing presentations, and scripts for various clients including Cartoon Network, TNT Latin America, and HGTV. His short stories and essays have appeared in Prime Number Magazine, The Signal Mountain Review, and Full Grown People. His first novel, American Judas, won the 2024 American Legacy Book Award in the category of Science Fiction: Parallel Universe/Alternative History. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, author Jessica Handler.
Reviewed by Ibrahim Aslan for Readers' Favorite
Mickey Dubrow's The Magic Maker starts in 1917 in New York City. It's Passover Seder, so Baruch Rosenfeld invites a beggar to join him and his family during this revered event, as is the Jewish custom. Suddenly, Baruch’s charitable act rebounds, resulting in him and his family being trapped in an impenetrable time bubble that prevents them from aging or vacating their apartment. Life goes on as usual outside their home, but without them. As a result, the Rosenfelds do not exist to persons excluded from the time bubble. A century later, in 2017, Rabbi Meir Poppers, a Jewish magic maker, is contacted by a museum educator regarding strange sightings in the Rosenfelds' "empty" apartment. It's up to Meir to solve this perplexing mystery and save the family still trapped in their 1917 time bubble. Despite the dangers involved, can he succeed in his mission to free them?
The Magic Maker is an engrossing historical novel from start to finish. Meir's shy, youthful, but resilient temperament makes this narrative a one-of-a-kind. Mickey Dubrow meticulously intertwines magical elements into the story, providing a unique and riveting journey into the occult world within the Jewish faith. He does this in a way that doesn't disrupt the story's momentum or make it feel excessively weighty. I'm in awe at how the plot alternates flawlessly between two timelines (1917 and 2017), adding a sense of mystery and urgency to Meir's compelling journey. Dubrow delicately and expertly introduces a plethora of Jewish representations and ideologies into the intriguing storyline. Even readers who aren't familiar with Jewish customs will have a clear understanding of the plot and its profound meaning in the context of Judaism. If you enjoy novels blended with history, humor, and mystery, The Magic Maker will undoubtedly leave an impression on you.
