Where is the most magical place on earth? Disneyland. What is the most magical place on Earth for the protagonist of Marissa Mayer’s We Could Be Magic? A Disney-style theme park where the protagonist lands her dream summer job. We Could Be Magic, published by Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, will be released in summer 2025 and will be Meyer’s debut graphic novel, featuring art by Joel Murray.
This contemporary YA book is perfect for fans of Pumpkinheads. It’s a body-positive story that follows a girl named Tabitha who gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a character actor at a local amusement park themed to the fantasy world of her favorite author. Unfortunately, Tabitha discovers that life in costume is not what it seems, and expectations often do not match reality.
See the cover below.
Meyer is one of the biggest names in the YA field, best known as the author of The Lunar Chronicles, a retelling of classic fairy tales with a sci-fi twist. His first book, Lunar, was a New York Times bestseller. She has also written prequels and short stories, along with other series such as the Renegades trilogy and the Golden Dulogy. Of all the books she wrote, We Could Be Magic was her favorite.
“When I wrote the script, I thought a lot about Teen Marissa. Growing up, I was a complete romantic who believed in true love and lived happily ever after. “As a curvy girl, I said I didn’t deserve those things,” she said. “So ‘We Could Be Magic’ focuses on body positivity, courage and following your dreams. Add in my love of fairy tales, cosplay, theme parks…yes, definitely my It is a book of the heart.”
When looking for an artist who could visually bring the characters to life, Meyer was looking for someone who could “capture the quirkiness of the park while still making the characters feel real and relatable.” Ta. Meyer and her team hit the jackpot with Murray.
We Could Be Magic is definitely my first book. Along with Meyer, this was also Murray’s first graphic novel. Murray said that while it was a learning experience, “I had a lot of fun bringing Marissa’s story to life.”
The artist had a more personal connection with Meyer, as she was a fan and several of the author’s books “helped me through some difficult times in my life.”
“I was honored to be chosen for this project. Marissa had a creative vision, but she also let me explore mine and was very supportive of my ideas.” she said. “The process was a lot of fun and really challenging me as an artist.”
Murray, who has been working on the project for the past few years, was a little heartbroken to see it finally come together. “When it ends, it feels like we’re saying goodbye and it’s very hard,” she said. “I hope readers enjoy the characters, the world, and Marissa’s story as much as I do.”
Meyer spoke highly of Murray. “Joel exceeded all my expectations with his amazing illustrations, from facial expressions and body language to color palettes and costumes. Every time I receive a next level illustration, I feel like I’m seeing real magic on the page. “I fell in love with Tavi and her story even more,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier with how this book came together. I can’t wait for readers to see it.”
We Could Be Magic will be released on June 3, 2025.
Source: Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
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