Kiki and the New Magic
Written by: Eiko Kadono
Translated by: Emily Balistrieri
Illustrations by: Yuta Onoda
Published by: Delacorte Press
In the middle grade prose novel Kiki and the New Magic by Eiko Kadono, the titular witch returns for another year of picaresque delivery-based adventures in the seaside town of Koriko. The story, which is not-inaccurately described as a blend of “cozy fantasy with a dash of real life,” is a thoughtful and engaging novel that will have you eager to read the next chapter even in the absence of high-stakes action and suspense.
Whether you’re already familiar with Kiki from the Studio Ghibli film or this is your introduction to the character, Kiki and the New Magic deserves a spot on your shelf.
Kiki and the New Magic
As Kiki and the New Magic opens, Kiki and her cat Jiji are returning to Koriko, the setting for Kiki’s Delivery Service, after having gone home for a visit with her parents. There is a brief recap of the first novel at the beginning of Kiki and the New Magic, which does a good job of setting the scene for the story and piquing the reader’s interest with some fascinating fantasy tidbits.
A brief aside: personally, I have seen the Studio Ghibli film but haven’t yet had the chance to read the original novel. This wasn’t a hinderance to my enjoyment of Kiki and the New Magic, as I was able to fill in any narrative blanks with my knowledge of the movie. That being said, I enjoyed reading Kiki and the New Magic so much that I plan to track down Kadono’s original novel, and I’m already looking forward to the forthcoming third book, Kiki and the Other Witch, scheduled for publication in spring of 2027.
Kiki Delivers the Joy of Reading
After a brief encounter on her way back to Koriko, Kiki and the New Magic falls into a reliable rhythm. Each chapter is based on an assignment Kiki receives for her delivery service: “Kiki Delivers a Hippo,” “Kiki Delivers a Magic Bag,” “Kiki Delivers a Window to the Forest” and so on.
The chapters then go on to share the story of Kiki completing her assignment, with varying tones and outcomes. In some cases, the stories are more centered on how Kiki uses her magic or her interpersonal skills to complete her task; in other cases, the assignment becomes more about assessing what the client really needs and delivering that for them.
While there is some carryover in storylines from certain chapters to others, most of the stories are self-contained. This means that reading a chapter is, to a certain extent, a complete experience, making Kiki and the New Magic an ideal volume to read chapter-by-chapter, perhaps before bedtime. But because you never know what the next chapter might hold, it’s also always tempting to read “just one more chapter” of the increasingly charming novel.
Kiki and the New Magic isn’t just a story about a young woman who must complete tasks at her day job. Being a witch is a calling, and it’s about more than a checklist of deliveries: it’s also about becoming an integrated member of a community. Kiki is, to an extent, an outsider, but she nevertheless makes an effort to get to know her individual clients and Koriko as a whole in a way that extends far beyond the shallow.
In other words, Kiki is a role model, and one who has lessons to teach young and old readers alike.
Don’t Forget Jiji!
In addition to her delivery assignments, Kiki has other narrative elements to juggle as well. Her relationship with her familiar, the talking black cat Jiji, becomes more complicated over the course of Kiki and the New Magic, as does her relationship with her friend from Koriko, Tombo.
While Jiji befriends another feline, who subsequently occupies a significant portion of his time and attention, Tombo is jealous of Kiki’s magic and longs to achieve flight himself. Both of these storylines add texture to this outing, while simultaneously reflecting experiences that professionals (and especially creative professionals) will encounter as their careers begin to develop.
The book includes several illustrations by Yuta Onoda, some of which are exceptionally adorable. Meanwhile, the English translation of the text by Emily Balistrieri is impeccably well done, delivering a natural and readable story which I had a hard time putting down.
On Sale on August 25th
I feel it would be impossible to read these pages and not come away with a profound affection for the characters, and a desire to apply the stories thoughtful lessons to one’s day-to-day-life. Whether you have a young reader in your life or you just want to experience a refreshing and original middle grade fantasy novel, Kiki and the New Magic is well worth a place near the top of your “to read” pile.
Kiki and the New Magic will be available at your local bookstore and/or public library beginning on August 25th, 2026.
