"A Magical Discovery” is based on a true story about a girl who discovers that magic is real.  April is an adventurous ten year old growing up on a ranch in the Cascade Mountains of Southern Oregon during the late 1970s.  Yearning for the independence and confidence she sees in older kids, she experiments with her new-found magical powers to change her life and help others.

The discovery of her powers comes about one night when April and her little sister, Diana, make wishes under a full moon at midnight.   The next day, their wishes are granted with such grandeur, they realize how powerful their magic really is.  Striving to understand and develop their powers, the girls appear to be aided by others.  Are animals communicating with them?  Are angels protecting them?

Realizing that fear is the main thing that prevents her from doing what she wants, April tests her bravery.  She explores the differences between her terrifying fantasies and reality.  What’s the worst thing that could happen if she goes down into the dark basement by herself? Her fear of spiders, generators, dark basements, and Big Foot are overcome humorously, so she sets a new, bigger challenge for herself to overcome her fears. 

April decides to camp out alone at Dead Man’s Gulch with only her horse and dogs for company.  Trekking through the dark forest at night, she dodges bats, owls, and boogie men.  She must rescue her horse after it gets tangled up in a rope and stuck on its back in a gulley.   She is relieved to find her horse uninjured.  Later, the two of them outrun coyotes.  Even though she didn’t stay at Dead Man’s Gulch all night, she still considers herself successful in facing the challenge and making headway in conquering her fears. 

Braver, but still shy, she feels intimidated by a world-wise city-girl who comes to visit with her family.  April is confused and saddened by the girl’s negative attitude and snotty insults.  After thinking it over, she suspects that things are not as they seem.  She fights her insecurities, changes her approach, and befriends the girl, turning energies in a positive direction.

 A horse-back riding accident shakes April’s bold riding style.  She survives unscathed, amazed at her good luck.  Or is it luck?  Do Guardian Angels exist?  She considers how her grandfather’s dreams once saved a famous poet’s life during a hurricane, and she suspects that Angels played a role then, too.

 April gets a chance to help others with her magical gift when an under-privileged girl at school identifies herself as the new friend she wished for.  Self-esteem for both of the girls is boosted by their friendship.  Together, they learn how to communicate with the good powers of the universe.  A blatant response from the other side makes the existence of Spirit-Guides obvious to them.  Will they get the help they need to overcome Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a father’s abusive alcoholism, and a big brother’s suicide?

 Some of April’s friends don’t consider her magical powers a gift, though.  April and the Preacher’s daughter debate good versus evil and science versus magic.  Is there a difference between wishing and praying?  Or between God and the good powers of the universe?  Or is it simply a difference in vocabulary?  Is Jesus the only one allowed, or capable of creating miracles?

 Once April is tuned in to the ways of magic, she sees how opportunities are manifested by those who use positive thinking.  It was not by accident that her parents were able to buy a cattle ranch with limited funds.  Desire, action, and what her mother calls Synchronicity all played a role.  April also learns that developing personal power doesn’t always guarantee smooth sailing.  She wonders why she gets an IOU for Christmas.  Will they lose the ranch, the place she loves the most?  Why does her father have such a dilemma when someone asks him to put aside his environmental values for the sake of profit?  After using positive thinking to manifest a solution, her family is rewarded more than they envisioned.

 April has tackled her lessons in magic like projects on a to-do list.  In just a year, she has conquered many fears and made gains toward the confidence and independence she was looking for.  But, when April’s mother goes on a two week trip to take classes on metaphysics and manifestation, April realizes that learning and setting goals are life-long activities.    

 Children will find hope in this true story of empowerment.