Magic, Madness, and Reason

The title of the book is Magic or Madness. At first, this seems to refer to the fact that Sarafina is mad and that Esmeralda believes she is a witch. Reason is taken away from her mother's care when Sarafina attempts to kill herself, and she is sent to live with her grandmother Esmeralda instead. Sarafina has told Reason stories about Esmeralda and how she believes in magic. According to Sarafina, Esmeralda performs all kinds of horrible rituals, killing animals and even people, believing that it helps with her magic. Reason is stuck between two difficult situations. Her mother is mad and is being held in an asylum, but her grandmother is practicing sinister magical rituals. Reason can either live with madness or with 'magic'. She chooses madness, intending to run away with Sarafina again and get their old life back. She can cope with...