Do you want to learn magic? Dive into this book, learn some cool tricks (but only with lots and lots and lots of practice), and follow a young boy called Carter from life on the streets, to a small town full of new friends, a dangerous adventure and plenty of magic.

Carter has lived with his uncle since his parents never returned home one day. He has grown up watching his uncle’s magic tricks and in awe, he asked to learn them too. He quickly realised that he had fast hands and picked up tricks easily – doing them even better than his uncle.

Magic tricks were their meal ticket, literally. Carter’s uncle stole, tricked and conned his way through life, trying to get his fast-fingered nephew to do the same. Carter refused to steal again and again, until he finally made the decision to run away.

He finds himself in a little town called Mineral Wells. There is a huge carnival in town and he soon sees more characters like his uncle, pick pocketing their way through the crowds. Now very hungry, Carter nearly follows their example in order to eat, even being invited to join them – Carter has to make a choice. But he has been warned by a local to be wary.

After seeing magic is just trickery and theft most of his life, Carter is very dubious of other magicians – even ones his own age. Again he meets the man who warned him and with the three other young magicians he is soon caught up in a circus act so daring, it can hardly be believed.

The 1st in a series, any budding magicians will love the way the narrator speaks directly to them throughout the story, teaching fabulous magic tricks along the way.

Author – Neil Patrick Harris

Age – 7+

(Magic, Pick-pocket, Circus, Carnival, Jewel Heist, Theft, Crime, Sideshows, Freak show, Friendship, Tricks, Levitation, Transformation, Distraction, Card Tricks, Escapism)