Rose’s dream of being a famous singer like Beyonce has just been trashed after her performance at a school talent quest. She thought she sounded brilliant in her practice sessions in front of her mirror at home, but the online clip of her turn on stage tells another story. Now the clip is going viral.

Rose decides to run away from the shame heaped upon her. Travelling through a wood, she runs straight into a man dressed in robes made out of rags, with a long, messy beard and a strange pointed hat.

This man is Merdyn, a powerful warlock from the year 511. Back in his time during the Dark Ages, he was on trial for all sorts of mischief. He has been sent forward in time by mistake and now finds himself in the 21st century facing a girl with fuzzy red hair, tons of freckles and glasses. They are both very confused.

Merdyn speaks funny, with lots of thous and thees, and the girl, he learns is named Rose; is using some small, black, magic box for talking to. (Her cellphone). The cellphone doesn’t survive Merdyn, but Rose does. A deal is made. She will help him get back to the Dark Ages, and he will give her a singing spell.

Meanwhile, back in 511, Merdyn’s arch enemy Jerabo the Great is just pleased the troublesome Merdyn is finally out of his hair. But the king’s daughter demands that Merdyn be found and returned.

Chaos and mayhem are the result. Rose is trying to teach Merdyn about the 21st Century, recover from her terrible talent show performance, and keep her very distracted mum believing that Merdyn is actually their Uncle Martin.

Merdyn has a temper and a tendency to break things, turn people to stone or encase them in ice. Will he ever get home?

This magical, madcap adventure is hilarious, full of action and set between two times in history – Now and 511AD. It is a tale of a young girl called Rose whose life is crumbling after her dad passed away and her mum won’t leave the couch.

An explosive rivalry between two wizards is suddenly thrust upon Rose, not only changing her life but also those around her. Themes of self-belief, motivation, magic, and family are woven through the story along with a touch of bullying, friend choice, and tons of laughs.

Written by UK actor Simon Farnaby, The Wizard in my Shed is chock full of funny footnotes, rhyming chapter headings and a poem that follows the story’s progress. Any David Walliams’ fans looking for a fun but more substantial read will love this story as much as I did!

Author – Simon Farnaby

Illustrator – Claire Powell

Age – 9+

(2020, Hachette, Funny, Time-Travel, Dark Ages, Wizard, Warlock, Ego, 511AD, Ancient well, Talent Show, Singing, Magician, Spell-book, Magical Staff, Humour, Grieving, Family, Vain Brother, Action, Spells)