The Magic Misfits (The Magic Misfits Series #1)

by Neil Patrick Harris, Lissy Marlin (Illustrator), Kyle Hilton (Illustrator)

Overview

A New York Times and USA Today bestseller! From award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris comes the magical first book in a series with plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

When street magician Carter runs away, he never expects to find friends and magic in a sleepy New England town. But like any good trick, things change instantly as greedy B.B. Bosso and his crew of crooked carnies arrive to steal anything and everything they can get their sticky fingers on.

After a fateful encounter with the local purveyor of illusion, Dante Vernon, Carter teams up with five other like-minded illusionists. Together, using both teamwork and magic, they'll set out to save the town of Mineral Wells from Bosso's villainous clutches. These six Magic Misfits will soon discover adventure, friendship, and their own self-worth in this delightful new series.

(Psst. Hey, you! Yes, you! Congratulations on reading this far. As a reward, I'll let you in on a little secret... This book isn't just a book. It's a treasure trove of secrets and ciphers and codes and even tricks. Keep your eyes peeled and you'll discover more than just a story—you'll learn how to make your own magic!)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316391825
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	11/21/2017
Series:	Magic Misfits Series , #1
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	296,767
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Neil Patrick Harris is an accomplished actor, producer, director, host, author, husband, and father of magical twins. Harris also served as President of the Academy of Magical Arts from 2011-2014. His memoir, Choose Your Own Autobiography, was a New York Times bestseller. The New York Times bestsellingMagic Misfitsseries is his middle grade debut.

Editorial Reviews

10/16/2017
Carter, a young street magician, “stopped trusting in wonderful, happy, fantastic things” after his parents vanished and he was taken in by his “uncle,” Sly Mike, who hustles passersby. After years of being forced to help Sly Mike con people, Carter runs away, hops a train, and winds up in the town of Mineral Wells. There, he discovers a “two-bit sideshow” run by B.B. Bosso and meets Dante Vernon, a kind illusionist, and five talented children: Theo, skilled in levitation; escape artist Leila; twin entertainers Olly and Izzy; and Ridley, the brains of the operation. Quickly becoming friends, the children band together to stop Bosso from stealing from the unsuspecting town. A handful of magic lessons are interspersed throughout, and the narrator’s irreverent tone and direct addresses to readers make this a good choice for fans of Lemony Snicket and Pseudonymous Bosch. With an emphasis on friendship and individuality, this fast-paced and clever series opener should have readers eager to check out future installments. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Laura Nolan, Aevitas Creative Management. Illustrator’s agency: Astound. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

07/01/2017
Gr 4–6—Carter was quite young when he lost his parents and was taken in by his uncle of sorts, Sly Mike. Sly Mike doesn't hold down a real job; he cons people out of their money and belongings through sleight of hand and trickery. Carter has never had friends, gone to school, or felt safe. The only upside to his unusual lifestyle is his mastery of magic tricks he's learned from Sly Mike—but he refuses to use them to hurt or rob others. When Sly Mike steals a precious diamond necklace from kind Ms. Zalewski, Carter decides that his uncle has gone too far. The boy steals the necklace back, returns it to the rightful owner, and runs away. Carter jumps on a railcar, ending up in a small New England town where he is captured by a carnival owner, B.B. Bosso, and pressured to join his sticky-fingered carnival sidekicks. Carter quickly understands that the glitter of their magic conceals their greed and trickery. He escapes and at last meets his true friends—Leila, Theo, Ridley, Olly, and Izzy. Each friend possesses skills in different areas of magic. The friends bond over a hatred of the evil carnies and after some missteps manage to outsmart B.B. Bosso. The themes of friendship, ethical choices, and bravery are woven seamlessly throughout. Readers will sympathize with Carter and cheer when he finally finds his place. The plot is fast-paced, and characters are multifaceted. Fun magic tricks are peppered throughout. VERDICT A rollicking ride of a magical tale that's wholesomely suspenseful, values friendship, and applauds courage. A fine addition to medium and large collections.—Julie Shatterly, W. A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC

School Library Journal

2017-06-05
Magic and mystery abound in this latest celebrity novel.After his parents vanish mysteriously, Carter's life takes a turn for the worse. Forced to live with a distant relative known as Sly Mike who is a magician and a con artist, the white lad is taught wonderful magic tricks but is forced to employ them to aid and abet his "uncle's" criminal activities. When his uncle goes too far, Carter flees to the town of Mineral Wells, where he meets Mr. Vernon and the Other Mr. Vernon—two men with an adopted daughter—and a crew of teenage magicians who are misfits like himself and who teach him to believe in the redemptive powers of magic and family. This is acclaimed actor Harris' (Choose Your Own Autobiography, 2015, etc.) first foray into children's literature (and fiction in general), and it bears all of the acne scars, wide-eyed optimism, and awkwardness one might expect from a freshman effort. Carter is a winsome enough protagonist, but he fails to achieve three-dimensionality because the narrative pace does not pause long enough to fully ground him in readers' imaginations. Locations feel hastily sketched, which also makes Carter feel unrooted. In the diverse supporting cast, readers can sense the earnestness behind the author's crafting of the narrative, but some of the minutiae need refining. An earnest message about discovering the magic in the world and finding the family that suits you. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Magic Misfits:
A 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist for Middle Grade
A 2018-2019 New Hampshire Great Stone Face Book Award Nominee
Nominated for the 2020 Bluestem Award: Illinois' Grades 3-5 Readers' Choice Award
Nominated for the 2019-2020 Nebraska Golden Sower Award (Chapter Books)


"I read this book with excitement, delight, and the increasing suspicion that it was going to make me disappear."—Lemony Snicket, author of the bestselling series A Series of Unfortunate Events and All the Wrong Questions

"An earnest message about discovering the magic in the world and finding the family that suits you."—Kirkus Reviews

"The approachable length and lively, funny writing will ensure this book, the first in a series, performs its own vanishing act from shelves."—Booklist

"A rollicking ride of a magical tale that's wholesomely suspenseful, values friendship, and applauds courage."—School Library Journal

"[A] good choice for fans of Lemony Snicket and Pseudonymous Bosch. With an emphasis on friendship and individuality, this fast-paced and clever series opener should have readers eager to check out future installments."—Publishers Weekly

"Fun...A worthy first volume."—BCCB

"Adventure, suspense, and excitement await these young magic misfits as they learn to trust one another and become friends."—School Library Connection

From the Publisher

Narrating this first in a series, Neil Patrick Harris’s tone aims at taking listeners into his confidence. After giving tips on how to listen, Harris dives into the story. Carter is desperate to leave his miserable life assisting his guardian, a con artist. After he finally escapes on a train, he finds himself in Mineral Wells, where he’s welcomed by an illusionist and a gang of five friends who are young, quirky, and a bit magical. Can they save the town from the scheming B.B. Bosso and his traveling slideshow? Harris’s breathless style suggests he’s telling the story exclusively for each listener. His characters are distinctive: Carter’s trust issues are portrayed clearly; the other young people sound believable; and the villain, B.B. Bosso, comes across as appropriately gruff and conniving. While the quick changes in character voices can be a bit jarring at times, overall, the many characters add to the story’s excitement. A.R. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2017 - AudioFile