I've just finished reading The Young Magicians and The Thieves' Almanac by Nick Mohammed.
Pretty much the moment I finished reading it I started reading it aloud to my boys. I so enjoyed this upper primary/intermediate level novel and I knew it would especially appeal to my 10 year old who is rather partial to magic tricks and science.
I thought the humour was totally on point for this age too - not too swaggery and obvious but also not so subtle that you need to work to figure it out or 'get' it.
The narrative follows four young magicians and their hopeful journey to become part of the Magic Circle. (A famous magic institution in London). As they arrive and form a friendship it will take all of their skills to work out what is really going on - as well as trying to solve some very mysterious crimes along the way.
I like that the protagonists have a genuine and warm friendship with each other without any of them needing to fall in love. I appreciate that they aren't naturally cool kids but neither are they one dimensional geeky stereotypes.
I really hope that the author publishes more books using this fab four and continues to provide humour, mystery and some adventures along the way.
My boys are already loving how much I've read them and I think if another is published they'd both read it independently.
Details - PenguinRandomHouse NZ, March 2017 RRP $21.00
(thanks to PRH for this fab book to review)
love you more than President Pickle loves a roast with ALL the trimmings ;-) xxx
