The Great Fox Illusion by Justyn Edwards
| The Great Fox Illusion by Justyn Edwards | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Ruth Ng
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| Summary: A fast-paced, intriguing, magical story packed with puzzling events, friendship and fun! | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 288 | Date: April 2022 |
| Publisher: Walker Books | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-1529501940 | |
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The latest incoming reality TV show is a contest with a difference. No singing, no dancing, this show is looking for magical children! Children who can understand how magic tricks work, and who can attempt to win The Great Fox's magical legacy - the secrets to all of his tricks! Flick is determined to win, but not because she wants to own the tricks. She is interested in just one trick, the trick that The Great Fox stole from her father. And she's hoping if she can find that trick then she will be able to bring her missing father home.
Magic is obviously a very important part of this book! I don't know about you, but I've often been intrigued by magic tricks I've seen on TV. And when my husband has learned a card trick I find myself torn between loving the mystery of not knowing how something is done, and yet also wanting to know how it happened! In this story there are challenges to think about certain tricks and how they might be performed. I couldn't figure anything out, but I very much enjoyed the process of seeing Flick and Charlie piece things together and explain things. It feels exciting, and drives the story along as you're constantly wondering how something has happened and whether Flick will manage to figure it out in time to progress to the next stage of the competition. I also really liked that it gets you thinking about how magic tricks work, the sort of tactics that are involved, and the set-up required. It's very interesting, and would definitely be a draw for any children who enjoy magic tricks and performances.
Flick is a strong, engaging lead character. She has a prosthetic leg, and I liked the truthfulness of her situation with her leg; the constraints it places upon her, how others around her simply don't take it into account, and also the pain she suffers with it too. Friendship is an important theme through the book, and the development of Charlie and Flick's friendship is well done. I liked Charlie a lot (sometimes more than Flick actually) and I would enjoy seeing these two paired together again in a follow-up adventure.
I also liked the setting of the story, inside of The Great Fox's mansion. I already have a soft-spot for lifts who can communicate because of Douglas Adams, and so I really liked the lift in this book, and the conversation between the lift and Flick! The mansion sounds exciting throughout, with all sorts of interesting rooms and equipment and, wonder of wonders, the possibility for the children to order whatever they want to eat!
The whole book is puzzles and intrigue, and goodies and baddies. The chapters are short, so it's very easy to read a chapter, and then keep going for a bit more, and then a little bit more again! I found it a real page-turner, and the book seems to set itself ready for a sequel. Those short chapters would be helpful for newly confident readers who don't yet have the patience for long, unwieldy chapter books. The book as a whole has a good pace to it, and the style doesn't feel challenging or difficult. Overall this is a good read, fun and fast-paced, and recommended for a page-turner bedtime read!
For more magical stories, try Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley, or Magical Mischief by Anna Dale, or The Peppers and the International Magic Guys by Sian Pattenden
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Great Fox Illusion by Justyn Edwards at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Great Fox Illusion by Justyn Edwards at Amazon.com.
Check prices, read reviews or buy from Waterstones. Waterstones currently charges from £2.75 for orders under £20, over which delivery is free. You may also click and collect from a Waterstones bookshop at no charge.
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