Although I am not the target audience for Max Magic I really enjoyed this entertaining book about friends working together and using their skills to defeat bullies.
Young Max Muller is mad on magic. His grandparents were stage magicians and he has learnt all he knows from his Gran. His tricks don’t always work, but he is committed to getting better and becoming the most famous magician ever. Unfortunately he does not apply the same determination to his school work much to the frustration of his friend Sophie. Neither does magic help him avoid Bottley the school bully. In fact magic seems to be landing Max in more trouble all the time, as his latest escapades have led to his Dad being in danger of losing his market stall which would be a disaster for the whole family.
But when Max discovers an unusual old box in his Gran’s antique shop something happens that forces him to decide what sort of person he really wants to be.
I wasn’t sure how good this would be as it is written by a TV star rather than a children’s author. However Stephen Mulhern is ably assisted by Tom Easton who is an author, and the result is a hugely enjoyable romp.
Max’s family are lovable characters that I am sure many readers will recognise from their own siblings and/or parents and grandparents. Many younger readers will also appreciate Max’s desire to be doing the thing he most enjoys rather than his school work. Some readers may unfortunately also have experience of school bullies. So there is lots in the book to instantly engage readers.
The plot is fun, quick moving and highly imaginative, and the reader is drawn in to the magical adventure that Max and his band of loyal friends have.
The book is a quick read and is ideal for children to read alone, or for parents to share where there may be the opportunity for a wider discussion about how to handle bullies. There are small illustrations on every page along with bigger ones in each chapter. The excellent one of the Mega Ted army is particularly fun.
I think this book will be enjoyed by most children age 7 – 10 years, and for those with an interest in magic, there is also a guide to performing a trick at the end of the book.
Young Max Muller is mad on magic. His grandparents were stage magicians and he has learnt all he knows from his Gran. His tricks don’t always work, but he is committed to getting better and becoming the most famous magician ever. Unfortunately he does not apply the same determination to his school work much to the frustration of his friend Sophie. Neither does magic help him avoid Bottley the school bully. In fact magic seems to be landing Max in more trouble all the time, as his latest escapades have led to his Dad being in danger of losing his market stall which would be a disaster for the whole family.
But when Max discovers an unusual old box in his Gran’s antique shop something happens that forces him to decide what sort of person he really wants to be.
I wasn’t sure how good this would be as it is written by a TV star rather than a children’s author. However Stephen Mulhern is ably assisted by Tom Easton who is an author, and the result is a hugely enjoyable romp.
Max’s family are lovable characters that I am sure many readers will recognise from their own siblings and/or parents and grandparents. Many younger readers will also appreciate Max’s desire to be doing the thing he most enjoys rather than his school work. Some readers may unfortunately also have experience of school bullies. So there is lots in the book to instantly engage readers.
The plot is fun, quick moving and highly imaginative, and the reader is drawn in to the magical adventure that Max and his band of loyal friends have.
The book is a quick read and is ideal for children to read alone, or for parents to share where there may be the opportunity for a wider discussion about how to handle bullies. There are small illustrations on every page along with bigger ones in each chapter. The excellent one of the Mega Ted army is particularly fun.
I think this book will be enjoyed by most children age 7 – 10 years, and for those with an interest in magic, there is also a guide to performing a trick at the end of the book.