The Vanishing Trick
Jenni Spangler, Chris Mould
Subjects
- History Time - blasts from the past
- Action Adventures - chills, thrills and plenty of spills
- Facts & Information - lists, stats and plenty of facts
'A thrilling, original, evocative and eerie tale - I adored it!’ Michelle Harrison, author of A Pinch of Magic 'A thrilling page-turner. Madame Pinchbeck is a gloriously Dickensian villain’ Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song 'Ghosts, gadgets, likeable villains and unlikely heroes: The Vanishing Trick is a dark and dazzling adventure’ Emma Carroll, author of Letters from the Lighthouse 'A completely enthralling tale, oozing with atmosphere and originality’ Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island 'Jenni Spangler is the next big voice in children’s magical history novels’ Lucy Powrie, author of The Paper & Hearts Society 'Deliciously dark and atmospheric … I couldn’t get enough' Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole An Elephant 'A spectacular heart-stopping adventure in a dark and dangerous Victorian world' Tamsin Winter, author of Jemima Small Versus the Universe 'An eventful gothic adventure full of secrets and surprises' Sunday Times Book of The Week Step into a world of secrets, folklore and illusions, where nothing is as it seems and magic is at play… Madame Augustina Pinchbeck, travels the country conjuring the spirits of dearly departed loved ones... for a price. Whilst her ability to contact ghosts is a game of smoke and mirrors, there is real magic behind her tricks too - if you know where to look. Through a magical trade, she persuades children to part with precious objects, promising to use her powers to help them. But Pinchbeck is a deceiver, instead turning their items into enchanted Cabinets that bind the children to her and into which she can vanish and summon them at will. When Pinchbeck captures orphan Leander, events are set into motion that see him and his new friends Charlotte and Felix, in a race against time to break Pinchbeck’s spell, before one of them vanishes forever… #TheVanishingTrick A historical adventure with a magical twist from an outstanding debut talent. Perfect for fans of Michelle Harrison, Sophie Anderson and Emma Carroll.
Reviews
Great story full of twists and turns right through to the end. Great characters that retell the story from the own viewpoints. Set in Victorian times full of historical content and facts with an added touch of magic.
Lozpicciola
An unusual and intriguing read. Some troubling issues but enjoyable nonetheless.
Wolfie1970
Great year 5 or 6 read. Trio of main characters to keep children (and adults!) engaged. Links to Victorians topic and fabulous writing opportunities for children to create their own cabinet that means something to them. Fantastic adventure.
slednor
Out of my comfort zone BUT a fabulously written spooky novel full of crooked twists & turns.
Jo Bardgett
Leander, Charlotte and Felix have been stolen by the wicked Madame Pinchbeck. She traps part of their souls in an object that means a lot to them and uses her magic to vanish them into the object. How can they ever break free? And what has Leander's book of fairy tales got to do with their predicament?
KirstenF
This was a beautifully creepy, touching story that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. The story is set in a Victorianesque England: the rich live in grand houses with servants and libraries teeming with books; the poor stuggle to survive, often having to steal food and running the risk of being caught or sent to the workhouse. Leander is one of these unfortunates. An 11-year-old orphan, all alone in the world since his mother died and desperate for somewhere to belong. When Leander meets Madame Pinchbeck he is deceived by her offer of food, shelter and the possibility that she can communicate with those in the spirit world. He joins her after being persuaded to part with a precious object and only then does he learn about her sinister vanishing trick and the real truth behind the bargin he has made. Along with his new friends Charlotte and Felix, Leander must discover the secrets behind Madame Pinchbeck's magic before it is too late... This held my interest from beginning to end. Madame Pinchbeck is a wonderfully scary villain and I was contstantly afraid for Leander, wondering what might happen next. I loved the friendship that developed between the three children and it was so exciting to follow their adventure and uncover clues to solve the mystery. The atmosphere and setting were brilliantly created. It felt like you could just step into the pages of this book and find yourself in its grim and sinster world - I was very happy to be curled up in the warmth drinking hot chocolate as I read along! I would highly recommend this book to readers aged 8+ who love stories with a creepy, gothic atmosphere, danger and magic.
Caitlyn5