The Vanishing Trick by Jenni Spangler
“This is a magical, mystery thriller, set in the Victorian era. It follows three lead characters; Felix, Leander and Charlotte. The book is written using these three characters as the narrators throughout. This gives the reader a clear insight into each character whilst moving on the story at a relentless pace. The three characters find themselves working together against the most evil villain that I have encountered in a children’s book. The villain is Madame Pinchbeck and she is beautifully dangerous. She is a formidable foe, who has complete control and is willing to commit the most heinous of acts, to further her goal of being the most famous medium in the country. The book offers a lovely insight into the era, and the problem of orphaned children, but it does so in such a unique way. There is amazing vocabulary and you can really tell that Jenni Spangler is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about this time in our history. It is a dark thriller, but the lead characters provide a beacon of light to guide readers through. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to share it with children at school.”