The Vanishing Coin

January 27, 2014
Fourth-grader Mike Weiss can’t get the hang of math, forgets his homework, and has trouble sitting still in school. And as if getting sent to the principal’s office the first week of school wasn’t bad enough, classmate Jackson (“Mike’s enemy since birth”) won’t lay off him, and he’s spending his after-school hours with Nora, the gifted new girl next door. One afternoon with Nora, Mike discovers the town magic shop, The White Rabbit, and something that he might actually be good at. The confidence boost helps Mike work harder in school and even take on Jackson. Written in clear, straightforward language, this engaging story effectively conveys Mike’s frustration at his difficulties at school and the joy he feels at discovering a talent for magic. Egan (Kate and Nate Are Running Late) is joined by co-author Lane, a professional magician, and step-by-step breakdowns of four tricks Mike masters are included. Mike is left wondering whether magic might be real, something likely to be explored in subsequent books, including The Incredible Twisting Arm, available simultaneously. Ages 7–9. Illustrator’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

May 1, 2014

Gr 3-5-Deep down, fourth grader Mike Weiss is a good kid. It's not his fault that he has an aversion to sitting still; that's just the way he's wired. As the school year commences, Mike is determined to get a fresh start, but his old habits keep tripping him up. It seems like nothing can help, until he discovers The White Rabbit, a magic shop with a mysterious proprietor. Mike finds that he can actually sit still and focus when he's learning about magic-now he just needs to figure out how to apply his newfound skills to the classroom. Soon, a real bit of magic surfaces: a pocketful of coins appear out of thin air. Could it be the work of the mysterious proprietor? Readers don't find out in this book, but subsequent volumes in "The Magic Shop" series will hopefully reveal the answer. The writing is serviceable, but the book should have fairly wide appeal. Many children are interested in magic, and this title includes instructions for performing the various tricks and sleights of hand. This book will also strike a chord with kids who have trouble sitting still in school. Mike shows them that fidgety kids aren't bad and that they have the potential to succeed. Black-and-white cartoon illustrations with a vintage flair appear throughout, lending visual interest. This series-starter is sufficiently niche-filling to make it a good choice for most collections.-Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2014
Grades 3-5 So far, fourth grade is not the fresh start Mike wanted. Despite new strategies, he still cannot sit quietly in class. Worse, he now spends every afternoon with Nora, his academically gifted new neighbor, from whom he couldn't be more different. Whereas Nora succeeds at everything, Mike feels like he's a constant failure. That is, until they stumble on a strange magic store, and the owner teaches Mikeand only Mikea magic trick. Soon he's hooked and practicing all kinds of tricks to impress his friends and confound the class bully. Yet he wonders if all the magic in the shop is just an illusion. Could some of it be real? The slightly older protagonist, ample line spacing, cartoon illustrations, and accessible vocabulary make this a good choice for middle-grade students reading slightly below grade level. And if the quick pace, well-developed characters, and humor-laced story aren't enough, Lane, a magician himself, and Egan include instructions for four simple tricks. A solid new series for school and public-library collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)