The House at the Edge of Magic
Binding: Paperback
Imprint: Walker Books
"Sometimes you are a whisper away from magic without even realizing it."
Nine is an orphan pickpocket determined to escape her life in the Nest of a Thousand Treasures. When she steals a house-shaped ornament from a mysterious woman’s purse, she knocks on its tiny door and watches it grow into a huge, higgledy-piggeldy house. Inside she finds a host of magical and brilliantly funny characters, including Flabberghast – a young wizard who’s particularly competitive at hopscotch – and a hideous troll housekeeper who’s emotionally attached to his feather duster. They have been placed under an extraordinary spell, which they are desperate for Nine to break – and if she can, maybe they can offer her a new life in return…
"A Diana Wynne Jones-ish adventure fizzing with imagination. Such fun – I loved it!" – Sinead O'Hart
"A wonder-filled book that revels in magic and mayhem." – Abi Elphinstone
"Wildly imaginative and relentlessly entertaining. It is a story like no other and I absolutely adored it!" – David Walliams
Creators
Amy Sparkes studied English Literature and Theology at the University of Kent, and began writing after moving to Devon with her husband, six young children and an overactive imagination. Her books have appeared on CBeebies storytime and been shortlisted for several book awards, including the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the BookTrust Best Books Awards for Do Not Enter the Monster Zoo. She runs author events for children, writing workshops for aspiring children’s writers, produces the Writing for Children pages for bestselling Writing Magazine, and writes short stories for Aquila magazine. She co-founded the Writing Magazine Picture Book Prize for aspiring picture book authors.
Reviews
This story will entertain readers of all ages. It is one that can be devoured or savoured, and whilst some things are left to the imagination, this is part of the fun of fantasy fiction, and the gaps leave us with the promise of more books to come, which will hopefully tell us what we need to know and build on the world that has been created so far.
The Book Muse
I loved this book as it really appealed to the sense of fun; Amy Sparkes has created a story that is wildly imaginative and will appeal to a wide audience. This is a book that could be used as a read aloud or read along class novel but either way it will be a book that is enjoyed by the reader, with the sequel being much anticipated.
ReadPlus
It is not often that you see the main protagonist of a children’s novel that has such rough edges, that is feisty, totally selfish and yet completely enthralling.
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Within the opening pages, the reader will be swept up in this magical fast-paced adventure filled with quirky endearing characters, paranormal obstacles and funny surprises.
Kids Book Review
