Magic's Most Wanted

November 15, 2020
An unwitting Indiana 13-year-old contends with a magical Mastermind. Mason Mortimer Morrison ranks No. 1 on Magix's Most Wanted List--but has no idea why! Since his dad was incarcerated for a bank robbery, life has gone downhill: Mom's always working, school's a drag, and nobody but Hamid, a 10-year-old neighbor, wants to hang out. Everything changes when a magical music box interrupts a catastrophic book report and two agents from Magix's Investigation Division take Mason into custody. Mason, they claim, is an Ed--an Educated person who understands how magic functions--while most people are blissfully unaware Igs, or Ignorants. Magic manifests in boons, once-ordinary objects imbued with power by good deeds--and Mason stands accused of pillaging a boon storage facility. Before Magix enacts a harsh sentence, Mason's sprung from their clutches by the mysterious Avery, who claims she's an apprentice detective, and the two begin working to prove his innocence. As they gather evidence, an unknown Mastermind begins interfering with their efforts--and seems to predict their every move. Can Mason and Avery sway Magix, or will the Mastermind's plan prevail? Whitesides' latest relies on nippy prose, lighthearted stakes, physical comedy, and thriller pacing to bring a large, inscrutable, sequel-begging bureaucracy to life. Mason seems to be White; Avery is cued as Black, and black-haired Hamid's family emigrated from England. A rollicking adventure. (Fantasy adventure. 9-13)

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December 1, 2020
Grades 4-6 With methodical detective work, two 13-year-old amateur sleuths uncover a Byzantine scheme to destroy all the world's magic. Until he opens a borrowed music box and teleports his entire class to the Antarctic, Mason Morrison has no idea that magic even exists. He's soon seized by mysterious agents charged with covering up magic's misuse and accused of being a master thief. With the help of Avery, daughter of the agency's head, Mason narrowly escapes a complete mind wipe, and the two set out to prove his innocence. What they discover is that he's being set up to play a central role in a nefarious plot to snuff out the reservoir of magic that oozes into magically charged items in response to particularly good or loving deeds. Credibility is not a strong suit here, but a supporting cast led by a rude talking bunny, along with heaps of magical bric-a-brac that exhibit unpredictable effects, lend a light tone to a plot that turns increasingly suspenseful. A beguiling mystery for readers who can really suspend their disbelief.

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December 1, 2020

Gr 4-7-Thirteen-year-old Mason Morrison is in the middle of failing his oral book report when the music box he's using as a visual aid magically transports his entire class to Antarctica. Each time Mason opens the music box, he unwittingly sends the group to far off locales until finally two agents of Magix, a secret organization overseeing magic, arrest Mason for being a wanted criminal. Mason is stunned to discover magic indeed exists and that there is video evidence of him stealing numerous magical objects. Before he can be put to trial, Mason is rescued by brilliant apprentice detective Avery Lobster. Along with a useful but grumpy white rabbit, these likable underdogs work together to clear Mason's name and uncover a much larger conspiracy that threatens the future of magic. Though light on world-building, the central premise is inventive and unique. This plot-driven story relies heavily on Mason and Avery escaping from various threats and while the fast-paced action is entertaining, it keeps them both fairly one-dimensional. This is a minor issue, as readers will celebrate the satisfying conclusion that neatly ties together several threads from the intricate plot. There is an assumed white default, as Mason's appearance is not described in the text while other characters, including Avery, are only described when they have traits such as brown skin and black hair. VERDICT No sleight of hand here, this enjoyable caper charms with a strong sense of camaraderie and imagination.-Sophie Kenney, Aurora P.L., IL

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