This is middle grade fantasy at its best. A magical and mysterious novel that takes you on a unique and exciting adventure with a collection of original and memorable characters.Ned is trying really hard to be a normal kid living with his parents in a normal neighbourhood. Except that he is far from normal. When a strange man turns up at school and Ned’s parents go missing, he is forced to cross the Veil into the magical world to try to find them.
Meanwhile, when all the world’s gold is mysteriously stolen from the most high-tech vaults in the world, the police and detectives are left scratching their heads. How could someone have broken into the vaults? Where did all the gold go?
Ned teams up with his friends in the magical Circus of Marvels, including Ringmaster, Benissimo, a giant ape named George and Lucy, a Medic who is developing her gift of being a farseer. Together they must uncover what the gold thief is up to and what it all has to do with Ned’s parents.
A great battle of good and evil unfolds behind the Veil, spreading across the world. Ned and his friends have a plan, but can they convince the leaders of the Hidden to support them?
This is the second novel in the Circus of Marvels series. However, I haven’t read the first one and still enjoyed this book. There were occasional references to earlier happenings but nothing that detracted from the reading of this novel.
This was an engaging, fast-paced, magical read that will appeal to fantasy loving kids from around 10 years upwards. Whilst reasonably long, it has short, easy to digest chapters that ensure the length is not intimidating for less confident readers.
Title: Ned's Circus of Marvels: The Gold Thief
Author: Justin Fisher
Publisher: HarperCollins, $14.99
Publication Date: 24th April 2017
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780008124557
For ages: 10 - 14
Type: Middle Grade