Midnight Magic

Avi. Midnight Magic. Scholastic, 1999. ISBN-10: 0-590-36035-3


Plot Summary
Fabrizio is the servant of Mangus the Magician. Mangus has recently renounced magic after an embarrassing trial. So when the king summons the magician to the castle, Mangus is suspicious. It seems that the princess has been haunted by a green glowing ghost that she says is her brother Lorenzo. The evil Count Scarzoni wants to discredit the princess so he can marry her and inherit the throne. The superstitious king won't let the marriage take place if the castle is haunted. The princess wants Fabrizio to prove that the ghost is real, while Mangus is devoted to exposing the truth. There is definitely and strange ghostly light outside the princess' chamber, but is it a ghost or a trick?

Critical evaluation
This well written mystery presents the clues as Fabrizio finds them. Then, Mangus explains his thought process aloud to the superstitious and overeager Fabrizio. Readers will find themselves in a race to figure out the mystery before Mangus makes his conclusions. Fabrizio is a comic servant- making fun of his master, telling jokes and shedding light on his master's hypocrisy. Although following a classic form (which is good practice for readers who will be called upon to read Shakespeare in a few years) Midnight Magic is nonetheless imaginative, thrilling and humorous.

Readers Annotations
Mangus has always taught Fabrizio that magic is nothing more than slight of hand and dazzlement. But the princess swears that the ghost who haunts her is reals and she wants Fabrizio to prove it. Count Scarzoni wants Mangus to prove that it is not real. Whatever Mangus the Magician and his servant Fabrizio discover, the fate of the kingdom rests on the truth!

Information About the Author
Avi is the pen name of Edward Irving Wortis. The name was given to him by his twin sister when they were toddlers. He has written 70 books for children and young adults including the Newberry Honor books The True Confessions of Charolette Doyle and Nothing But the Truth. He won the Newberry Medal for Crispin: The Cross of Lead. He is best known for his works of historical fiction.

Genre
Mystery

Curriculum Ties
none

Booktalking Ideas
Fabrizio is torn in different directions: loyalty to his master, devotion to the princess.

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 5-7

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas
none

Why Book Included
Recommended by a classmate