Sara, of course, has already blogged here about the fun element in these books. And I have to kick off by saying they're as much fun to read as she clearly had writing them - maybe even more.
This new series for younger readers opens with The Witching Hour:
Our hero Trixibelle Morgan, or Trix for short, has just turned ten and woken up at midnight in time to see something she's sure is a witch flying across the moonlit sky. She immediately lets her best friend, Holly, know what she's seen (in spite of the unreasonable hour) but is interrupted by mum who finds her outside and puts her back to bed. Trix isn't sure what to make of her vision until later that day, when she finds herself co-opted into an Arts and Crafts activities class run by the school librarian. Of course the librarian (a sort of in-joke, this, I suspect) turns out to be a fairy godmother and the class is no less than a training class for new witches.
In this first book, Trix meets her fellow trainee witches, is given her perfect familiar (a sparkly kitten) and starts to learn a few of the basics, but she is mortified that she has to keep it all from Holly. This makes for some amusing scenes when the invisible-to-non-witches kitten gets up to mischief and builds up a nice little story line too around how Trix might help Holly succeed as a magician without revealing the real magic she is using to make it happen.
In the next story, Flying High, Trix's task is learning to fly her broomstick. In the course of this she reveals more of her helpful nature, this time rushing to the aid of one of her fellow trainees, Pippa, who's ability to fly leaves something to be desired. This story also reveals the secret of Trix's delightful Aunt Belle, a larger than life figure who breezes in and out of her life, always with wonderful stories to tell and interesting presents. There are magical cakes and more fun with the sparkly kitten and there's a nice little subplot about bullying which is delicately handled and provides opportunities for more fun.
Both tales are, of course, beautifully written - this is Sara Grant, the lady behind all those inspiring writers' workshops, we're talking about. The stories themselves remind me of the Rainbow Fairies stories in their lightness of touch and sheer joy. But the Magic Trix stories are more plot rich and fulfilling too. They are also graced with the exquisite line drawings of Erica Jane Waters. I love the role the character's hair has in defining each of them - the librarian and Aunt Belle are tours de force.
I'd say these books would be perfect for all the little girls who love Rainbow Fairies and the mums will like them even more, precisely because they are so well-written and the plots so tight. Oh and they're fun too. Did I mention that before?
The lovely folk at Orion Children's Books provided these copies but if you would like them for yourself, please click through the links below and then Amazon will contribute a little something to the maintenance of this blog.
