Carnival Magic

by Amy Ephron

Overview

A summer by the seashore turns into a fantastical adventure for Tess & Max in this magical tale filled with excitement, acrobatics, hypnosis, and wonder.

Tess and Max are back in England for another summer with their Aunt Evie--this time by the seashore in South Devon. And they're incredibly excited about the travelling carnival that's come to town. There are rides, games, acrobats, The House of Mirrors--and even a psychic, with a beautiful wagon all her own.

In a visit to the psychic's wagon, while Tess is being hypnotized, the wagon seems to move. Before Tess can shake herself out of the hypnosis, before Max can do anything, they seem to be travelling--along with the rest of the carnival--too quickly for the two of them to jump out. But where are they going and what awaits them? Will they be caught in a world different from their own? And do the Baranova twins, acrobats who miss their sister almost as much as Tess and Max miss their family, hold the keys to the mystery?

Internationally bestselling author Amy Ephron returns with a companion novel to The Castle in the Mist and creates a magical tale filled with adventure, mystery, fantasy, family, and fun.

Praise for Carnival Magic:

"Full of wonder and real-life enchantment, Amy Ephron's Carnival Magic is a charming adventure that will make a believer out of anyone!" —Rachel Vail, author of Well, That Was Awkward and the Friendship Ring series

"Tess is a thoroughly modern heroine: She's athletic, impulsive, and fearless . . . The siblings are authentic children [and] the fantastic elements are the stuff of daydreams. Perfect for classroom read-alouds." —Kirkus Reviews

"The short chapters filled with mystery and action will have readers eagerly continuing to discover the secrets that await them. . . . Fans of the first book will be eager for this fun middle-grade fantasy with a classic sensibility." —Booklist

"The setting is contemporary—yet the language and tone feel distinctly nostalgic. This novel, which works as a stand alone, will captivate readers who enjoy their whimsy with a dash of risk." —School Library Journal

"[Carnival Magic is] a softer otherworldly take on childhood mystery, reminiscent of classics like A Secret Garden . . . [it] is in itself an escape. Tess especially follows in that lineage of strong, intelligent female characters – a sort of Lucy Pevensie/Hermione Granger hybrid who is a leader, who believes in magic." —Teen Vogue

"Amy Ephron has always been a magical storyteller. . . . In Carnival Magic, the companion book to Ephron’s successful The Castle in the Mist . . . Tess and Max are teaching children and their parents about the power of thoughtful decision-making, loyalty, and self-confidence. Life lessons and carnival rides . . . the perfect beach read for all ages." —Parade

“Ephron renders this magical world with such assertive beauty that readers of all ages, who are fortunate enough to believe in the power of magic, will enjoy immersing themselves in the roller-coaster fun of these stories, and come to trust, even if for a short time, that in this ‘alternate universe’ it is possible for us to come together and ‘touch the sky.’” —Jewish Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524740221
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Series:	The Other Side
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Amy Ephron (www.amyephron.com) is a bestselling author of books for children and adults. The Castle in the Mist, her first book for young readers, was nominated for a SCIBA Award, and was followed by Carnival Magic and The Other Side of the Wall, all part of the Other Side series. Ephron is also the author of several adult books, including A Cup of Tea, which is an international bestseller. Her novel One Sunday Morning received the Booklist Best Fiction and Best Historical Fiction of the Year awards and was a Barnes & Noble Book Club selection. She also writes for TIME magazine and Air Mail Weekly and was a contributor at Vogue, Vogue.com and The New York Times T Magazine. Her work has appeared in numerous other publications as well. She was Executive Producer of Warner Bros.’ A Little Princess. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband. Between them they have five children. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @AmyEphron.

Hometown:

Los Angeles, California

Date of Birth:

October 21, 1952

Place of Birth:

Beverly Hills, California

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One
The Cottage at Devon-by-the-Sea

"I’ll take the attic,” said Tess, tearing up the third flight of stairs before Max even had a chance to fully understand the question.

“It’s a three-bedroom house,” Aunt Evie had said when they walked in the door, “four, if you count the attic. So, since your parents are coming in a few days, one of us has to take the attic . . . and I don’t think it’s going to be me.”

“It’s mine,” said Tess emphatically. She thought an attic bedroom was possibly a charming idea, a little scary but in a good way. It also occurred to her that her brother, Max, might be a little scared if he slept up there—even though he wouldn’t want to admit it—so she instantly claimed it.

Tess hesitated on the landing at the top of the stairs. She held her breath as she popped the door open, frightened it might be dusty, musty, or dotted with spiders, but the room was flooded with sunlight from a triangular window that looked out on to the sea. It was a small room—well, tiny, but blue-and-white striped wallpaper lined two of the walls, and the wall with the window was painted white so that it was almost cheerful.

There was a double bed covered with a down quilt and big white pillows. The ceiling sloped down a bit likea triangle toward the window, so she figured she had to be careful getting out of bed on the right side.

Note to self: remember to always get up on the left side of the bed so as not to bump your head.

Tess could hear the sound of the ocean lapping softly against the shore. And even inside the air was fresh, a tiny bit salty and moist from the sea. It occurred to Tess that she was really going to like Devon-by-the-Sea on top of that strange thing that had already happened that she didn’t think she could tell Aunt Evie about.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Carnival Magic:

"Full of wonder and real-life enchantment, Amy Ephron's Carnival Magic is a charming adventure that will make a believer out of anyone!" —Rachel Vail, author of Well, That Was Awkward and the Friendship Ring series

"Tess is a thoroughly modern heroine: She's athletic, impulsive, and fearless . . . The siblings are authentic children [and] the fantastic elements are the stuff of daydreams. Perfect for classroom read-alouds." —Kirkus Reviews

"The short chapters filled with mystery and action will have readers eagerly continuing to discover the secrets that await them. . . . Fans of the first book will be eager for this fun middle-grade fantasy with a classic sensibility." —Booklist

"The setting is contemporary—yet the language and tone feel distinctly nostalgic. This novel, which works as a stand alone, will captivate readers who enjoy their whimsy with a dash of risk." —School Library Journal

"[Carnival Magic is] a softer otherworldly take on childhood mystery, reminiscent of classics such as The Secret Garden . . . [it] is in itself an escape. Tess especially follows in that lineage of strong, intelligent female characters – a sort of Lucy Pevensie/Hermione Granger hybrid who is a leader, who believes in magic." —Teen Vogue

"Amy Ephron has always been a magical storyteller. . . . In Carnival Magic, the companion book to Ephron’s successful The Castle in the Mist . . . Tess and Max are teaching children and their parents about the power of thoughtful decision-making, loyalty, and self-confidence. Life lessons and carnival rides . . . the perfect beach read for all ages." —Parade

“Ephron renders this magical world with such assertive beauty that readers of all ages, who are fortunate enough to believe in the power of magic, will enjoy immersing themselves in the roller-coaster fun of these stories, and come to trust, even if for a short time, that in this ‘alternate universe’ it is possible for us to come together and ‘touch the sky.’” —Jewish Journal

From the Publisher

05/01/2018
Gr 3–6—In this companion novel to Castle in the Mist, Tess and Max return to England to enjoy a seaside holiday with their aunt. Once again, magic is magnetically drawn to Tess as she and Max are transported to a seemingly alternate world during a trip to a traveling carnival. Trapped in this strange place, they meet several mysterious characters, including the Baranova twins, who perform in the aerial ballet and attempt to help Tess and Max escape back home. On the run from menacing carnival owner Lorenzo, Tess and Max slip through a mirror portal and discover the missing eldest Baranova. Placing friendship and loyalty above self-preservation, Tess and Max undertake a journey to reunite their new friends' family as well as their own. Ephron excels in creating an enchanted yet believable world in which both good and evil exist. The hazy, dreamlike atmosphere of the carnival provides cover for the enigmatic danger that surrounds it. Tess and Max experience the thrills of magic, but also learn it can be wielded to cause harm. Similar to the author's previous work, the setting is contemporary—yet the language and tone feel distinctly nostalgic. VERDICT This novel, which works as a standalone, will captivate readers who enjoy their whimsy with a dash of risk.—Sophie Kenney, Vernon Area Public Library District, IL

School Library Journal

2018-03-04
Two visiting American children are kidnapped by a runaway British carnival in this middle-grade fantasy sequel.Fifth-grader Tess and her younger brother, Max, are spending another summer in England with Aunt Evie. After their previous experiences (The Castle in the Mist, 2017), the pair feel ready for anything—but when a seaside carnival magically whisks them away, they're not sure how they'll ever get back to Devon-by-the-Sea. This episodic tale, with its quaintly whimsical setting and omniscient narration occasionally slipping into lecture mode, reads as deliberately old-fashioned. Tess, however, is a thoroughly modern heroine: She's athletic, impulsive, and fearless, and her warm relationship with clever, nerdy Max charms convincingly. The siblings may be kind and brave, but they are also authentic children, avoiding the arch banter and grand heroics of current trends. All the characters seem default white and, despite their very different circumstances, vaguely upper-middle-class, with the notable exception of two very broadly drawn and accented Italians. While Tess, Max, and those they befriend face very real menaces, the stakes are kept small and personal. The fantastic elements are likewise low-key and intimate; they are more the stuff of daydreams—daring the flying trapeze!—and sparkling enchantments, never explained, just accepted as facets of the titular "carnival magic." The very short chapters create gentle suspense at a brisk pace, perfect for classroom read-alouds.For those who like their adventures comfortable and their wonders cozy. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews