A TRICKY KIND OF MAGIC
A TRICKY KIND OF MAGIC
Book Cover

Cooper Stanley is a gifted young stage magician whose father, an electrician named Eddie, taught him all he knew about the craft, creating a strong father-son bond. But when Eddie (whose magical alter ego was the Great Eduardo) suddenly and tragically dies, Cooper struggles with his volatile emotions. Although he tries to internalize his grief, going for laughs instead, his sorrow eventually gets the better of him, causing him to lash out and run away from home. When a scary older boy chases him, Cooper ducks through a doorway and is transported into another world. He’s accompanied by Rabbit De Niro, his dad’s talking stage prop rabbit. Cooper meets the sly and magically deficient Dimblechip, the President of Magic, who promises to unite him with his father in exchange for Cooper’s putting on a special magic show. Could it be this simple? Baines’ exploration of grief has an approachable sensibility, playing on themes drawn from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Uncomplicated grayscale illustrations set against clean backgrounds keep the focus on the character-driven story. The format may be helpful for readers who are struggling with their own grief. In many scenes, complicated emotions are straightforwardly portrayed in ways that can at times feel a tad facile but that nonetheless accessibly convey the gravitas of Cooper’s situation. Main characters present white.