What do you think?
Rate this book
A Tricky Kind of Magic
What if Cooper could see his dad again?
Cooper is brilliant at magic tricks. Card tricks, clever illusions - he can do them all. His dad, also known as the Great Eduardo, taught him the tricks of the magical trade before he passed away. But the one thing Cooper can't do is see his dad again.
So when a talking rabbit appears from his dad's top hat, and reveals there is a place where Cooper might find him, he jumps at the chance. Magic is about believing the impossible, after all. And Cooper desperately wants to believe that he can see his dad once more.
But what - and who - is waiting for them in the Land where Magic goes Wrong?
An action-packed graphic novel full of humour and emotion, this enables conversations about grief.
Cooper is brilliant at magic tricks. Card tricks, clever illusions - he can do them all. His dad, also known as the Great Eduardo, taught him the tricks of the magical trade before he passed away. But the one thing Cooper can't do is see his dad again.
So when a talking rabbit appears from his dad's top hat, and reveals there is a place where Cooper might find him, he jumps at the chance. Magic is about believing the impossible, after all. And Cooper desperately wants to believe that he can see his dad once more.
But what - and who - is waiting for them in the Land where Magic goes Wrong?
An action-packed graphic novel full of humour and emotion, this enables conversations about grief.
245 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2025
18 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Baines
53 booksNigel Baines is an experienced book designer who has worked for various trade publishing houses. He is a keen walker and would like to spend half the year living on top of the Andes. His other great loves are Grantham Town Football Club and any kind of travel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 16, 2022
Read & reviewed for The Bookbag
http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/A...
http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/A...
December 26, 2022
How can a graphic novel have this many feels in it? (Is that really elitest to say?) I'm amazed and astonished that so much can fit into this story.
Cooper (named for a famous Cooper, probably the one you're thinking of) is a mixed up kid missing his very-recently dead father. Like most people, he doesn't know how to deal with everything he's feeling, alternately lashing out and pulling back, shouting at his mother for her coping methods and at his friend for her attempts to help. It's entirely relatable for anyone who's been through anything similar.
The difference comes when his stuffed rabbit starts to talk to him.
I'm not going to spoil the story any further than that, but I will say it's amazing, touching, funny, and the illustrations are absolutely fab. I'm really looking forward to being able to suggest this to young readers and their parents!
A really fabulous read.
Cooper (named for a famous Cooper, probably the one you're thinking of) is a mixed up kid missing his very-recently dead father. Like most people, he doesn't know how to deal with everything he's feeling, alternately lashing out and pulling back, shouting at his mother for her coping methods and at his friend for her attempts to help. It's entirely relatable for anyone who's been through anything similar.
The difference comes when his stuffed rabbit starts to talk to him.
I'm not going to spoil the story any further than that, but I will say it's amazing, touching, funny, and the illustrations are absolutely fab. I'm really looking forward to being able to suggest this to young readers and their parents!
A really fabulous read.
June 28, 2025
Stumbled across this on the backlist on Edelweiss, and I'm glad I did. I was impressed with how this simple graphic novel tackles the themes of grief and PTSD in a nuanced and realistic way. I really appreciated that the author took time to build up Cooper's PTSD, and he also took time making amends at the end. This isn't one of those stories where the runaway kid comes home and everyone just says it's okay because he's grieving. He actually goes through the process of apologizing for outbursts, reconnecting with family, and getting help.
The pacing of the middle is a bit up and down, and the resolution of the climax in the fantasy world is a bit silly, and there are a couple stereotypical lines about how "memories are the real magic." But it was still a very enjoyable read, and I would recommend it for middle grade readers dealing with grief.
The pacing of the middle is a bit up and down, and the resolution of the climax in the fantasy world is a bit silly, and there are a couple stereotypical lines about how "memories are the real magic." But it was still a very enjoyable read, and I would recommend it for middle grade readers dealing with grief.
January 8, 2023
About coping with grief. Sad, yet heartwarming, imaginative and fun.
March 3, 2023
Lovely, very nicely done.
February 4, 2025
3.5 stars
June 8, 2023
A wonderful graphic novel to kick-start the new year. I am honestly in awe of the authors who can fit their stories into such fully detailed illustration which both conveys the story that we see in the words and so much more besides. There are layers of story included in every graphic novel, pictures, the words, on their own or together. You can read the book the first time with the story presented to you and then read again and again making your own story out of all the elements for I guarantee with each re-read you will find something you missed, a new angle to follow. Nigel Baines’ story, published by Hachette Children’s Books is one of life getting tough, of loss but also courage and the search for the impossible which may just be out there or is it just interval ice cream…?
Cooper is brilliant at magic tricks. Card tricks, clever illusions, magic, he can do it all. Every trick of the trade was taught to him by the Great Eduardo. The Great Eduardo was a great magician and Cooper’s dad but unfortunately the Great Eduardo he managed to do the worst vanishing trick of all, he died and the one thing that Cooper is not able to do is see him again, at least so he thinks. When a talking rabbit pops out from his dad’s top hat Cooper finds himself heading for a place where he might be able to find his dad. Are you ready for the adventure?
Cooper is brilliant at magic tricks. Card tricks, clever illusions, magic, he can do it all. Every trick of the trade was taught to him by the Great Eduardo. The Great Eduardo was a great magician and Cooper’s dad but unfortunately the Great Eduardo he managed to do the worst vanishing trick of all, he died and the one thing that Cooper is not able to do is see him again, at least so he thinks. When a talking rabbit pops out from his dad’s top hat Cooper finds himself heading for a place where he might be able to find his dad. Are you ready for the adventure?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews