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The Wonder Brothers
‘Maybe you don’t believe me. Maybe you don’t believe in magic. I bet you will by the time you’ve heard what happened to us.’
Cousins Middy and Nathan love magic. The on-stage, cape-swirling, bunny-out-of-a-hat kind.
For Middy, it’s all about patience and practice. She uses magic skills to help her out of tricky situations.
Nathan is a show-off and a total danger magnet, he is drawn to the sensation, spectacle and audience.
So when the famous Blackpool Tower dramatically vanishes the night of the Grand Lights Switch-On, showman Nathan announces live on TV that they will magic it back home.
With a stick of rock, a spangly cape, and a bit of misdirection, they end up lost in Las Vegas, home to the grand master of illusion, Perplexion, ‘Legend of Magic’.
Full of tricks, twists and deceptions, the delightful Nathan and Middy will keep you guessing until the very end. No matter how big the show, family, friendship and adventure shine through in The Wonder Brothers - multi-award-winning author Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
'A writer of comic genius - he has something of Roald Dahl's magic, but more heart'
- Sunday Telegraph
Cousins Middy and Nathan love magic. The on-stage, cape-swirling, bunny-out-of-a-hat kind.
For Middy, it’s all about patience and practice. She uses magic skills to help her out of tricky situations.
Nathan is a show-off and a total danger magnet, he is drawn to the sensation, spectacle and audience.
So when the famous Blackpool Tower dramatically vanishes the night of the Grand Lights Switch-On, showman Nathan announces live on TV that they will magic it back home.
With a stick of rock, a spangly cape, and a bit of misdirection, they end up lost in Las Vegas, home to the grand master of illusion, Perplexion, ‘Legend of Magic’.
Full of tricks, twists and deceptions, the delightful Nathan and Middy will keep you guessing until the very end. No matter how big the show, family, friendship and adventure shine through in The Wonder Brothers - multi-award-winning author Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
'A writer of comic genius - he has something of Roald Dahl's magic, but more heart'
- Sunday Telegraph
320 pages, Hardcover
Published June 20, 2023
7 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Frank Cottrell Boyce
77 books263 followersFrank Cottrell Boyce is a British screenwriter, novelist and occasional actor.
In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce has also adapted novels for the screen and written children's fiction, winning the 2004 Carnegie Medal for his debut, Millions, based on his own screenplay for the film of the same name.
His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carnegie Medal.
He adapted the novel into a screenplay for a 2009 BBC television film. His 2009 novel Cosmic has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
He is married and the father of seven children.
In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce has also adapted novels for the screen and written children's fiction, winning the 2004 Carnegie Medal for his debut, Millions, based on his own screenplay for the film of the same name.
His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carnegie Medal.
He adapted the novel into a screenplay for a 2009 BBC television film. His 2009 novel Cosmic has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
He is married and the father of seven children.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 2, 2024
I really like the pencil vanishing trick and when Perplexion makes the Blackpool Tower vanish and the secret to that trick.
July 8, 2023
This is a big hearted and fun story that will appeal to all ages and possibly inspire a new generation of magicians! Frank Cottrell-Boyce really knows how to talk to children. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
July 16, 2023
I love stories about magic shows and magicians, illusion and sleight of hand, so I was keen to read about cousin magicians Nathan and Middy, Nathan's brother Brodie and Queenie his rabbit. When Nathan, Brodie and Queenie visit Middy in Blackpool for the annual turning on of the lights, they are stunned to see Blackpool Tower vanish, and vow to return it. Somehow they find themselves in Las Vegas and take it in turns to explain magic, magicians, and how they think they somehow ended up in Vegas to the sceptical police captain.
It's very cleverly told, hugely entertaining, and very humorous, with endearing characters (especially the rabbit) and I loved the peppering of magician terminology and tricks throughout the book.
Highly recommend this fun read which is also very nicely illustrated.
It's very cleverly told, hugely entertaining, and very humorous, with endearing characters (especially the rabbit) and I loved the peppering of magician terminology and tricks throughout the book.
Highly recommend this fun read which is also very nicely illustrated.
July 19, 2023
This was the first Frank Cottrell-Boyce I read and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's sweet, funny and well written story about magic, brothers. There's humour and a brilliant story
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
September 13, 2023
If you’re looking for a fun, funny contemporary kids adventure story then this is a must read!
It’s got wit and humour, magic and mayhem, an amazing friendships (cousins) group and a giant rabbit. Yes. There’s a child-sized bunny!
With a fun premise - a magician makes the Blackpool Tower disappear - and a group of flabbergasted magic-loving kids, this is such a brilliant ride of a story.
The dialogue and banter between the kids is just so spot on brilliant!
It’s a magic piece of kids writing that will have you smiling from cover to cover!
It’s got wit and humour, magic and mayhem, an amazing friendships (cousins) group and a giant rabbit. Yes. There’s a child-sized bunny!
With a fun premise - a magician makes the Blackpool Tower disappear - and a group of flabbergasted magic-loving kids, this is such a brilliant ride of a story.
The dialogue and banter between the kids is just so spot on brilliant!
It’s a magic piece of kids writing that will have you smiling from cover to cover!
August 15, 2023
What should have been a wonderfully novel story of children absconding from Blackpool to Las Vegas because the best magician in the world has 'stolen' the Blackpool Tower and they promised to bring it back, is actually almost painful to read at times. There is realism in the disjointed telling, as we get everything from the points of view of both Wonder Brothers (although they're not brothers, she's a girl, and yes, we get it, she's not his assistant either), but it is just so repetitive. He tells us what happened, she tells us what happened, we get a better look at the chronology of things and we then get told what happened once more. The story just chunters along repeating itself – and then we see the entire list of Rules of Magic all over again, even though we'd already read them an hour ago at the beginning.
I was ultimately happy enough I stuck with this, for the drama of the story is intriguing enough – just about. There is something about the ending that will surprise, even if the sentiment of it has been foreshadowed, and a lot of the conclusion can only come from mahoosive plot holes I won't go into for spoilers. I think the name-dropping "look guys, mucho research!" aspect of the telling was surprisingly clunky, and I don't know how much of this dates from covid times but it really reads as if the editor was on a work-from-home that afternoon and intent on making too much plonk disappear. Will it move an audience – like the much-lauded (here, if nowhere else) David Copperfield stunts? Potentially. Will it allow a few hours pass in high spirited fashion? Yes. Will it frustrate almost to the point of being thrown at the wall? Surprisingly so – which was not a trick I ever expected from this author.
I was ultimately happy enough I stuck with this, for the drama of the story is intriguing enough – just about. There is something about the ending that will surprise, even if the sentiment of it has been foreshadowed, and a lot of the conclusion can only come from mahoosive plot holes I won't go into for spoilers. I think the name-dropping "look guys, mucho research!" aspect of the telling was surprisingly clunky, and I don't know how much of this dates from covid times but it really reads as if the editor was on a work-from-home that afternoon and intent on making too much plonk disappear. Will it move an audience – like the much-lauded (here, if nowhere else) David Copperfield stunts? Potentially. Will it allow a few hours pass in high spirited fashion? Yes. Will it frustrate almost to the point of being thrown at the wall? Surprisingly so – which was not a trick I ever expected from this author.
June 1, 2023
Series-of-coincidental-events in a magical riot of Top Hatted fun.
Cottrell-Boyce really does know how to draw together a brilliantly told story. You can just sit back and let the plot wash over you, knowing you're in the hands of a storyteller who knows where he's taking his characters and that you're in for a great ride with them. Every time.
His young protagonists, along with the Las Vegas police officers interviewing them, tell their story. Of how they somehow managed to get from Blackpool to Las Vegas in search of the missing Blackpool Tower that the world's most famous magician made disappear.
And how this means they didn't make it home in time for their evening meal, but took their oversized rabbit on a madcap adventure into hotel spas, Vegas shows and slot machines and impressed a whole bunch of people with their magic.
The children narrate enthusiastically, engaging the reader with their first-hand accounts of their ridiculously coincidental escapades. It's beautifully silly and I couldn't get enough of it. And I loved the magic references, to quoted magicians, to how tricks are performed, it was a perfect book for readers of 8 to 12. I might even read it to my 6-year-old.
Recommended. With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
Cottrell-Boyce really does know how to draw together a brilliantly told story. You can just sit back and let the plot wash over you, knowing you're in the hands of a storyteller who knows where he's taking his characters and that you're in for a great ride with them. Every time.
His young protagonists, along with the Las Vegas police officers interviewing them, tell their story. Of how they somehow managed to get from Blackpool to Las Vegas in search of the missing Blackpool Tower that the world's most famous magician made disappear.
And how this means they didn't make it home in time for their evening meal, but took their oversized rabbit on a madcap adventure into hotel spas, Vegas shows and slot machines and impressed a whole bunch of people with their magic.
The children narrate enthusiastically, engaging the reader with their first-hand accounts of their ridiculously coincidental escapades. It's beautifully silly and I couldn't get enough of it. And I loved the magic references, to quoted magicians, to how tricks are performed, it was a perfect book for readers of 8 to 12. I might even read it to my 6-year-old.
Recommended. With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
July 15, 2023
The Wonder Brothers (cousins Nathan and Middy) love magic, so when the world famous Perplexion is booked to switch on Blackpool Illuminations, they are beyond excited. What they aren’t expecting, is for Perplexion to make Blackpool Tower disappear. Their quest to bring it back leads then to Las Vegas and lots of adventures on the way.
I loved this story. I was hooked from the beginning and the story moved at a cracking pace. It is told in multiple voices, from the three children and a police officer, with some events told in flashback. I think some children may have difficulty following the timeline of the story as it is not straightforward but this enables the author to keep the reader guessing and builds up a sense of anticipation.
I liked the way magic tricks were described, without disclosing how they are done. This made the reader feel as though they were being inside knowledge without the author actually revealing anything. Very clever! Ultimately though, the book encourages you to see the magic and wonder all around us, everyday.
A great read.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this story. I was hooked from the beginning and the story moved at a cracking pace. It is told in multiple voices, from the three children and a police officer, with some events told in flashback. I think some children may have difficulty following the timeline of the story as it is not straightforward but this enables the author to keep the reader guessing and builds up a sense of anticipation.
I liked the way magic tricks were described, without disclosing how they are done. This made the reader feel as though they were being inside knowledge without the author actually revealing anything. Very clever! Ultimately though, the book encourages you to see the magic and wonder all around us, everyday.
A great read.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2023
Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s writing in The Wonder Brothers (his latest book) is sure to please many children and wholly spark imaginations. This is, after all, a fun, imaginative caper.
Travel to Blackpool, on the west coast of northern England with cousins - Middy and Nathan to see the delights of the seaside, famous for its stick of rock, the pleasure beach, full of rides, the sea and sand, donkeys, trams, stage shows and of course, even more famous than that - Blackpool Tower.
Middy and Nathan have a magic act and go by the name - The Wonder Brothers. The tricks are fun and there’s mischief with their rabbit. There’s even more hi-jinx when suddenly, Blackpool Tower disappears. The book becomes more mysterious at that point. It is a book with twists and turns as the mystery of the whereabouts of Blackpool Tower takes the intrepid pair to Las Vegas. It’s quite an adventure and one kids will love to get on-board with to help solve the puzzle.
This magical is packed full of comical capers, laugh out loud humour and a lot of magic. It’s a must read for the summer and beyond.
Travel to Blackpool, on the west coast of northern England with cousins - Middy and Nathan to see the delights of the seaside, famous for its stick of rock, the pleasure beach, full of rides, the sea and sand, donkeys, trams, stage shows and of course, even more famous than that - Blackpool Tower.
Middy and Nathan have a magic act and go by the name - The Wonder Brothers. The tricks are fun and there’s mischief with their rabbit. There’s even more hi-jinx when suddenly, Blackpool Tower disappears. The book becomes more mysterious at that point. It is a book with twists and turns as the mystery of the whereabouts of Blackpool Tower takes the intrepid pair to Las Vegas. It’s quite an adventure and one kids will love to get on-board with to help solve the puzzle.
This magical is packed full of comical capers, laugh out loud humour and a lot of magic. It’s a must read for the summer and beyond.
December 5, 2024
Magic! A funny and interesting romp of a story featuring three hilarious children and a giant rabbit. The story involves a magical trick involving a major UK landmark and a trip to the extraordinary fantasy city of Las Vegas, USA.
We meet fascinating tourists, citizens of the city, a cynical cop investigating why the three children are unaccompanied in the city and some nuns.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, there’s a lot of interesting facts about the world of magic and magicians. I also appreciated the message behind the book to take time to look for wonder in the world. Even in the darkness of the current world news, there is beauty and magic.
We meet fascinating tourists, citizens of the city, a cynical cop investigating why the three children are unaccompanied in the city and some nuns.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, there’s a lot of interesting facts about the world of magic and magicians. I also appreciated the message behind the book to take time to look for wonder in the world. Even in the darkness of the current world news, there is beauty and magic.
August 3, 2023
I bloody love a story about magic and this is so lush. What do you do when the most important landmark in your city is vanished by a magician? Well, accidentally travel across the world and go on an adventure obviously! Frank writes stories and characters with such humour and charm and Steve’s illustrations add so much to the story too! This made me chuckle loads at times!
October 14, 2025
Not my favourite of FCB's work, but still a solid 4*.
He is such a downright funny writer in places, with characters you root for (including in this case, an oversized rabbit called Queenie), and this book was particularly interesting with all its references to magic and magicians ... which had me googling info as I read ... and watching various videos of famous magic tricks.
He is such a downright funny writer in places, with characters you root for (including in this case, an oversized rabbit called Queenie), and this book was particularly interesting with all its references to magic and magicians ... which had me googling info as I read ... and watching various videos of famous magic tricks.
June 10, 2023
The children adored this. We travel to the Blackpool area often to visit family and it just added so much to the story that we knew the location. The characters are great and interesting, the story engaging and at times exciting. We must buy a paper copy to study the illustrations better.
June 10, 2023
Monumentally entertaining. A joy to share with children. You can read my full review here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
October 4, 2023
4.25 stars. Another wonderful adventure by Mr. Boyce with his trademark humour, lively characters and larger-than-life story that is almost unbelievable but technically possible to happen in real life. There is Magic in everyday life for us to discover :) Loved it!
October 23, 2023
One of my favourite children's authors has done it again. What a brilliantly entertaining story. Funny but in a subtle, witty way. He has a way with words that brings characters to life and fills you with joy. This book is magic 🎩 ✨️
December 24, 2023
5 stars not just for the zany and fun story and the sentiment (how magic promotes wonder), but also for the presentation - great illustrations by Steven Lenton and a fantastic overall design. I imagine kids will love this book, it's such a fun read.
July 25, 2023
Wonder-full!
December 21, 2025
Good story, I liked the change in narrators. However, there was a tendency to repeat parts of the storywhich was annoying and padded things out somewhat.
January 31, 2024
I thought this was going to be a slow read and did struggle a little with the opening pages - it all seemed a little ridiculous - arrests, Captain Jimenez, a giant rabbit , different voices telling the story, Las Vegas … and Blackpool. A Blackpool without its famous landmark which has magically vanished .
But then I started to hear the different characters the 3 children Middy , Brodie and Nathan who form the Wonder Brothers of the title( one is a girl but that doesn’t matter) and once that had happened I was hooked.
I know a lot about magic now , I’ve looked up magicians and tricks aplenty , can throw words like ‘ misdirection’ casually into conversations and begin to appreciate the craft of magic. I’m also seized by a desire to go to Las Vegas and experience the hotels … that first view the children give us when they think they’re in Paris looking at the Eiffel Tower ‘ tall and skinny and elegant, standing on tiptoe like a high- heeled shoe’ as Middy describes it. Not ,as she goes on to say , to be mistaken for Blackpool Tower ‘ wider and shorter and cheery and chubby, and it’s standing on top of a circus’ . That first view is just a warm up for the attractions of Las Vegas ( and how did I never know that the name means Green Fields? Just another fact I’ve imbibed with the story). Brodie , the voice of reason is keen that we shouldn’t get too swept away - I was just thinking I was spotting an error in the writing how did it take so long to fly to Paris - but Brodie was one step ahead; ‘ Why would the Welcome to the Paris sign be in English and not French and why the Paris?’ ‘ , the Arc de Triomphe is a lot smaller and just around the corner is Luxor with a pyramid and a sphinx . So now you can tell I’m 118 pages in and I’m hooked and experiencing Vegas with the wonder of a child. Brilliant .
Captain Jimenez is a marvellous grounding voice through this surreal but eminently believable ( yes even the vanishing tower and flight on a private jet) tale of The Wonder Brothers. Each has a discrete narrative voice and the interplay between them is a wonder to read, effortlessly moving between them.
How do they solve the magical problem , do they get to meet Perplexion, what do they make of Camelot and Maid Marian, corn dogs, pop tarts, how is gambling shown to be an empty dream and a Vegas wedding a magical moment , why are they dressed as nuns ? - well you’ll have to read it . Be prepared to laugh a lot and be very sad when you reach the end.
But only for a moment as there are lots of other books by this author and I can’t wait to try them!
But then I started to hear the different characters the 3 children Middy , Brodie and Nathan who form the Wonder Brothers of the title( one is a girl but that doesn’t matter) and once that had happened I was hooked.
I know a lot about magic now , I’ve looked up magicians and tricks aplenty , can throw words like ‘ misdirection’ casually into conversations and begin to appreciate the craft of magic. I’m also seized by a desire to go to Las Vegas and experience the hotels … that first view the children give us when they think they’re in Paris looking at the Eiffel Tower ‘ tall and skinny and elegant, standing on tiptoe like a high- heeled shoe’ as Middy describes it. Not ,as she goes on to say , to be mistaken for Blackpool Tower ‘ wider and shorter and cheery and chubby, and it’s standing on top of a circus’ . That first view is just a warm up for the attractions of Las Vegas ( and how did I never know that the name means Green Fields? Just another fact I’ve imbibed with the story). Brodie , the voice of reason is keen that we shouldn’t get too swept away - I was just thinking I was spotting an error in the writing how did it take so long to fly to Paris - but Brodie was one step ahead; ‘ Why would the Welcome to the Paris sign be in English and not French and why the Paris?’ ‘ , the Arc de Triomphe is a lot smaller and just around the corner is Luxor with a pyramid and a sphinx . So now you can tell I’m 118 pages in and I’m hooked and experiencing Vegas with the wonder of a child. Brilliant .
Captain Jimenez is a marvellous grounding voice through this surreal but eminently believable ( yes even the vanishing tower and flight on a private jet) tale of The Wonder Brothers. Each has a discrete narrative voice and the interplay between them is a wonder to read, effortlessly moving between them.
How do they solve the magical problem , do they get to meet Perplexion, what do they make of Camelot and Maid Marian, corn dogs, pop tarts, how is gambling shown to be an empty dream and a Vegas wedding a magical moment , why are they dressed as nuns ? - well you’ll have to read it . Be prepared to laugh a lot and be very sad when you reach the end.
But only for a moment as there are lots of other books by this author and I can’t wait to try them!
June 22, 2023
A stick of rock and a book, sticky fingers and a book … hmmm … great fun I promise!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be able to vanish or to be able to vanish objects? The Wonder Brothers (cousins Middy and Nathan) might need a little bit of extra help with the Blackpool Tower vanishes but with giant rabbits, sticks of rock, spangly capes and of course plenty of magic tricks nothing is impossible… Is it?
A riotous story packed with adventures, around the world travels, magic, laughter, wonder and exuberance, oh and did I mention those sticks of rock and spangly capes? Brilliant storytelling .
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be able to vanish or to be able to vanish objects? The Wonder Brothers (cousins Middy and Nathan) might need a little bit of extra help with the Blackpool Tower vanishes but with giant rabbits, sticks of rock, spangly capes and of course plenty of magic tricks nothing is impossible… Is it?
A riotous story packed with adventures, around the world travels, magic, laughter, wonder and exuberance, oh and did I mention those sticks of rock and spangly capes? Brilliant storytelling .
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews