Magicalamity

by Kate Saunders

Tom is in shock. He's just discovered that his dad is an escaped fairy on the run. And that he must trust his life to three dangerous fairy godmothers he's never met. Two of them are hardened criminals, and one falls out of the window when she tries to fly . . .

Will their mad magic be enough to help Tom rescue his dad from the clutches of some killer fairies?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Fairies, Magic, Humor, Childrens

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2011

About the author

Kate Saunders (born 1960) was an English author, actress, and journalist. The daughter of the early public relations advocate Basil Saunders and his journalist wife Betty (née Smith), Saunders has worked for newspapers and magazines in the UK, including The Sunday Times, Sunday Express, Daily Telegraph, She, and Cosmopolitan.

She has also been a regular contributor to radio and television, with appearances on the Radio 4 programs Woman's Hour, Start the Week, and Kaleidoscope. She was, with Sandi Toksvig, a guest on the first episode of the long-running news quiz program Have I Got News For You.

Saunders has also written multiple books for children and for adults.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was loads of fun! Tom wakes up to find out he needs to go on the run with a lady he's never seen or heard of before. His Mom has been hidden by the lady, Lorna, who turns out to be one of Tom's three fairy godmothers and his dad is hiding among a bunch of bats (no, don't ask me to explain, go read the book. It's complicated!) Why has their lives been turned upside down? His Dad is being sought on murder charges and the fairy realm doesn't approve of mixed marriages to humans or to demisprites such as Tom. En route to finding his Dad, and freeing him from the murder charge, Tom makes a good friend of someone who is supposed to be his enemy, another boy named Pindar. Well, another boy fairy. This got quite zany and complicated and was hilarious in many places (Lorna's dog is adorable) and was just the sort of escape I wanted for right now! This was an original take on the traditional fairy motifs and really fun!

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book! Funny , adventurous and entertaining! With lots of twists. I want to read this book over and over again!

[Josie Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Definitely a good read!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom wakes up one morning to discover his father and mother have gone into hiding and that he has a fairy godmother. Actually, make that three fairy godmothers. Oh, and his father is a fairy. No big deal, except for the teensy tiny fact that his father is now being hunted for fairy crimes: murder, marrying a human, and fathering a demisprite. Tom had no clue about his father's magical abilities, but according to his godmother Lorna, he's in danger from those fairies who have it out for his dad. Of course, Lorna says his Dad is innocent of the murder charge and suspects that someone has framed him to get their hands on Hopping Hill. A chunk of land in the Fairy world that is rumored to have loads of gold in it. Lorna sets out to get Tom to safety and enlist the help of his two other fairy godmothers, whether they want to or not, in getting his dad out of this jam.

A fun fantasy adventure that is sure to entertain kids who like magic mixed with some humor. There's a bit more twist in the plotline than I expected from this book, but it was a pleasant surprise. The three godmothers are quite the entertainment, as is all the magical stuff Tom gets to learn along with his cousin Pindar, a fairy allergic to magic. Light fantasy comedy that should appeal to both boys and girls.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content, but it is mentioned quite a few times that the fairies have nude balls and sometimes go around nude. No body parts described in any kind of detail, but this may bother some kids and parents. Some electric shots, but no other violence.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

European children’s literature is a trip and a half. I can almost guarantee that children's literature from Germany, for example, will be darker than its American counterpart. Someone should really do a study on how a nation’s children’s literature shapes its youth and, in time, its culture and society.

Magicalamity is from England, and although I rarely notice the cultural differences the same way I do in other imports, this one felt very not-American. I don’t mean that in a bad way: rather, it’s not often American children’s books remind me of the humor of Arrested Development while dealing with the political failings of the fairy realm. That’s the other thing: this is a fantasy book with a political message.

Like I said, this is not your normal children’s book.

Tom’s Dad is a fairy (and yes, the author even makes a joke about what fairy means) who has been hiding in the human world. He’s been found, and it’s up to Tom, along with his three fairy godmothers, to save the day. I really enjoyed this book, partially because it’s not what I expect from a children’s fantasy book even while sticking close to the traditional plot of a fantasy adventure. Recommended.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Saunders presents a new twist on fairy stories where a boy named Tom wakes one morning to find his mother missing, his father on the run to avoid the Fairy Police, and a Fairy-Godmother he didn't know he had in the kitchen with a jar of sun-dried tomatoes. Okay, you have my attention.

Tom has no idea that his father is actually a fairy who broke the law by marrying a mortal woman and producing a son, a demisprite. He has also been clueless about the existence of his Fairy-Godmothers, two of whom have failed to answer the emergency summons his dad left before he went into hiding. Rest assured they are located and the three guardians turn out to be as different from one another as possible.

The book is a pleasure, filled with the author's wry humor and a host of fairies, both good and bad. Tom adapts quickly to his new reality, and the Godmothers eventually all step up to the plate and do their best to help him reunite his family.

A quick and fun read for children and adults alike.

[Aiyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom's had a few surprises lately. First, his Dad's a fairy. Second, his Dad's in major trouble. Third, his only hope lies with a trio of fairy godmothers who are absolutely nothing like fairies in fairy tales. And that's just the first day.

A cute and outrageous magical adventure story that will appeal to fans of Artemis Fowl, Talking to Dragons, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, as well as to a slightly younger audience.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome book filled with humour that will make kids and adults alike laugh out loud. I actually listened to the audiobook with my 11 year old daughter and we couldn't wait for evening book time each night. Even my husband enjoyed the book. This is a totally clean book; no child-inappropriate content. Thank you Miss Saunders for the fun-filled adventure and shared laughter with my daughter. We hope for a sequel novel.

[Josh Newhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a fun book, but why does the author have to live in London... this would have been a great SSYRA book!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

My name is Tom, and I've just learned that my father is a fairy, wanted for murder in the Realm. I have three fairy godmothers, although Lorna is the only one who actually answered the call to help me. She says I'm a demisprite, half human and half fairy, and plans to help me rescue my parents. Her magic skills are a little rusty, but I seem to have a natural talent for flying. I've met my other godmothers, and they're not as nice as Lorna. One of them has no love for demisprites, and the other has enslaved all of her "dead" husbands. I'm trying to understand everything they're saying about my father's life as a fairy, and it's clear there's more to his murder charge than we thought.

This book offers a bit of adventure and mystery with humor added in. I mean, Lorna is the first magical character you meet, and she's forgotten most of the easiest spells; Tom is unexpectedly forced to help her relearn how to fly. The contrast between godmothers creates interest and humor, as they reconnect after being close college friends. Two of them say they've adjusted to the mortal world without using magic, but they clearly have not. One uses it to have children steal for her own profit, and the other uses it to control all of her ex-husbands to profit from their money. It sounds bad, but it's funny; the husbands are okay in the end! The author also includes humorous descriptions, as Tom is flown through disgusting sewers and is forced to disguise himself as a female dancer. It's surprising Tom didn't display more abilities even though it's said that demisprites sometimes develop unusual powers. He could fly and that was it. Overall, this book tells an entertaining story of fairies and evil rulers, and I recommend you give it a try.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and a good plot! My favourite Junior Book Group read for a while.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only way I got through this is to read it as a send-up, a satire. Too many problems to read it as straight humorous fantasy. For example the fairy godmothers are referred to as "girls." And lightning guns are applauded as effective and so *tidy*... as they don't leave corpse or clues....

[Miss Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, there was nothing the matter with this book. It just really was not my style and the writing was not so fantastic as to warrant a higher rating on that score alone.

It is basically the tale of young boy who wakes up to find his father missing, his mother "hidden" for her own protection and a strange lady telling him that she is his fairy godmother in his kitchen. As it transpires, Tom's father was a fairy and thus he is a demi-sprite with three fairy godmothers. The only one that answered his father's call for help was Lorna, who is sweet and often incompetent and unintentionally funny, but very good-hearted.

It is set in present day and even the fairy world has very conventional modern standards and language. It is not Faery or anything remotely resembling such. Fairy marriages to mortals/humans are illegal and that is why Tom's father was taken in order that he may stand trial for his crime of marrying Tom's mortal mother.

It is your adventure/quest/zany characters met and befriended (including half-brother no one knew existed!), with a happy ending for all the good characters.

"If you can't fly and you can't use ordinary transport, how did you get here?"

"I used a dissolving and relocating spell," Lorna said gloomily. "But that wouldn't do for you. Your molecules would never stand it - you're too human."

"OK. Well, why can't you hide me in the same place you hid my mother?"

"Sorry - you're not human enough for that."

"Oh."

Lorna began to unfasten her wings. "There's nothing else for it, I'm afraid. I'll just have to swallow my pride and ask Abdul."

"Who?"

She was stern. "Are we near Kentish Town Road?"

"Pretty near, yes."

"Good. We've got to find a cafe called the Casbah - next door to a twenty-four-hour supermarket and just by the bus stop."

"I think I know that cafe," Tom said, surprised. "It always has steamy windows. And it's always full of little fat brown guys."

"They're not little fat brown guys," Lorna said shortly. "They're genies. And one of them is my ex-husband."

If that excerpt sounds interesting, give it a go. If not, I would probably give it a pass. The book continues in this vein and tone.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique take on the world of fairies and fairytale creatures that exist alongside our own. Tom is a very likeable character--an everyday boy who find out his parents and his world are not as he thought they were. He find friends and foes (sometimes struggling to determine which is which) and shows a great deal of bravery and loyalty. There are laughs, twists, plenty of adventure and happy endings to satisfy readers. Kate Saunders is an expert at creating appealing fantasy settings and immersing girl/boy next door characters in them!

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that introduces a whole new world alongside our own - always a cool idea leaving a lot of scope for description. This book takes a little while to get going, with a lot of 'setting up' for the eventual 'problem' to be solved by the characters, and the ending does seem a little rushed. But the description of the magical world and creatures within are good, and you end up caring about what happens to the main character, so this is well worth a read if you like the fantasy genre without going too dark (one thing this book does well is humour!).

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great mix of magic and ordinary. Tom's discovery of his demisprite status is of course reminiscent of Harry P. but there are plenty of differences in his Realm to keep it interesting. Very basic b/w good/evil distinctions among characters with a little bit of nuance in the behavior of Tom's fairy godmothers who enter the mortal world but cheat with some magic. Good for an unsophisticated reader.

[Jb Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really enjoyed the book, but i hope there will be more character development of tom in the next one.
there were alot of times it was hard to tell he was the main character.
also the last chapter seemed really rushed.
more like... hurry hurry tie up all the loose ends.
would have like it if Saunders would have taken a few extra pages and closed it off nicely.

but i definitely liked it and hope there will be more in the series.

[Ashley]

This was a cute read. Dragons, fairies, talking bats, flying, secret families. Lots of fun.

It was nice to have a middle grade book for boys that isn't by Rick Riordan (not that I don't love him, but everyone at my store has read all of them and needs something else to read). I would gladly recommend this to anyone at my store.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastical adventure. Exciting and full of fun surprises. I kept thinking I had it figured out but I was wrong. I do wish there had been a bit more falling action- I really wanted to knew what happened after they went home. It ended completely but there could definitely be more adventures. I hope there are if they are as original and creative as this one.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed to find this much more scattered and less substantial than Beswitched, which was also light and fun but a tighter story. This one had lots of fun bits and pieces but the overall plot felt slapdash, and I never got invested in the characters. For those who like their fantasy silly.

[Shannon O'Donnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, fantasy adventure. I enjoyed the world building and character development, particularly Tom's fairy godmothers, as well as the colorful British flavor. I have no doubt middle grade fantasy fans will scoop this one up and savor its pages. I'll be recommending to students in my classroom.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story with lots of non-stereotypical fairy tale elements. Male lead character (hooray!), some good adventure, but a side storyline with a "surprise" half brother (very obvious foreshadowing here). Some references to nude events - and the jiggly flesh that's involved - but nothing graphic here. Good for ages 10+

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book, but I wouldn't recommend it to younger children, for the book mentions machine guns and nude galas quite a few times. I did like the way it flowed, the unexpected twists, and the ending was also amazing.
P. S. SPOILER, DO NOT READ: I would like to find out what Tom's special Demisprite power is, though. The book never made that clear.

[Selina Lock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom finds a fairy godmother in his kitchen and his parents missing, due to his Dad being a fairy wanted for murder.

A humorous look at a magical reality involving bats, dragons, flying carpets and all manner of strange goings-on.

A fun read.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son says this book is AWSOME. He read it all by himself and never lost interest. The names of the characters is the funniest part of this story. The rock star is named Jay Treebonkers. !!!! 5 Stars from the 9 year old.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good fantasy for kids who want more stories like Harry Potter. Also set in England, with an interesting plot and some wacky characters.

[Westfordys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom finds out his dad is actually a fairy wanted for a capitol crime in the fairy realm. Fun story. Nancy

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I like how the magical land is way different from how you imagine.

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goofy, slapstick, fantasy, fun.