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Tips for Magicians
After a magical muse seems to have abandoned a small Utah town, it is up to a grieving boy, his best friends, and a stray dog to find out where it has gone and how to bring it back in this lyrical and hopeful story.
Harrison Boone used to sing. His mom was a famous soprano who performed in all the great theaters. But when she died unexpectedly last year, the music stopped for Harrison too. He finds comfort in practicing magic tricks to become a master magician.
If only Harrison knew the right magic to stop his dad from hitting the road for a new job and sending him to live with his aunt Maggie in an art village named Muse in the southern Utah desert. The residents of Muse believe in a magical entity that used to grant wishes to the winner of the town's annual art contest, but the muse hasn't been seen in years.
Can Harrison connect with his inner artist, find the missing muse, and win the wish that will give him back a normal life?
Harrison Boone used to sing. His mom was a famous soprano who performed in all the great theaters. But when she died unexpectedly last year, the music stopped for Harrison too. He finds comfort in practicing magic tricks to become a master magician.
If only Harrison knew the right magic to stop his dad from hitting the road for a new job and sending him to live with his aunt Maggie in an art village named Muse in the southern Utah desert. The residents of Muse believe in a magical entity that used to grant wishes to the winner of the town's annual art contest, but the muse hasn't been seen in years.
Can Harrison connect with his inner artist, find the missing muse, and win the wish that will give him back a normal life?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2020
8 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Celesta Rimington
5 books82 followersCelesta Rimington is the author of magical middle grade books including The Elephant's Girl and the forthcoming Reach. The Elephant’s Girl was the winner of the 2020 Reading the West Book Award and has been recommended on several state library association lists and readers’ choice lists for middle grade readers. Celesta holds a degree in social psychology and has presented to thousands of students about resilience, generating ideas, and writing their own stories. Celesta grew up in almost every region of the United States, has southern roots, and currently resides in Utah. She enjoys acting, boxing, and exploring the outdoors with her family and her five-pound Yorkie named Winston. Find her online at celestarimington.com.
Review Policy: I only review books I enjoyed enough to highly recommend, therefore, you won't see any low-star reviews here.
Review Policy: I only review books I enjoyed enough to highly recommend, therefore, you won't see any low-star reviews here.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 22, 2022
TIPS FOR MAGICIANS is a wonderful exploration of grief, love, and finding the inspiration to move ahead after an unimaginable loss.
After Harrison's mother, a famous singer, is killed in an accident, both Harrison and his father have a hard time moving on. Until the day Harrison's father literally moves them out of the family home. Father has contracted to take a stage management job on the road, and Harrison is sent to live with his Aunt Maggie in Muse, Utah, until the end of the tour.
Muse is a town with an artistic heart and a muse that has gone missing. As Harrison begins to make his way in this new desert landscape he relies on something he picked up since his mother's death-- magic tricks-- to comfort and guide him. As he tries to adjust to life without either of his parents there, he connects with an old friend, makes several new friends, and tries to rescue a dog that seems to have an important message to share.
This story is deeply heartfelt and is clearly inspired by a love of art and music, and the power they have to transform. Lyrical and mystical threads run through the town of Muse, and through Harrison's story. I especially loved how the author used the Tips For Magicians to frame the chapters, drawing a direct line from the rules of magic, through the unknowable mysteries of life all the way to a hopeful and connected life.
A wonderful read for middle-grade readers especially those grappling with loss and searching for their inner gifts!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc
After Harrison's mother, a famous singer, is killed in an accident, both Harrison and his father have a hard time moving on. Until the day Harrison's father literally moves them out of the family home. Father has contracted to take a stage management job on the road, and Harrison is sent to live with his Aunt Maggie in Muse, Utah, until the end of the tour.
Muse is a town with an artistic heart and a muse that has gone missing. As Harrison begins to make his way in this new desert landscape he relies on something he picked up since his mother's death-- magic tricks-- to comfort and guide him. As he tries to adjust to life without either of his parents there, he connects with an old friend, makes several new friends, and tries to rescue a dog that seems to have an important message to share.
This story is deeply heartfelt and is clearly inspired by a love of art and music, and the power they have to transform. Lyrical and mystical threads run through the town of Muse, and through Harrison's story. I especially loved how the author used the Tips For Magicians to frame the chapters, drawing a direct line from the rules of magic, through the unknowable mysteries of life all the way to a hopeful and connected life.
A wonderful read for middle-grade readers especially those grappling with loss and searching for their inner gifts!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc
April 9, 2021
What a magical story....filled with love, loss, magic and music. Harrison copes with the death of his mom and separation from his Dad. While he practices his magic, and learns to use art to cope with his loss, he finds a connection between art, music and magic. Throw in and art festival and some town folklore about a muse who has retreated into the nearby canyons. Then when an elusive black dog leads Harrison and his new friend Marco and old friend Chloe into the canyons, they discover that their personal wishes bring a little bit of magic that leads to a great big magical ending! Tips For Magicians publishes 8.17.21. Order it now and discover the magic for yourself!
March 10, 2021
The tragedy hits him hard. Suddenly his loving, talented mother is gone and without her Harrison Boone is faced with a life in the void. Tess brought music into their lives and shared that love with him but now that light is gone. He knew that ‘mom’s voice was the sound of home” but he was unable to acknowledge that pain when he listened to her music. His Dad wrestles with his own grief so after the accident, twelve-year-old Harrison Boone is uprooted and dropped into a desert art village in Utah and the compassionate arms of his aunt. Harrison uses magic card tricks as a crutch and they become a way to ease the transition into another school and to navigate new friendships. Learning of the village’s upcoming art festival and that the prize to the winners might be a magical wish, this competition becomes a driving force, compelling Harrison to face his loss and find inspiration. What could be better than to win the wish? His friends share his energy and creative spirit as he now faces the challenge of creating an art project to enter this year’s art festival competition.
Inspiration comes from cultural traditions of the southwest, as the author sets this story amid impressive glimpses of towering red cliffs, blistering desert heat, and powerful thunderstorms. Tess’s music is interwoven throughout, pulling the story together. These are likeable characters who show painful flaws, self-acceptance and growth. This is a powerful story of a resilient boy struggling with grief that will tug at your heart. As a bonus, readers may share my delight in learning some facts about the sport of falconry along the way.
Highly recommended for mid-grade readers with an interest in art, magic or falconry.
Five Stars!
The Elephant’s Girl is another book about the power of friendship by this author.
January 16, 2023
What a wonderful follow-up novel to The Elephant’s Girl! Like in her first middle grade work, this Rimington’s work blends fantasy into a very realistic storyline making it difficult to truly categorize it purely one or the other. Harrison and his father are both finding it difficult to put their lives back together after the loss of his mother with dad so unable to process his grief that he sells their home and sends Harrison to his aunt’s house in small town Utah. There, Harrison finds new friends, expands his interest in the arts and helps to bring a magical muse back to the town’s annual festival. The Elephant’s Girl weaves a fantastical spirit into a zoo, solves a mystery and expands readers’ knowledge in animal care, conservation and reinforces the fact that the word family has many different meanings. Tips for Magicians gives readers a glimpse into art in its many forms (musical, performance, traditional painting, pottery, and drawing) and touches on falconry all while showing that loss affects us all differently and there is hope for joy after losing a loved one. Characters have well-developed personalities and show changes over the course of the story. Diversity in race is present (Black, Caucasian and either Hispanic or Indigenous people) but is not a critical factor in the plot line and is hard to pin down. One main character has a stutter that is a significant part of his changes over time. A key supporting character uses a wheelchair but the reasons are not included, however, he is shown as a productive citizen who thrives and is a vital part of the town. Text is free of profanity, violence, and sexual content.
Excellent book that really needs a .7 or .8 in its rating to place it much closer to the 5 that I so rarely give a book! Libraries serving grades 5-8 should make this a “first choice” purchase.
Excellent book that really needs a .7 or .8 in its rating to place it much closer to the 5 that I so rarely give a book! Libraries serving grades 5-8 should make this a “first choice” purchase.
December 15, 2021
Many lovely things in this book. The friendships stand out to me the most, and the characters of Marco and Chloe.
You can feel the heat coming off the red rocks and see in crisp detail the hawks in their hoods and soaring on the thermals.
Descriptions of Harrison's grief, need to escape and be alone, disappointment with his dad, and that awful mix of faith and hope and skepticism and hedging disappointment - these were all skillful, poignant, and resonant.
At times, it felt like there was just too much going on to keep it clear in my head, or to connect to. And that's even with the settings being familiar to me. It could be a lot to take in if it was all new for a reader.
You can feel the heat coming off the red rocks and see in crisp detail the hawks in their hoods and soaring on the thermals.
Descriptions of Harrison's grief, need to escape and be alone, disappointment with his dad, and that awful mix of faith and hope and skepticism and hedging disappointment - these were all skillful, poignant, and resonant.
At times, it felt like there was just too much going on to keep it clear in my head, or to connect to. And that's even with the settings being familiar to me. It could be a lot to take in if it was all new for a reader.
March 30, 2021
Loved this book from start to finish! Harrison is navigating life after the death of his mother. His father is dealing with his grief as well but needs to do it away from his son so takes a job out of state and sends Harrison to live with his aunt. The town where Harrison moved to all believe in a muse who used to grant a wish each year but has been missing for a few years. Harrison meets new friends and they work together to try and bring the muse back. This book deals with grief, moving, friendship & family and is just brimming with hope & love!
September 17, 2021
slow start, i was afraid i was going to have to put this down, but i did get hooked and loved the rest. i may have slow cried throughout the last quarter of the book.
March 30, 2022
This book is one of my favorite books that I have ever read.
It is about a boy named Harrison who is grieving for his mother who died a year before in a car crash. His father becomes more distant and eventually sells their house so he can leave for a touring job. He leaves Harrison in the small Utah desert town of Muse. Muse has an annual art contest, and a mysterious entity called a muse would pick one or more people to be granted a wish. However, the muse has not been seen in many years after the people of Muse started to make the art contest more about money and less about art. Harrison makes two friends: Chloe and Marco. Chloe is not really a special character in any way, but she is still a very real, fresh, and complex character that I could see as someone in real life. Marco is a boy who stutters, which is the coolest thing that I have ever seen in a book. I have a stutter, and for Rimington to include this in the book is amazing. I gasped aloud when Marco was introduced.
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER BECAUSE THIS PART CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS!
As the book progresses, he becomes more at home in Muse, but still wishes that his father was with him. Finally, at the very end of the book, Harrison and his friends meet the muse and then host a tribute concert for his mom. After the concert, he feels sad because his dad is not there, but then he notices him, and they have a hug that "has enough love for three people."
In the end, his dad moves to Muse and they live happily ever after. This is the part I don't like as much. The ending seems fake, and it just wasn't satisfying. It felt like the author was trying too hard to make the ending work out happily, but I think that it gave the message that everything was awesome again, but in the world we live in, that's not the case.
So in conclusion, this was an incredible book but the ending just wasn't satisfying. I would recommend this to everyone one hundred times over, and as a budding author myself hoping to get published someday, I'm going to give the experience that Rimington gave me with Marco to somebody else, and then I can say that Tips for Magicians did that for me.
It is about a boy named Harrison who is grieving for his mother who died a year before in a car crash. His father becomes more distant and eventually sells their house so he can leave for a touring job. He leaves Harrison in the small Utah desert town of Muse. Muse has an annual art contest, and a mysterious entity called a muse would pick one or more people to be granted a wish. However, the muse has not been seen in many years after the people of Muse started to make the art contest more about money and less about art. Harrison makes two friends: Chloe and Marco. Chloe is not really a special character in any way, but she is still a very real, fresh, and complex character that I could see as someone in real life. Marco is a boy who stutters, which is the coolest thing that I have ever seen in a book. I have a stutter, and for Rimington to include this in the book is amazing. I gasped aloud when Marco was introduced.
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER BECAUSE THIS PART CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS!
As the book progresses, he becomes more at home in Muse, but still wishes that his father was with him. Finally, at the very end of the book, Harrison and his friends meet the muse and then host a tribute concert for his mom. After the concert, he feels sad because his dad is not there, but then he notices him, and they have a hug that "has enough love for three people."
In the end, his dad moves to Muse and they live happily ever after. This is the part I don't like as much. The ending seems fake, and it just wasn't satisfying. It felt like the author was trying too hard to make the ending work out happily, but I think that it gave the message that everything was awesome again, but in the world we live in, that's not the case.
So in conclusion, this was an incredible book but the ending just wasn't satisfying. I would recommend this to everyone one hundred times over, and as a budding author myself hoping to get published someday, I'm going to give the experience that Rimington gave me with Marco to somebody else, and then I can say that Tips for Magicians did that for me.
June 6, 2021
I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Powerful story about grief and learning to move forward. Harrison lost his mom a year ago and has lost his dad to silence and grief. He hasn't sung in that year since his dad asked him not to so has left a large piece of himself living in the past. He has improved his magic card tricks and hides behind his Harrison the Magnificent persona to protect his inner emotions. His dad takes a job that requires constant travel and Harrison has moved in with his aunt to stay near Red Cliffs Amphitheater where his mom gave performed in the past. Readers see his journey to reconnect with people he knew years before when his family lived there and those he meets after he arrives. They will connect with him and his friends Chloe and Marco and relate to what they are going through as seventh graders.
The town is committed to honoring the arts and seeking to find the muse that disappeared several years ago. Chloe is committed to wooing it back so it grants wishes and honors art again and has created a brilliant performance art production for the annual fair. Harrison finds healing and escape in a painting he and his dad create together though his dad was only present via video call. Marco was the last one to receive his wish from the muse and simply wants to be listened to (he stutters).
Rimington weaves all of these threads together to show a family healing from grief; friends who need their own acceptance and healing; a town who needs to rethink their goals and heal, and a muse who needs to hear music and feel needed again. Fantasy spun into realistic fiction. Her writing style captures the beauty of the surroundings as well as the beauty in each of these characters and the way they create their arts.
Powerful story about grief and learning to move forward. Harrison lost his mom a year ago and has lost his dad to silence and grief. He hasn't sung in that year since his dad asked him not to so has left a large piece of himself living in the past. He has improved his magic card tricks and hides behind his Harrison the Magnificent persona to protect his inner emotions. His dad takes a job that requires constant travel and Harrison has moved in with his aunt to stay near Red Cliffs Amphitheater where his mom gave performed in the past. Readers see his journey to reconnect with people he knew years before when his family lived there and those he meets after he arrives. They will connect with him and his friends Chloe and Marco and relate to what they are going through as seventh graders.
The town is committed to honoring the arts and seeking to find the muse that disappeared several years ago. Chloe is committed to wooing it back so it grants wishes and honors art again and has created a brilliant performance art production for the annual fair. Harrison finds healing and escape in a painting he and his dad create together though his dad was only present via video call. Marco was the last one to receive his wish from the muse and simply wants to be listened to (he stutters).
Rimington weaves all of these threads together to show a family healing from grief; friends who need their own acceptance and healing; a town who needs to rethink their goals and heal, and a muse who needs to hear music and feel needed again. Fantasy spun into realistic fiction. Her writing style captures the beauty of the surroundings as well as the beauty in each of these characters and the way they create their arts.
September 9, 2021
4 stars for
Tips for Magicians
this beautiful story of love, grief, magic, and finding ways to move on after a tragic and unimaginable loss.
Harrison moves to Muse, Utah a place known for the arts. He has to move there b/c his dad has a job with a touring band, and his mom recently died in an accident. Harrison is grieving; his dad is grieving. This is a story that doesn't teach you how to overcome such a loss, but it would be a great book for bibliotherapy purposes. It would allow others to see how Harrison is able to move forward. It would allow others to see that family and good friends can help, but ultimately you have to find the strength within.
Tips for Magicians isn't the fastest moving story, but it is so well done and absolutely beautiful. It's perfect for the kid that loves magic, card tricks, the arts, and stories about middle school friendships.
Read Alikes: If you liked Elephant Girl, Rimington's first book you will enjoy this one. I also felt her writing style is similar to Sharon Creech Walk Two Moons and DiCamillo's Raymie Nightingale series Three Rancheros.
Content: Clean
Favorite Quotes:
"Tip 1: Magic is within the story you tell."
"You remember what was good, and you say thank you."
"It doesn't feel good knowing people are talking about things you can't change."
"It's weird how a typing bubble is like watching someone think."
"No one ever wins at the What If game unless it's used to create or inspire."
"You can't always tell what your efforts might do."
"It takes time to accomplish something big."
"I finally know the story I'm telling."
Harrison moves to Muse, Utah a place known for the arts. He has to move there b/c his dad has a job with a touring band, and his mom recently died in an accident. Harrison is grieving; his dad is grieving. This is a story that doesn't teach you how to overcome such a loss, but it would be a great book for bibliotherapy purposes. It would allow others to see how Harrison is able to move forward. It would allow others to see that family and good friends can help, but ultimately you have to find the strength within.
Tips for Magicians isn't the fastest moving story, but it is so well done and absolutely beautiful. It's perfect for the kid that loves magic, card tricks, the arts, and stories about middle school friendships.
Read Alikes: If you liked Elephant Girl, Rimington's first book you will enjoy this one. I also felt her writing style is similar to Sharon Creech Walk Two Moons and DiCamillo's Raymie Nightingale series Three Rancheros.
Content: Clean
Favorite Quotes:
"Tip 1: Magic is within the story you tell."
"You remember what was good, and you say thank you."
"It doesn't feel good knowing people are talking about things you can't change."
"It's weird how a typing bubble is like watching someone think."
"No one ever wins at the What If game unless it's used to create or inspire."
"You can't always tell what your efforts might do."
"It takes time to accomplish something big."
"I finally know the story I'm telling."
September 29, 2021
4.5 stars
Thanks to the publisher for the free copy.
This beautiful new novel of healing follows a 12 year old trying to adjust to life after his mom’s death a year ago. His father seems to keep pulling away and he is sent to live with his aunt in an art village in southern Utah. The town holds an annual art contest that used to be visited by a magical muse which granted a wish to the winner, but it hasn’t been seen in years.
This story falls in the category of magical realism which means it is grounded in the real world and isn’t full-on fantasy, but it has bits of whimsy and magic that blur the lines of reality. It was heartwarming to watch the main character heal and hope through magic tricks, art, music and friendship as he tried to help return the muse. I really liked the use of the chapter headings throughout the story in the form of tips. The desert setting felt very alive and reminiscent of my own experiences growing up in New Mexico. I have actually been to the outdoor amphitheater that inspired this story when I watched a live performance there 2 years ago. Another aspect of this story I appreciated was that the child perspective actually felt like a child. This is a hopeful, beautiful story that would be wonderful to share as a family, classroom, or individually.
Thanks to the publisher for the free copy.
This beautiful new novel of healing follows a 12 year old trying to adjust to life after his mom’s death a year ago. His father seems to keep pulling away and he is sent to live with his aunt in an art village in southern Utah. The town holds an annual art contest that used to be visited by a magical muse which granted a wish to the winner, but it hasn’t been seen in years.
This story falls in the category of magical realism which means it is grounded in the real world and isn’t full-on fantasy, but it has bits of whimsy and magic that blur the lines of reality. It was heartwarming to watch the main character heal and hope through magic tricks, art, music and friendship as he tried to help return the muse. I really liked the use of the chapter headings throughout the story in the form of tips. The desert setting felt very alive and reminiscent of my own experiences growing up in New Mexico. I have actually been to the outdoor amphitheater that inspired this story when I watched a live performance there 2 years ago. Another aspect of this story I appreciated was that the child perspective actually felt like a child. This is a hopeful, beautiful story that would be wonderful to share as a family, classroom, or individually.
March 10, 2021
Harrison’s mother called him “Harrison the Magnificent”. But after she dies in a car accident, Harrison doesn’t feel magnificent anymore. He begins practicing magic tricks, hiding behind his brave magician persona to help him cope with his grief. And at least he has his dad and the home where they had all been together as a family.
But when Harrison’s dad decides to accept a position as a stage manager for a band going on tour, he sends Harrison to live in the southern Utah desert with his Aunt Maggie. Uprooted from his home and feeling abandoned by his father, Harrison doubts he will ever find happiness again.
He arrives in Muse and learns the town is named after a magical muse who grants a wish to the winner of the annual art contest. Harrison knows exactly what he would wish for if he won: to be back together as a family with his dad. But the muse hasn’t granted a wish for several years, and no one knows where the muse has gone. With the help of two friends, Marco and Chloe, Harrison sets off on a quest to find the muse and win a wish. Along the way, he will learn about coping with grief, finding family, and how to truly heal.
Rimington weaves a beautiful tale filled with art, music, friendship, self-acceptance, and magic. Five stars.
But when Harrison’s dad decides to accept a position as a stage manager for a band going on tour, he sends Harrison to live in the southern Utah desert with his Aunt Maggie. Uprooted from his home and feeling abandoned by his father, Harrison doubts he will ever find happiness again.
He arrives in Muse and learns the town is named after a magical muse who grants a wish to the winner of the annual art contest. Harrison knows exactly what he would wish for if he won: to be back together as a family with his dad. But the muse hasn’t granted a wish for several years, and no one knows where the muse has gone. With the help of two friends, Marco and Chloe, Harrison sets off on a quest to find the muse and win a wish. Along the way, he will learn about coping with grief, finding family, and how to truly heal.
Rimington weaves a beautiful tale filled with art, music, friendship, self-acceptance, and magic. Five stars.
June 18, 2021
Harrison is grieving the sudden death of his mother from a car accident. While that is tragic in itself, so are the actions of his father who decides to sell their house and leave Harrison at his Aunt's while he buries himself in his work. In the beginning, the book comes across as realistic fiction. However, once Harrison moves to Muse, Utah, it veers into the fantasy realm. Harrison plans to enter the annual Art Festival in hopes that he will win and the Muse will grant him a wish. I did not like the mixing of genres, and found the ending to be absurd. Anyone who thinks this unrealistic fantasy will be comforting to someone experiencing real grief needs to think again. In addition, the book was long and slow paced which will turn off most middle grade readers long before they reach the magical fix to all of Harrison's problems. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this eARC of this book for my honest review.
June 15, 2022
WOW! Celesta Rimington blew me away with THE ELEPHANT’S GIRL so I had high expectations, but this book surpassed them. Our main character, Harrison, is such a lovable guy. His pals Chloe and Marco are spunky and fun and demonstrate what great friendship should be. I especially thought it was neat how Marco stutters in the book, and the mature reactions Harrison has toward that. I’ve never seen that in a book and I’m sure it will be very appreciated especially by those who stutter.
The writing is beautiful yet readable for kids and it was fun to have the magical-realism threads woven in. The backdrop of the desert was perfect and the ending made me cry.
Book recommended especially for kids who take an interest in art, music, and magic tricks—or kids who have dealt with grief. If they enjoyed Rimington’s first, they will love this too.
The writing is beautiful yet readable for kids and it was fun to have the magical-realism threads woven in. The backdrop of the desert was perfect and the ending made me cry.
Book recommended especially for kids who take an interest in art, music, and magic tricks—or kids who have dealt with grief. If they enjoyed Rimington’s first, they will love this too.
February 12, 2022
I really liked Rimington's debut novel, so I bought this one—her newest—as soon as it came out. Like her first book, TIPS FOR MAGICIANS is sweet, gentle, empowering, and magical. It features warm, likable characters, a colorful setting, and important life lessons being learned. Although it does have some freshness (like Marco's falconry), there's nothing super unique about the book. The plot is a little slow, without any real suspense, which makes it drag at times. In addition, the story's magical element feels a bit forced, making something that is already a bit of a hard sell even less convincing. Even still, TIPS FOR MAGICIANS is a nice book. I liked it overall. I just didn't love it like I wanted to.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I rounded up.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I rounded up.
December 23, 2022
THIS WAS THE BEST BOOK EVER! I loved the magical sense and how much feeling was crammed in between the pages. When the character was sad, I was sad. When the character was happy, I was happy! Tips For Magicians does start out VERY sad, but by the middle things get a lot better. I will probably be reading this again because I love fantasy and mysteries and that's kinda this whole book. It's about a boy who has to move to a place called Muse in Arizona. There he finds out about an art contest that is not judged by people but instead by a magical creature. When he enters his piece the creature does not show! So, it becomes his and his friends job to find where the creature is and how to bring it back!
May 3, 2021
Just finished this one last night.
Stayed up till 2 a.m. to read it.
I felt all the feels, cried at the end--which means it was a total winner!
Celesta has a way of bringing her world and her characters to life! This is the perfect book for a child needing to process grief, who loves magic, animals, or happy endings. I would highly recommend it for young readers!
Couldn't leave a review on Amazon...BUT I can download a video ;) If you want me to do a video review, I'd be happy to do that for you. And, if you have a different place you'd like me to review it, please let me know.
Stayed up till 2 a.m. to read it.
I felt all the feels, cried at the end--which means it was a total winner!
Celesta has a way of bringing her world and her characters to life! This is the perfect book for a child needing to process grief, who loves magic, animals, or happy endings. I would highly recommend it for young readers!
Couldn't leave a review on Amazon...BUT I can download a video ;) If you want me to do a video review, I'd be happy to do that for you. And, if you have a different place you'd like me to review it, please let me know.
November 5, 2021
Young Harrison believes hiding behind his magician persona, Harrison the Magnificient, will help him bury the pain of his mother's death. He doesn't sing anymore, or talk about his mom because it makes his dad sad. When Dad takes a job that will put him on the road for the next several months, Harrison is sent to live with his aunt in the town of Muse. Without Dad, Harrison feels like he is losing his family. Can he create an art project that will bring the mysterious muse back to Muse, and heal his family in the process?
Celesta Rimington's middle grade novel has heart, friendships, art, music, falconry, family, and a little magic. It all adds up to be a whole lot of fun.
Celesta Rimington's middle grade novel has heart, friendships, art, music, falconry, family, and a little magic. It all adds up to be a whole lot of fun.
March 28, 2022
Rimington is the new queen of teen magical realism!
Each of Rimington's novels features a young teen searching to find themselves (with magical undercurrents at play).
The stories use the setting environment as integral to the plot, almost like another main character.
"Yeah, I wanna help," I say, suddenly excited about being in the desert, even if it means Dad isn't here with me. (47)
"I noticed when I came here that the canyon feels alive," I say. "It wasn't just all the talk about the muse, but something else. It felt comforting. Like when you're sad, but it feels a little better if someone else is sad with you." (314)
Each of Rimington's novels features a young teen searching to find themselves (with magical undercurrents at play).
The stories use the setting environment as integral to the plot, almost like another main character.
"Yeah, I wanna help," I say, suddenly excited about being in the desert, even if it means Dad isn't here with me. (47)
"I noticed when I came here that the canyon feels alive," I say. "It wasn't just all the talk about the muse, but something else. It felt comforting. Like when you're sad, but it feels a little better if someone else is sad with you." (314)
February 2, 2022
After his mother's death, Harrison's father sells their Northern Virginia house and dumps him with an Aunt in the small town of Muse, Utah. Set around an upcoming art festival, Harrison takes on a new middle school, new friends, grieving his dead mother and absent father all while trying to solve the mystery of the Muse (a mysterious figure that gives the artist with the 'best' work a wish). My favorite part of this read was how I could really SEE the setting in my mind. That doesn't always happen and it was so nice to be immersed in the story. Altogether a very enjoyable experience.
December 6, 2022
In Tips for Magicians, a powerfully moving middlegrade novel by Celesta Rimington, young Harrison feels terribly alone as he struggles to cope with his mom's death and his dad's own grief. After finding himself in a small town, living with his aunt, he discovers that magic tricks, art, music, and friendship -- with a dash of magic -- help him learn ways to move on. Set among the gorgeous red rocks of the Utah desert, it's a beautiful, highly recommended tale of love, resilience, and finding one's voice.
September 4, 2023
This is a wonderfully written book for young readers that will seriously get them thinking about careers in entertainment and living a life enriched with creativity. Harrison the Magnificent is a boy who had a talented singer for a mother, but now, well before he is grown, he has lost her. Both he and his father have been totally upended by the death of a wife and mother. But Harrison knows card tricks, and even more importantly, he may have real magic to rely on.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book no matter how old you are or how grown up you mistakenly think you are.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book no matter how old you are or how grown up you mistakenly think you are.
February 1, 2022
The power of music, art, and a little bit of magic converge in tof the muse.his moving novel about a boy who is grieving the death of his mother and his father's inability to deal with his own grief. Harrison issent to live with his aunt in an artsy village in southern Utah, and discovers the healing power of the muse.
February 18, 2022
A heart warming story about a lid who learns to deal with grief and loss while exploring his talents in a slightly magical town. I loved how complex each of these characters were, especially for a middle-grade novel. The desert setting is so vivid and magical that it made me wish that Muse was a real place
July 14, 2021
Great book about wishes, muses, magic and finding your voice. Harrison has to deal with grief of losing his mother and his father’s absence as well. Thanks for sharing an ARC with #bookposse @CRimington @CrownPublishing @penguinrandom
September 10, 2021
As an adult this book made me tear up in many places. It would be a hard one to read aloud to a class. I do think it's one students would enjoy, especially if explained that you couldn't read it to them without crying.
February 26, 2022
This is a truly magical and unique story! I loved the weaving of magic and music and art together. So much of this is good for the soul. We all need a little magic in our lives to help us deal with loss and hurt.
July 17, 2025
Celesta's writing is unbeatable every time!! I felt transported from beginning to end. Such a perfect read for children and adults alike. In a world full of fluff, these heartwarming reads that teach about life, family, hope, friendship, and a little bit of magic, are so necessary. 6 STARS!
January 3, 2022
Expect to tear up.
January 6, 2024
Great, touching book! Believable characters and quick storyline. Definitely gave me some happy tears.
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