The Talent Thief

by Mike Thayer

A girl with the ability to borrow other people’s talents must use her powers to find her own spotlight in The Talent Thief , a wish-fulfilling middle-grade novel from Mike Thayer, the author of The Double Life of Danny Day .

Tiffany Tudwell is cursed. She once tripped over a backpack and fell face-first into a trashcan. She had pink eye on picture day. One time she tried to hold back a sneeze and farted on the cutest boy in class. She longs for the spotlight, but it’s safer to stay hidden in the shadows where the curse can't reach her and no one can make fun of her.

Until the night two meteors collide over her backyard giving Tiffany the ability to steal people’s talents for a day―like stealing mean girl Candace’s beautiful singing voice in the middle of play rehearsal, or drawing an incredible self-portrait after borrowing the teacher’s pencil. Her power even gets the attention of the most popular boy in school, the smooth-talking Brady Northrup.

But her powers can’t solve everything―or can they? When a local philanthropist announces a fundraiser contest, Tiffany, with Brady’s help, decides to use her powers to save her dad’s failing planetarium. And maybe discover her own talent along the way...

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Magical Realism, Audiobook, Juvenile

288 pages, Hardcover

Published February 7, 2023

About the author

Mike Thayer is a proud father of three, lucky husband of one, passionate author, budding podcaster, lifelong gamer, viral blogger, degreed engineer, decent impressionist, inept hunter, erstwhile jock, and nerd.

He has cast a ring on the slopes of Mt. Doom, eaten a feast at the Green Dragon Inn, cemented Excalibur in a sandstone block, tasted butter beer at Diagon Alley, built a secret door to his storage room, and written a few fantasy books. What else is left, really?

Reviews

[Jessica Crespino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry, twice, and want to hug the people who recently got me through something. The climax is beautiful; I didn’t see any of that coming and it hit hard in all the best ways. Honestly I can’t speak to writing style or any sort of “rating” criteria; this book gets 5 stars just because it was meant for this point in my life & was written with enough heart to deliver emotionally. Good twists, good characters, good developments, good dilemmas <3

EDIT: Also, be sure to read the acknowledgments — or at least the last sentence of them :)

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Talent Thief is a wonderful middle-grade story about finding your talent and developing self-confidence. Tiffany Tudwell is having a terrible time in middle school; she's socially awkward, often embarrasses herself, is bullied and has very few friends. She shines when she is playing video games in the persona of Queen Astrid. At home, it is just her and her dad, her mother having died. They live in a mobile home and struggle daily to make ends meet. At one time they were homeless. The live behind the planetarium that her father is trying to revive. Stars play an important part in their lives. One night while star gazing, she witnesses two meteors crashing into each other, and she gains an unusual power. She is able to borrow/steal peoples' talents for a few hours, after touching something they've used for that talent. (i.e. the microphone of bully, but talented singer Candace, a dodgeball from the school's best player, a violin, tap shoes, welder's torch, etc.) The person she gets the talent from, loses their ability for the same amount of time. Along the way, she catches the eye of Brady Northrup, the most popular boy at school. Tiffany isn't sure what to do with this talent as she only has it for short periods of time. When a local philanthropist announces a fundraiser contest, Tiffany, with Brady’s help, decides to use her powers to save her dad’s failing planetarium. And maybe discover her own talent along the way.

I really enjoyed this story. It is all about friendship, realizing who your true friends are, helping one another, being true to yourself, finding your talent, developing self-confidence and standing up for yourself. I loved the relationship Tiffany and her father have. They have been through so much, and are very close. She will do whatever she can to help her dad. Every school seems to have it's bullies and Tiffany has one to deal with, but she gets her comeuppance in the end. I loved how each club had the opportunity to showcase what they do and what the members learn along the way. Tiffany was such a great character. She was so caring and giving. She has a group of friends from the nursing home that I loved and it was so great to see what they did for her in the end. This story connects Astronomy, video games (Cosplay), magical realism, family, friendship, competition and personal growth to come together in a wonderful story. I enjoyed this as an adult and know that my grandkids will enjoy it as well.

[Jilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mike’s writing style. He always takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
The Talent Thief will make you laugh out loud, cry, & cheer.
Tiffany has some fun & unique friend groups. I especially enjoyed her nursing home friends. I also loved her relationship with her dad. I related to Tiffany’s personal growth arc in this book. It was super enjoyable to read!

[Bookish_Aly_Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a well written middle-grade story! I’ve never read one like this one and I appreciated that. The Talent Thief had a wonderful balance between fun story elements and ones that tugged at your heartstrings. I can see many young middle-graders loving this and relating to some of the real life struggles that were presented.

[⛅ Sunny (sunnysidereviews) ⛅]

Ahh so excited for this! I've been keeping an eye on this release for a while and can't wait for it!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

E-ARC provided by NetGalley

Connecting astronomy, magical realism, & cosplay with snappy humor and heart, Mike Thayer has crafted another fast paced “can’t put this down” middle grade novel. Tiffany discovers she has the ability to temporarily steal a talent which boosts her low self image. She justifies using it against a classmate who regularly bullies her, but it becomes a double-edged sword when her newfound talent adversely affects one of her senior citizen friends at a retirement home. How can she understand this magical talent, and who can she trust to help her?

Thayer lets his characters shine in their quest to help Tiffany through some tough decisions and realistic challenges. While his previous book, The Double Life of Danny Day, focused on gaming, this story melds astronomy, a high stakes talent show, and student-made videos. There’s something for everyone.

Tiffany’s sweet relationship with the rascally senior citizens is refreshing, and they find a way to surprise us all. Never underestimate the determination of Baby Boomers!

Mike Thayer understands the value of a sharing a story as a family or in a classroom - to laugh in the right places and at the same time feel empathy for the characters and their realistic challenges. He has as much fun writing stories as his fans have reading them. He never disappoints. “There’s a life lesson in there somewhere.”

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. Thank you for the opportunity to read your book!

The Double-Life of Danny Day was one of my favorite books of 2021 and one of my favorite middle-grade books ever. To say I jumped at the chance to read this book is accurate. The author has a way with words that I only hope to achieve in my author life.

THE PLOT:

Tiffany has the worst luck of any kid her age. To keep from embarrassing herself further (and to stay invisible from bullies) she leads a careful life behind the scenes. But one night, she witnesses a meteor collision and after an encounter with her number one bully during practice for her school play, she realizes she suddenly has the power to steal people's talents for a day. At first, she finds the power useful in enacting revenge and gaining even just a little bit of popularity, but she soon discovers that it can be useful in helping others, including her own family and their failing planetarium.

THE MC:

I could relate to Tiffany, being the subject of bullies in middle school myself. I often wonder if I came upon special powers to show them up even to this day. We can see her kindness shining through, but also her sadness and intolerance of being bullied. I loved that she's a gamer (huge gamer here!) and the focus on gaming being a healthy escape was huge for me. It isn't often we see gaming in a good light.

THE WRITING:

I loved the writing. It flowed wonderfully, and every page was engaging enough to keep me up way past my bedtime. There were quite a few quotable lines, one of which had me cheering (thank God you kept it in the book :) ) "I don't think this thing was given to you to torture you. Test, you, perhaps, but not torture. Stay true to your heart and have a little faith." The book is full of themes that middle schoolers and some adults could use a refresher on. Being brave. Taking chances. Going outside your comfort zone. Staying true to yourself. I appreciated all of it.

OVERALL:

I absolutely adored this book. There are a lot of interesting things going on in the plot to keep readers engaged, and the character of Tiffany was a breath of fresh air.

It's Middle-Grade March, readers, so if this sounds like the book for you, give it a go! I hope you enjoy it!

[Mariah (Homerun Reads)]

Content Rating: 🟢 Homerun!

My Review
I haven’t read it, but as far as I can tell, it’s clean and appropriate for elementary kids.

Find more clean reads here: Homerun Reads (Notion)

Follow me to easily see my content reviews (if available) when you look up books here on Goodreads.

[Megan Bristow · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. What a fun, heartwarming read. I laughed, I identified with and rooted for the protagonist, I cried just a little… in all, a very heartwarming, heart filling read. It was light, while also being meaningful. Highly recommend for upper elementary/middle school girls.

The first 50 pages were a little bit slow, yes — but after I hit approximately page 75, it was tough to put down. So good!

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy from Tantor Audio and am voluntarily reviewing it.

I requested an audio copy of this one as I liked the premise for it. And I am so glad I picked this one up as I loved this story. It's a lovely Middle Grade story with a touch of magic. Main character Tiffany witnesses a meteor shower and wakes up the next day with the ability to steal people's talents or more accurately borrow them. This story is beautifully told and has some wonderful messages and was just so fun to read. There are themes of being yourself, friendship and helping others.

From start to finish this book had my attention. The pacing felt really well done with every scene having a goal and I just had such a fun time listening to it. The whole book is so well written, from the set-up to Tiffany gaining her powers to her figuring out her powers and then the ending with the talent show. I also loved how this book totally went into a different direction with the talent show and how Tiffany participated in it than I had expected, although I did predict which costume she would have and thought it was perfect for her. The whole ending and wrap up was just so well done and I really liked how things got resolved and how Tiffany participated in the talent show.

I thought the touch of magic with Tiffany being ale to steal people's talents was quite fun and well done. The way Tiffany has to figure out how it works and then goes around to try people's talents. The way she felt experiencing these talents was awesome and the way she absorbed some of the feelings and vibes around the actual talent gave an interesting way of her experiencing parts of people's lives. And the story also deals with how ethical stealing people's talents is as Tiffany realizes what happens when she steals people's talents. I liked how that part got done and how Tiffany deals with it.

I really liked reading about Tiffany, she was such a likable and kind character. I thought she felt pretty real and relatable as well, with the way she used to hide in the shadows as she feels she is cursed and is afraid of people seeing her and bullying her. The bullying was really sad to read about, but I liked how that plot line got resolved and how Tiffany handled her main bully Candace and faced her in the competition. I liked seeing Tiffany's personality shine through in what she did and how she approached things. She's so kind and cares about others and has some great friends around her. She makes mistakes and doesn't always do everything right, but I thought the way she dealt with that and moved forward really showed her personality.

The narrator for this book was new to me and I thought she was a perfect fit for this story. from the first second I listened to it I could believe she was Tiffany as she made her voice sound young enough to fit Tiffany. I thought she did the different voices well too, but I especially liked how she brought Tiffany's character to life. I would definitely listen to books narrated by her again.

To summarize: I loved this wonderful Middle Grade story with a touch of magic. I liked the premise and how it was handled with Tiffany gaining the ability to steal people's talents. I liked the themes and messages of this book with themes of talents, friendship, being yourself and helping others. I really liked this book from start to finish and thought it was very well written with good pacing and progression throughout that kept me excited to listen to more. The ending was so well done and I really liked how everything got wrapped up. I really liked reading about Tiffany, I thought she was likable and felt relatable. I especially liked how kind she was and how she handled it when she made mistakes. She has some great friends around her who help her out. I liked how the narrator brought Tiffany to life and I thought her voice fit Tiffany well and sounded young enough to fit Tiffany.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiffany is having a miserable time in middle school; she's a walking example of social awkwardness and embarrassment, to the point that she's convinced she's cursed. She only feels powerful when playing video games as Queen Astrid, with her crew. It doesn't help that she and her father are teetering on the poverty line, having experienced homelessness, and now living in a mobile home behind the run-down planetarium her father is trying to revive, because their lives literally depend on it. Then one night, after she witnesses two meteors crashing into each other, Tiffany discovers she has the ability to "borrow" peoples' talents for a few hours, after touching something they've used with their talent. That could be the microphone of super-mean-girl-but-incredible-singer Candace, a dodgeball from the school's best player, a violin, tap shoes, welder's torch, etc. Whomever she borrows from loses their talent for the same amount of time. With all this potential at her fingertips, Tiffany has to figure out how best to use it--and how to make sure she's not negatively affecting those she borrows from. Can this ability help save the planetarium?

I really liked this one, especially with all the world-building of the planetarium. The characters were distinct and interesting, too. I haven't run into this particular "power" before, but it's a cool idea; though I ended up having to read the book backward because I was so sure things would go spectacularly wrong before she learned her lesson and lost her powers. I was pleasantly surprised that it did not unfold in an entirely predictable way, though, and that the author had the character think through the ethics of her ability. Not all the questions about the ability got answered, though, and I'm not sure how Tiffany figured out exactly how long the talents stayed with her. I would like to have seen her want to build a talent on her own, but I think the video gaming was supposed to fill in for that. Overall, a fun and only mildly predictable read, that begs some sequels! Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Talent Thief was a quick read that I could tell the author put his heart into. At times the side characters were cliched ("popular girl" Candace and her friends, gaming "nerd" Simon, and the MC's distracted Dad), though I liked reading about some of them. Tiffany's voice seemed authentic to me and I'd say most middle grade readers would agree, although teens and adults reading The Talent Thief might find her pitying her own social status too often. The magic system wasn't too nuanced, but it did not need to be. Tiffany's power of touching an object and taking the talent of its user is quite unique. I was impressed with the simple way Thayer dealt with the moral implications of Tiffany's gift, and it is not lost on me that her use of others' talents could be considered a metaphor for building a community who can combine their skills to help each other. After all, Tiffany is portrayed as a leader, and it takes a leader to do so. I also found the ending interesting: Tiffany does not lose her power, as I expected given the nature of it - each skill only lasting until 2:22 A.M. Instead, she learns to use it. Of course, I applaud Thayer for avoiding the trap of forcing a teenage, female main character into a relationship. Instead, Tiffany has two male friends by the end of the book who support her unconditionally. Readers will be grateful the situation with the two genuine boys who are close to Tiffany doesn't end with a choice between them (although I was concerned for a minute when the author presented the idea that her time with one was taking her away from the other). It doesn't devolve into the compulsory Young Adult love triangle. So, while containing some elements I would have changed, The Talent Thief made for a recommendable middle grade book.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since her grandmother passed away, Tiffany feels cursed. She often finds herself thrust into the spotlight (through no fault of her own), and thrown into the attention of the popular bully Candace Palmer. Then one day, two meteors collide over town. After this, Tiffany is able to borrow everyone's talent for a short time; when she touches a person or an object that a talented person uses, she can use it for that day. She finds that when she borrows Candace's microphone, she can sing a beautiful melody; when she touches the cards of a magician, she can perform any trick he can. While all of this seems fun, Tiffany has bigger concerns--her dad hopes to save the old planetarium where he works. Could Tiffany's newfound powers help?

***
The concept of this book is so much fun--it is like the happy version of the TV show Heroes villain Sylar (iykyk). Wouldn't it be cool if you could borrow a friend's talent for a day? Tiffany had such a funny voice and I think that the book had a lot of heart. I also appreciated the references to different things (Princess Bride; one of the characters is named Brady Northrup and I just feel like that is a reference to The Westing Game even if it's not!!). I do think that the book struggled balancing the fun, fantastical elements with the reality of Tiffany's situation, and Candace's character felt very one-note/flat. However, I know that I have many students that would adore this story!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Tiffany doesn't have an easy life. Her mother is gone, and her father works long hours at Best Buy to make ends meet, and long hours at the Myers planetarium because it's his passion. He donates his time and a lot of materials for free, but the owner doesn't seem to appreciate it, and threatens to close it down. She also misses her grandmother, who recently passed away. She'd like to make her grandmother proud, but seems to fail at everything she tries. She's on the tech crew for the school play, in which the very mean Candace is starring. Candace has a great singing voice, but constantly belittles those around her. Tiffany just assumes she's cursed, but when she sees two meteors crash right above her, things seem to change. At first, she thinks that it may be coincidental that just when Candace loses the ability to sing, she is able to belt out a tune, but she eventually realizes that she can "steal" someone's talent for a day. The one person she tells is Brady, who thinks that they can turn this newfound skill into an internet sensation, and enter a contest that might help save the planetarium. She also lets her friends at a senior facility in on some of her secret after she mistakenly appropriates her older friend's ability to shuffle cards, leaving him to feel that he's had a stroke or similar episode! Tiffany benefits from Brady's friendship, and his ability to borrow items from people with amusing skills so that she caan absorb them for their videos helps to launch their success. But will it be enough?
Strengths: Like this author's The Double Life of Danny Day, this is a well developed story with a solid foray into believeable magical realism. Is Tiffany any more cursed than most middle school students? No, but I was more than happy when she gained her magical power and was able to use it to get back a bit at Candace and her cronies and to try and improve her life. The day to day struggles that she and her father face will speak to many children who have parents who depend on them to make dinner and take care of themselves. It was also good to see Tiffany's friends at the retirement facility; in an ideal world, senior care centers would always be built down the street from middle schools so that just this type of generational camraderie could occur. Brady was an unexpected ally who uses his knowledge of social media to good effect. The cover is just the right kind of illustration, with hints of the magical qualities.
Weaknesses: I wish Candace has been a bit more nuanced. I'd love to see a book where the mean girl is not beautiful and talented!
What I really think: This reminded me a bit of Snyder's Bigger Than a Breadbox, in that a tween has to make the moral choice between getting good things for herself, but to the detriment of others. Tiffany is worried about her own curse at the beginning of the book, but widens her circle of concern to the larger community, and is able to work through her own problems as she makes progress on helping others, which is a great message. Definitely keeping an eye on Mr. Thayer's work!

Ms. Yingling

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun and heartwarming book! Tiffany is such a great main character, and I was rooting for her the whole time. Things have been tough for her since her grandmother died, so much so that she's begun to see herself as cursed. But when two meteors collide over her backyard, giving her the power to steal other people's talents, things start to change and Tiffany must make some tough decisions about how to use her newfound ability.

This book is both funny and heartfelt, and was written in an engaging style that I know middle-graders will enjoy. I also loved how her friends spanned from her online gaming club to the elderly residents of the Sunny Vistas Assisted Living facilities. These relationships are genuine and believable, as is her relationship with her single father. Their struggles felt very real, and I know many kids will relate.

This is such a beautiful story of self-acceptance, personal, and friendship. I can't wait to share this with the students and teachers at my school!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Tiffany is having a tough time in middle school. Her mom abandoned the family so it's just her and her dad. Her dad is working two jobs in order to keep them afloat. One of them is at the planetarium right behind their somewhat dilapidated home - but he loves his work there and will do anything to make sure the planetarium stays in business. Meanwhile Tiffany is struggling with bullies and is convinced that she has been cursed with bad luck when her grandma died two years earlier. The one night during a meteor shower, she made a wish and discovered that she was able to steal people's talents for a day. In an effort to help her dad save the planetarium, she decides to use her new ability to win a talent show but she'll have some tough decisions to make along the way.

This is a sweet story about family and friendship; I especially love the intergenerational friendships. The bully falls into a typical stereotype but the other issues which Tiffany and her dad face are complex. She also faces moral and integrity issues.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if you could “borrow” someone’s talent for a day, also knowing they will not be able to use said talent while you are using it? This is what happens Tiffany witnesses two meteors colliding in the middle of the night. For Tiffany this is new because she has always tried to stay in the shadows and go unnoticed because of the curse and the bully. Now with the ability to shine, she sets her sights on winning The Shining Star, helping her dad save his beloved planetarium, and finally putting Candace in her place.

This middle grade story delves into a lot of issues in one medium length book. Bullying is a common theme in books because of the climate in many schools today. I would have liked to see a different ending to this theme. I loved seeing Tiffany’s growth throughout the story as well as some of the minor characters as well. A solid choice is you are looking for a book that will help build empathy for the underdog.

[Wendy Poteet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute book with a good moral.

Our MC, Tiffany Tudwell, views herself as an outcast and after experiencing school bullying, changes herself in hopes of cruising through unnoticed. Her only friends are her online gamer buddies (and ONLY online) and her dead grandmother's friends at the retirement home. Her dad is at risk of losing her job, she experiences more bullying, her grandma has passed away, and she is certain that she's cursed. Until two meteors crash together as she is staring at the stars, talking to her Grandma. Suddenly she finds herself with the ability to steal talents from others. Thus begins her journey into self-discovery, viral videos, adoring fans, high expectations, and figuring out what real friendship is.

There are big, heavy themes here that are presented with a light approachability, humorous one-liners, and the perfect cast of characters to pull it off. Students will find Tiffany relatable and will root for her success.

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting reading about Tiffany's challenges at school, but I wish that here enemy had not been painting so thoroughly evil. I think it gives readers too much permission to see others in black and white terms. It was interesting to see magic being used to address problems, but I wish that the book had changed over to practical solving problem a little bit earlier. I understand that MG readers are hooked by the magic, so I understand its use. I was just really eager to see how the protagonist was going to create tools to solve personal problems with real tools.

All in all, it's a good book. (I've just been reading a lot of Buddhism lately, so I was looking for some of those tools. My bias right now.)

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars for this engaging magical realism book. Fantasy is not usually my preferred genre but I've found in the last couple of of years that magical realism is the perfect amount of fantasy for me, and The Talent Thief is no exception. I really like the cast of supporting characters around Tiffany, particular her three best friends at the nursing home, and how Tiffany wrestles with whether it's okay to pursue good things for yourself if they come at the detriment of others. The book also made me think about what one talent I would want to steal if I could steal a talent.

[Carlee Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiffany is a middle-schooler who believes she has been cursed by her grandmother. Over the past two years, she has been embarassed and had terrible luck. Because of this, she chooses to hide herself and sink into the background of her school and community to avoid the cruelty of her peers. When two meteoroids collide over her backyard, she gains the ability to take other people's talents just for a day. Tiffany learns that this newfound ability has its drawbacks and can hurt people unexpectedly. This was a fun and engaging middle grade read. I loved how it combines fantasy with astronomy and videogaming. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital advanced copy.

[Donna Metler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved a free eARC of this book so I could voluntarily read and review it. Thank you for the opportunity.

Tiffany is cursed. Or at least she thinks she is. She's bullied at school, has dealt with homelessness, and her Dad's job may well be closing. Except for video gaming, and the seniors at the retirement center, she doesn't have many friends.

This is a fun fantasy about wishes coming true, and consequences of your actions, and of the power of friendship. It's a fitting addition to school and community libraries and would be a fun book for shared reading and discussion.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice light fantasy novel about a girl determined to break a curse and find her talents. I actually really liked the pacing of this novel up until the end, which felt hurried and abrupt. I really liked the development of all the characters in the story and seeing insight into lots of different people in Tiffany's life was handled well. I also found the premise unique and engaging.

I was surprised that the backstory about Tiffany and her dad being unhoused at one point wasn't developed more. It felt a little thrown in. It added good details, but I think that for many kids reading this book, some more discussion would have been beneficial. BUT I also liked that it wasn't the main feature of the story, neither was Tiffany mother's departure.

Overall, an enjoyable and easy-to-recommend novel.

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story of finding and believing in yourself, understanding why others are like they are- and accepting both. As much as we all look at others and their talents and wish we had them, we have our own set and can develop them. I love the idea expressed that we are all stars in our own right and we can shine on others and showcase their talents as well. It comes together well with the planetarium and many parallels to learn from.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book but it is more than that. Tiffany is often teased at school. She is uncoordinated, her mom left the family, and she feels cursed. Then she discovers some magic. Through the book she realizes what is truly important, finds a group of friends, and succeeds in a way she never thought possible.

Recommended for ages 8-13.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amusingly told, but nothing new here--not even some colorful ethnic touches to make it appealing to the DEI crowd. Hell, this could have been published in 1990 or 2000 or 2010, I've seen these tropes so many times. Mean girl rival, adorable cranky senior citizens, well meaning but hapless dad, and everything works out fine in the end.

[Susan Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this book. There were so many fun characters. I don't know which set I liked the best - the gaming club or the senior center residents. Yes. You can have a middle grade book, full of magic and senior citizens! Plus, it was set in Wyoming. I don't remember the last time I read a kids books set there.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars Young readers will love this book. I am not one for fantasy but i thought this books was a super fun premise. I Thought it was charming, fun and I feel like it is a nod to Casper Wyoming, a nice little town (maybe just my imagination)! I think it was an award winner but alas it didn't make it.. but it had my vote!

[Elina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cool fiction book. The book follows a girl named Tiffany who is cursed. One day though there is a meteor shower and it goes right above her head. starting the next day anything that has been touched by a person with a with the talent of the object and the talent becomes her for the day. She now needs needs to use her power to save her dad her home and the PLANETARIUM. 5/5

[Sienna Thayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally loved reading this book. I especially loved her rabbit Merlin! I have a rabbit named Merlin too but I wished he could be an indoor pet but sadly he sheds. I still love him though! I also really liked the sweet relationship with Tiffany and Simon! The nursing home friends were also so funny and reminded me of my dad. He isn’t old ( he kinda is 🥶) but he is still so freakin funny!