Max Mullers has grown up around magic and performing, his nan taught him everything. One day while minding his father's market stall the local bully Bottley, gets him into serious trouble with the Crayfish twins who run a protection racket. When their suit gets damaged due to Bottley Max gets the blame. Now he and his family have to find £250 to pay them back. Max is ably helped by his friends, and a magic hat that caused his dog Lucky to talk. With a threat to destroy their toy stall its a race against time for Max and his friends to pay back the money they owe for the suit. A zany, fast pace tale that is sure to grab kids attention and also subtly deals with issues like bullying and being different and embracing it. A fun read for both children and adults and would make a great read aloud story for sharing with a group. Definitely looking forward to the next Max Magic adventure.

After reading – and enjoying – a couple of longer, more serious middle grade novels, I was really in the mood for something a little lighter – something humorous, that would put a smile on my face and in this new book by TV presenter Stephen Mulhern, I most definitely found it. The first in a new series relating the adventures of Magic Max, this is a book that I read quite easily in one sitting and one which will delight younger readers with its cheeky hero and his friends who are sure to win lots of fans amongst the book’s target audience. Meeting Max at the start of the book, he tells us all about his close-knit family and his desire to be a professional magician when he grows up, following in the footsteps of his dad’s parents. Although Dad has taught Max a few tricks, he has no desire to perform tricks and is instead a market stall holder in the east of London, where the family lives. While Max continues to practise his skills, gain new tricks and entertain his family outside of school, inside school is another matter because here his life is made a misery by bully Bottley – a gorilla-like individual who delights in regularly tormenting him. Entertaining his friends after school with his sleight of hand, Max hears the church bells sound five o’clock and goes to take over his father’s market stall so that his dad can get his tea. Unfortunately, he is intercepted by Bottley who not only makes him late but then proceeds to destroy Dad’s stall and several others, causing local thugs The Crayfish Twins’ suits to be dirtied. Furious at the spoiling of their slick appearance, the twins demand compensation – compensation that Max’s dad can ill afford. With everything falling apart around him, Max goes to visit his gran in her shop. While she attends to a customer, Max opens a locked trunk that he comes across out back and is knocked over by a shock that flashes through him. Stunned by what has happened, Max soon realises that he now has real magical powers and starts to practise them with the intention of stopping both Bottley and the Crayfish Twins. But can he use his powers wisely or will he be overwhelmed with the temptations to abuse them and become a bully himself…? Max is a very likeable character. Full of life, and love for his family and friends, he feels trapped by the bullying he experiences and is desperate to escape from Bottley’s attentions. When he realises that adults can be bullied too, he vows to put a stop to the Crayfish Twins’ exploits for the sake of his father and enlists the help of his friends in order to do just that. When he suddenly finds himself with the ability to do proper magic, he is tempted to use it unwisely – as, I suspect, we all would be – and it is his friends who make him see sense and not abuse it. Sadly, we know that many children are bullied and that it is not always brought to the attention of the adults who would be able to put a stop to it but the book makes it very clear that true friends stick together through good times and bad, an important message for younger readers to take on board. I’ve never met a child who didn’t enjoy magical illusions and not only does Max use them within the story to great effect but the book also gives pointers for the reader to become adept at a couple of tricks of their own – something I’m sure they will love to share with their family and friends. Who knows, maybe this will inspire a new generation of magicians and entertainers who will delight audiences in years to come. With its easy-to-read layout and beautiful illustrations from Begoña Fernández Corbalán to tempt young readers to pick this up, this is probably a deceptive read in that it really isn’t as long as it first appears to be. Certainly, my more confident Year 3s could pick this up and enjoy it although for some of their classmates this would be better as a great bedtime read, shared with an adult.

Max Mullers is a little boy consumed by the world of magic taught by his nan who has a background in it. But sadly he is still a victim of bullying and disaster strikes when one day watching his father's toy stall the local bully Bottley causes trouble. Max gets caught up with the local protection racket when through Bottley one of the Crayfish twins suits gets ruined. Now Max and his family is left with a huge £250 bill they have to pay back or the twins will destroy their market stall. Max needs a little bit of magic to get out of this one and it comes in the form of a magical hat that gives his dog Lucky the ability to talk. Can Max, his friends and Lucky save the day? This was such a fun read and sheds a bit of light on the issue of bullying and how anyone, child or adult who is just the tiniest bit different can suffer and be bullied. This could be a great school room read.

This novel is great fun for children around 8 years and older, together with their families. Max Magic is definitely a story which reads aloud easily with very natural word patterns and flow. Conjuring and 'real' magic are mixed together in a pacy tale full of affectionately comic domestic detail, vivid street scenes and quick-fire patter. Young Max's unquashable optimism, sense of humour, loyalty and sheer good nature make him an unforgettable character together with his staunch friends and a quirky family (all the way from wise Gran to Lucky the dog). The East End (of London) setting is buoyant and instantly familiar to anyone who has ever watched EastEnders. Stephen Mulhern's 'cheeky chappie' persona also comes through brilliantly in the illustrations. I hope Max will reappear in future episodes. Some unresolved story lines make that a good prospect.

I felt so happy to read Stephen Mulhern book. It was a real privilege to have the opportunity to have it. I loved it...I was reading and thinking..."I am so glad that I am reading this book alone...and not in public..." I laughed so much, I am sure I would have been embarrassed if I were in public. So funny! Really special. The presentation is beautiful. I also had the chance to give it to my son to read. My son really enjoyed the story. It teaches the children to be kind and supportive. Max is a lovely boy and really loves his family. He works hard to help his family and he truly believed that through magic it could be achieved. Also, Max shows the importance of fighting the bullies as unfortunately he came across a few of them. His positivity and belief is quite "magical". It is a powerful story but at the same time, you cannot help yourself by laughing. I really enjoyed it and I know, if I want to laugh, I will be reaching out for it again.