The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris

This is a delightful start to a new series for middle school readers.  Magic is never more popular than when it is in the hands of children. By magic, I mean the mis-direction and distraction of illusion. You know what I'm talking about, card tricks and such.

Since he was orphaned at a young age, Carter has been living with his not so nice uncle.  Even though this uncle is good at such card tricks, he uses them and Carter to distract his audience while he steals more valuable goods from them.  When he can no longer tolerate what his uncle is doing, Carter flees.

A train lands him in the distant, small town of Mineral Wells.  Carter now must find his way and some allies to help him fit in and feel at home.  Hard to do when living on the street and your own wits.  But help is not far away...  I really can't tell you more without spoiling all sorts of fun and mischief that Carter encounters.

Young readers will enjoy the antics of Carter and those who befriend him.  Parents will like the good choices that he and his friends make and how they support each other.  I appreciated that the children where smart enough to know when it was time to turn to an adult for help.   There are currently two books available in this series with a third due out September 10, 2019.

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oops, I have to rip back a bit

I have been holding back here.  I had hoped to post this about 2 weeks ago, but I made a mistake and didn't want to admit it to myself.

The strip the is supposed to go in the middle between the two side panels in the short cowl that I am crocheting is a few inches too long.

How did this happen, I was so careful to count rows.  I even made a chart so I could cross off the rows as I went.  oops, I forgot to include the 8 set up rows. 

Now that I have ripped them back, I am still too long.  Since I have lots of yarn, I am going to add a few more rows to each of the side panels till they reach the length where the edge reaches the lime coloured stitch marker.

Usually, my problem with crochet is that I am too short, but the two side panels are actually longer than the pattern states, so not sure what happened here.  I think I am going to need six rows to match this up.  Not too bad. I can live with that.

Already pondering my next stitching project, oh cross that out, I am going to crochet the SAL with Mikey at the crochet crowd.  He is hosting along with Yarnspiration "Study of Planet Earth".  There is a step by step video tutorial as well as a printed pattern.  I did the last one with him and stitched along with the videos. His tips are great.  I am using one colour from a gigantic ball of yarn that I bought at the Spinrite Outlet in Listowel a few weeks ago.  Yes, that is the home of Yarnspiration.  I'll show you my progress, but first must finished this.

A special request: Please go and visit Lorna from Sew Fresh Quilts.  A nasty customer sent her a vile email because there were some errors in a free pattern  that she had published.  The customer was way over the top.  I have met Lorna and bought several of her patterns, one just before writing this post, and she is a lovely woman inside and out.  Please click on the link above and read the letter for yourself and leave a supportive comment for her.  If you feel like it, go check out and purchase one of  her patterns, they are amazing.  I have no personal connection to Lorna, though I do hate when people use the anonymity of the Internet to behave in such horrid manners

Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray: Elements of Genius 1 by Jess Keating

Nikki Tesla has always been a loaner.  When she did attend school, she was bullied and made fun of for being so smart.  Now that she is home schooled she is free to explore subjects that interest her the most.  That is, until a mishap in her lab brings her and her mom unwanted attention.

At her new school, Genius Academy, she must learn to work with the other students there or face expulsion.  Of course, this school is not at all what it seems, and there is much more at stake than Nikki being in class.

There is much to love about this book.  Nikki is finally with a group of students with much in common.  Not only are they all super smart, they all appear to have complex backgrounds.  Can she trust them with her huge secret, will they still have her back once they know.

 I really can't tell you any more about what happens as I don't want to review any plot twists.  This new series from Scholastic is a great addition to the STEM line up of books for middle school readers.   Note: this book reads at a higher level than the Ellie, Engineer series by Jackson Pearce.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc., in exchange for an honest review.

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