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midnightwritelight's review
4.0
Rating: 4 ⭐️
Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found is a fun middle grade read! It stars Kingston, whose father disappeared four and half years ago. Everyone thinks his father left, but Kingston knows the truth - his father disappeared into a mirror.
Kingston is a likable main character. I think middle grade readers will really be able to relate him and his persistence! His friend Too Tall and cousin Veronica also shine as supportive sleuthing partners.
My main critique is that I wish the book was longer. Moses and Gangi set up a fascinating world with a lot of potential, and I hope we will see more of Echo City in the future.
Thank you Megan Beatie Communications for sending me an advanced copy of Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found!
Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found is a fun middle grade read! It stars Kingston, whose father disappeared four and half years ago. Everyone thinks his father left, but Kingston knows the truth - his father disappeared into a mirror.
Kingston is a likable main character. I think middle grade readers will really be able to relate him and his persistence! His friend Too Tall and cousin Veronica also shine as supportive sleuthing partners.
My main critique is that I wish the book was longer. Moses and Gangi set up a fascinating world with a lot of potential, and I hope we will see more of Echo City in the future.
Thank you Megan Beatie Communications for sending me an advanced copy of Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found!
tcbueti's review
5.0
Loved the relationships and easy banter between King, his cousin V and Too Tall, as they try to figure out what happened to King’s magician dad 4 years ago. He disappeared during a magic show; King and his mom have returned to Brooklyn to save their house. Spooky happenings and alternate worlds (depicted in murals by a magical savant), an invisible hand and otherworldly doubles add suspense and humor to a fast-moving story.
Like the history of black magicians. Sequel already out
Like the history of black magicians. Sequel already out
booksenvogue's review
5.0
First off, who told this Middle Grade book it could be this freaking entertaining? This title can rumble toe to toe with the best of the fantasy genre with plenty of crossover appeal for strictly YA readers.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review
4.0
I received a copy of Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found is a new middle grade novel, one that hopes to open up a world of imagination and magic to a younger audience. It's written by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi, the pseudonyms for Craig Phillips and Harold Hayes, Jr.
Kingston has always loved magic. Even when it was that very love that took away his father. You see, one moment he was there, on the stage. The next he was gone. Yet Kingston still feels a connection there, and a hope that his father will come back, one day.
Now that Kingston is back in Echo City, the hunt for his father – and all of his secrets – is about to begin in earnest. However, even Kingston's imagination wouldn't have been able to predict everything he's about to discover.
“She looks at me with that side-eye and headshake like, look at this kid.
Nuts like his father.”
Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found is a fun and fast-paced read, one that I think (and hope) a lot of young readers will enjoy. Especially those that love adventure, magic, and any combination of the two.
I honestly adored the focus on Kingston and his missing father. It single-handedly added such a human element, while still carrying such a strong air of intrigue and mystery. It takes a while for the full story to become revealed, and that just further adds to the mystery of it all.
Likewise, the blurring of the lines between real and magical was brilliantly done. One moment Kingston is grounded in the real world. In Brooklyn. The next, he's off in another realm. Or he's in a stranger border between the two. It was enchanting, on every level.
This is a novel that starts out slow, taking the time to introduce the characters, plot, and all the conflict found within. But it quickly picks up the pace, until the readers are in the middle of a whirlwind adventure. Personally, that is the perfect order of pacing in my mind, and it made for an ideal experience here.
Ultimately, I really can't recommend Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found enough, especially for any readers looking to try something new and different. Bonus points for making a read that both adults and younger readers can enjoy here (though the focus, naturally, is on a younger audience).
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found is a new middle grade novel, one that hopes to open up a world of imagination and magic to a younger audience. It's written by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi, the pseudonyms for Craig Phillips and Harold Hayes, Jr.
Kingston has always loved magic. Even when it was that very love that took away his father. You see, one moment he was there, on the stage. The next he was gone. Yet Kingston still feels a connection there, and a hope that his father will come back, one day.
Now that Kingston is back in Echo City, the hunt for his father – and all of his secrets – is about to begin in earnest. However, even Kingston's imagination wouldn't have been able to predict everything he's about to discover.
“She looks at me with that side-eye and headshake like, look at this kid.
Nuts like his father.”
Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found is a fun and fast-paced read, one that I think (and hope) a lot of young readers will enjoy. Especially those that love adventure, magic, and any combination of the two.
I honestly adored the focus on Kingston and his missing father. It single-handedly added such a human element, while still carrying such a strong air of intrigue and mystery. It takes a while for the full story to become revealed, and that just further adds to the mystery of it all.
Likewise, the blurring of the lines between real and magical was brilliantly done. One moment Kingston is grounded in the real world. In Brooklyn. The next, he's off in another realm. Or he's in a stranger border between the two. It was enchanting, on every level.
This is a novel that starts out slow, taking the time to introduce the characters, plot, and all the conflict found within. But it quickly picks up the pace, until the readers are in the middle of a whirlwind adventure. Personally, that is the perfect order of pacing in my mind, and it made for an ideal experience here.
Ultimately, I really can't recommend Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found enough, especially for any readers looking to try something new and different. Bonus points for making a read that both adults and younger readers can enjoy here (though the focus, naturally, is on a younger audience).
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
acolemanlibrarian's review
5.0
i. loved. this.
the subtle magic, the integration of magic in the modern world, the AMAZING characters - i loved all of it. the lore, the history of Black magicians... King was an enthralling MC, i loved V, adored Too Tall (i wish we had seen more of Sula and Sol, though! i loved both of them). this is an amazing middle grade fantasy with a lot of heart, family, and joy. i highly, highly recommend this, and will definitely be recommending it to the middle grade readers that i work with.
the subtle magic, the integration of magic in the modern world, the AMAZING characters - i loved all of it. the lore, the history of Black magicians... King was an enthralling MC, i loved V, adored Too Tall (i wish we had seen more of Sula and Sol, though! i loved both of them). this is an amazing middle grade fantasy with a lot of heart, family, and joy. i highly, highly recommend this, and will definitely be recommending it to the middle grade readers that i work with.
katie_in_creativeland_'s review
3.0
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I adored the concept of this book. We have both magic of sorts, mystery, and intrigue plus the back drop of New York. Kingston reunites with both family and friends after returning to New York a few years after his father’s disappearance during his final magic show. Many believed he died, Kingston never wanted to believe it. And he’s going to find out what really happened.
While this book does include magical concepts I think I definitely wanted more magic to be included. Most of the time the story was very fast paced and the characters were constantly moving from one place to the next. I think this is the perfect book for young readers who are looking to get into reading fantasy books, but are ready for a lot of world building or epic magical features yet.
I adored the concept of this book. We have both magic of sorts, mystery, and intrigue plus the back drop of New York. Kingston reunites with both family and friends after returning to New York a few years after his father’s disappearance during his final magic show. Many believed he died, Kingston never wanted to believe it. And he’s going to find out what really happened.
While this book does include magical concepts I think I definitely wanted more magic to be included. Most of the time the story was very fast paced and the characters were constantly moving from one place to the next. I think this is the perfect book for young readers who are looking to get into reading fantasy books, but are ready for a lot of world building or epic magical features yet.
fernthepanda's review
3.0
I received an eARC courtesy of G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers & NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Magic & mystery are at the forefront in this adventure. While the book starts off super slow once the action of the story really gets going it is sure to captivate readers. Adults will undoubtedly be frustrated with the poor choices that King makes throughout, but the younger readers will probably not notice the signs of impending doom. The "echoes" theory is a bit convoluted, but the overall story of loss of family and magic is sure to overshadow the shortcomings.
For libraries: Purchase where you have demand for magic themes.
Magic & mystery are at the forefront in this adventure. While the book starts off super slow once the action of the story really gets going it is sure to captivate readers. Adults will undoubtedly be frustrated with the poor choices that King makes throughout, but the younger readers will probably not notice the signs of impending doom. The "echoes" theory is a bit convoluted, but the overall story of loss of family and magic is sure to overshadow the shortcomings.
For libraries: Purchase where you have demand for magic themes.
annamidnightwritelight's review
4.0
Rating: 4 ⭐️
Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found is a fun middle grade read! It stars Kingston, whose father disappeared four and half years ago. Everyone thinks his father left, but Kingston knows the truth - his father disappeared into a mirror.
Kingston is a likable main character. I think middle grade readers will really be able to relate him and his persistence! His friend Too Tall and cousin Veronica also shine as supportive sleuthing partners.
My main critique is that I wish the book was longer. Moses and Gangi set up a fascinating world with a lot of potential, and I hope we will see more of Echo City in the future.
Thank you Megan Beatie Communications for sending me an advanced copy of Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found!
Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found is a fun middle grade read! It stars Kingston, whose father disappeared four and half years ago. Everyone thinks his father left, but Kingston knows the truth - his father disappeared into a mirror.
Kingston is a likable main character. I think middle grade readers will really be able to relate him and his persistence! His friend Too Tall and cousin Veronica also shine as supportive sleuthing partners.
My main critique is that I wish the book was longer. Moses and Gangi set up a fascinating world with a lot of potential, and I hope we will see more of Echo City in the future.
Thank you Megan Beatie Communications for sending me an advanced copy of Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found!
lorithereadingfairy's review against another edition
DNF at 20%
This book isn't for me
This book isn't for me