The Return of Abracadabra

Gr 3–6—Tyler Yu and Charlie Hitchcock are back for more adventures at the Abracadabra Hotel. This time, the "Great and Powerful" Theopolis is causing trouble. First, he creates a huge hullabaloo by causing a child to go missing, and then he challenges the master magician and hotel proprietor, Abracadabra himself. The chance for Abracadabra to perform one last time and the very ownership of the hotel are at stake. Can Ty and Charlie help their friend and favorite magician defeat his nemesis or will all be lost? This is a strong follow-up to Hocus Pocus Hotel (Capstone, 2012), complete with the same style of bright cartoon illustrations that showcase the magical illusions. Fans of magic and reluctant readers will like the content and will appreciate the story's fast pacing. The characters are not particularly well developed, but they are still likable. A good purchase where the first book has circulated.—Elizabeth Swistock, Orange County Public Library, VA