---

Scholastic Press, 1999
$15.95 hardcover
249 pages

Young Fabrizio works for Mangus, a magician who no longer believes in magic. One blackly stormy night they receive a summons to the castle: the Princess Teresina is being haunted by a ghost and the king wants Mangus to do something about it.

Mangus does not believe in ghosts either and thinks there is another reason or cause for the haunting; Fabrizio, however, has actually seen the ghost. Now they are in a delicate dilemma, one which may lead to death if the ghost is real, and disaster for the kingdom if it isn't.

As Mangus and Fabrizio investigate, they uncover a tangle of plots and conspiracy: a plot to overthrow the king, a second plot to expose the traitors... If Mangus and Fabrizio want to demonstrate the truth and return safely home, they will need to do some plotting of their own.

But then, Mangus is not known as a magician for nothing. Even Fabrizio has tricks up his sleeves, and all will be revealed at the midnight hour...

Midnight Magic is a magical mystery pulled off with no magic in it at all. Its cleverly plotted intrigue is fast paced and unpredictable, although readers will enjoy trying to outguess Fabrizio and Mangus. The characters are fun, particularly Fabrizio and quicksilver Teresina; old Mangus has his charms, too, and the interaction between him and Fabrizio is delightful. Be sure to take a moment to appreciate the irony of a magician who does not believe in magic when everyone else around him does.

Avi is the author of many excellent books, including Perloo the Bold and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. While Midnight Magic is not his most extraordinary work, it's certainly a solid, well-told tale.

Reviewed by Wendy Morris. © 2001 by Wendy Morris