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Nothing Up My Sleeve

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
From beloved author Diana López comes an exciting middle grade story about three friends, a magic competition, and how far they'll go to succeed.
Sixth graders Dominic, Loop, and Z stumble upon a new magic shop in town and can't wait to spend their summer mastering cool tricks to gain access to the Vault, a key holders-only back room bound to hold all kinds of secrets. And once they get in, they set their sights even higher: a huge competition at the end of the summer. They work on their card tricks, sleights, and vanishing acts, trying to come up with the most awesome routines possible....Problem is, the trip is expensive, and it's money that each guy's family just doesn't have.
To make things worse, the shop-owners' daughter, Ariel (who just so happens to be last year's competition winner), will do anything to make sure the boys don't come out on top. Even pit them against one another. Will they make it to the competition? And if so, at what cost?
Diana López, author of Confetti Girl and Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel, offers a story that's just the right mix of heart, high jinks, and a bit of magic.
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    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 1, 2016
      When sixth-grade best friends Loop, Dominic, and Z stumble on a new magic store in town, they quickly decide to become amateur magicians and participate in a competition held by the Texas Association of Magicians. Their first step is perfecting tricks in order to gain entry to the store’s secret vault, something that would be easier if Ariel, the seventh-grade daughter of the shop’s owners, weren’t so scornful of their skills. As the boys bicker good-naturedly about their magic, they also face challenges at home. Z is the youngest in his large family, always last and always in hand-me-downs; Dominic’s divorced parents won’t speak to each other; and Loop has learned that the man he thought was his father is in fact his stepfather. López (Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel) weaves magic tricks, the challenges of friendship and family, and healthy doses of humor into an upbeat coming-of-age story. The boys’ easygoing banter is true to life, and details about their shared Latino background give the novel a strong sense of culture and place. Ages 8–12. Agent: Stefanie Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary.

    • Kirkus

      January 15, 2016
      Three 12-year-old friends dedicate a summer to practicing the art of magic, but the real trick lies in dealing not simply with cards, but with their differences. While stage magic frames the narrative, it's the kids' friendships and complex stories that propel the swiftly paced novel. Z, short for Ezio, is the youngest sibling in a big family with financial restraints, and whether at home or with friends, he consistently feels overlooked and underestimated. Dominic's bright (or, as his friends say, a "know-it-all") and a reader; he opts to focus on mentalism rather than card tricks, in part to understand his parents' divorce and hostility. Only-child Loop (an accidental nickname for Guadalupe) has recently learned that his "dad" is not his biological father and feels betrayed by his family, especially his dad. It's during their practice in the back room in the Conjuring Cat magic shop that they meet Mr. Garza, the owner, accountant, and skilled magician who coaches the trio to compete in the Texas Association of Magicians' teen stage contest. Lopez opens the short chapters with apt magicians' terms (flash, heckler, cut, vanish) followed by their definitions, often foreshadowing action and brimming with double-entendres. As related in third-person chapters that rotate through the friends' perspectives and feature believable dialogue, the friends' obstacles are realistic and the finale is satisfying. A clever reveal highlights this appealing, Latino cast. (author's note, resources) (Fiction. 8-12)

      COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • School Library Journal

      February 1, 2016

      Gr 4-6-Vanishing acts, illusions, sleights of hand, and much magic infuse this middle grade novel. Over the summer, a trio of competitive friends haphazardly visit Conjuring Cats, a shop that not only sells amazing tricks but also focuses on training new magicians. Soon, Dominic, Loop, and Z learn of a magic competition just for teens, but myriad obstacles stand in the way of each of the boys. As they prepare specific tricks and techniques, their frustrations mirror their individual weaknesses, which must all be conquered to successfully perform at the magic competition. Expenses, family dynamics, performance nerves, and magic skill become quite a tangle of challenges for the trio. In the end, through practicing magic, the boys learn much more about themselves, their friendship, and their families. Lopez skillfully balances a realistically based friendship story with ample doses of magical elements. Students will be able to relate to these tweens who have authentic, everyday struggles: divorced parents, academic challenges, and financial troubles. Her layered plot will keep middle grade readers engaged, as chapters alternate focus among Loop, Dominic, and Z. Character development is strong, and personal thoughts and emotions are transparent as readers delve deeper into each boy's personal life. Children will be dazzled by Lopez's inclusion of special techniques, popular tricks, and references to famed magicians; most readers will be tempted to try replicating the tricks on their own. VERDICT Intriguing magic and authentic perspectives make this a strong addition for middle grade collections in schools and public libraries.-Mary-Brook J. Townsend, Episcopal Collegiate School Library, Little Rock, AK

      Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • The Horn Book

      January 1, 2017
      Buddies Dominic, Z, and Loop discover the lure of illusion through their Texas town's new magic shop, Conjuring Cats. Determined to win a teen magician's competition, they spend the summer practicing their tricks. Lspez successfully layers rich characterization with the intrigue of magic tricks, while friendship, family, and individual conflicts present realistic challenges for the competitive boys. Trick names and magician credits are appended.

      (Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:5
  • Lexile® Measure:730
  • Interest Level:4-8(MG)
  • Text Difficulty:3-4

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