Parents' Guide to

The Magic Misfits, Book 1

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Fast-paced, fun adventure about kid magician finding home.

Book Neil Patrick Harris Adventure 2017
The Magic Misfits, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 7+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Erica B.
Erica B. Parent of 4, 8 and 10-year-old
April 19, 2023
age 10+

Gay parents

My 10 yo liked this series a lot. Although I wish I would have known about the insertion of homosexuality into it. One of the kids has 2 dads. Kids sneak out and fight bad guys. At the end of the series, the truth is revealed. The books teach kids magic tricks which is cool.
Juanita M.
Juanita M. Parent of 3 and 6-year-old
February 24, 2023
age 3+

Great book about magic, diversity and inclusion

The storyline was great and kept both kids and parents interested. We listened to the entire series while on a road trip. My 3 and 6 year old were very intrigued with the story. We actually went through the series twice in a row and my oldest insisted on buying the series for her friends.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Carter, a talented young magician, flees from his con artist caregiver at the start of THE MAGIC MISFITS and hops a train to anywhere. He ends up in the small town of Mineral Wells, where B.B. Bosso's crooked carnival crew tries to recruit quick-fingered Carter into helping them fleece the community. Carter instead is drawn to a dapper magic shop owner named Dante Vernon, who introduces him to a warm, eager group of young misfits united by a love of magic. Though Carter is skeptical -- of magic, family, and friendship -- he catches himself daring to hope that he's found a new home. For his dream to come true, he and his new friends will have to pull off the hardest trick of all: unmasking Bosso for the bad guy he is.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (6):

Actor and author Neil Patrick Harris knows a thing or two about keeping an audience engaged, and he's as successful with his children's book debut as he is on screen and stage. The Magic Misfits has an old-timey charm about it, with a magic shop at its heart and a cartoonishly criminal carnival gang. Harris keeps the story moving at a quick clip and with enough charming razzle-dazzle that readers may not mind that the characters lack much depth.

Some of his tricks echo the voices of Lemony Snicket and Pseudonymous Bosch, but the wide-eyed enthusiasm is all Harris. Strong themes on courage, unconventional families, and finding strength and hope in friendship -- along with some short, clear magic lessons -- earn a strong round of applause.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the idea of not fitting in as explored in The Magic Misfits. Why do you think so many stories feature children who feel lonely or unlike everyone else? Do you think it's true that most people feel like misfits some of the time?

  • Has your circle of friends made room to welcome a new kid? Was it easy or difficult for everyone to feel comfortable?

  • How do Carter's new friends help strengthen his courage?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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