Orson the Great by Colm McElwain
Genre: Children’s Fiction | Magical Realism
Ages: 9-12
BACK OF THE BOOK
From the writer of the ‘James Clyde’ book series comes a heart-warming, middle-grade story about a world-famous magician called ‘Orson the Great’
When ten-year-old Orson Whitlock is given a deck of cards by his father on Christmas Eve 1970, he falls in love with magic. This present kickstarts Orson’s meteoric rise to the top of his profession.
By Christmas 1972, Orson is an established magician and performs to audiences in some of the most prestigious theatres around the world.
His blissful life is soon turned upside down, however, when he discovers a family secret going back generations. Orson is dragged deeper into a world of secret societies, deception, strange disappearances and unrest.
Events take a further unexpected turn when a brilliant, but feared, magician known as ‘Daxton the Destroyer’ challenges Orson to a contest for the most sought-after title in magic.
Teaming up with his assistant Agatha Anderson, Orson must put his skills to the test and confront his most formidable opponent yet – or face losing everything that he holds dear.
REVIEW:
Although Orson The Great is classed as children’s fiction I found this to be a great read and would be suitable for all ages. The story is very fast-paced from the start and I found myself reading chapter after chapter with ease, firstly because of the great characters and secondly because the story was just so interesting.
Orson is a young boy who has discovered his family is part of a line of magicians. Due to his father’s illness, Orson begins to learn magic at a quick pace so he can take over as head of the magic community. During his training, he learns of Daxton The Destroyer, who seeks to lead the magic community. To stop him, not only must Orson learn magic, but he must also compete in an event against Daxton for the right to lead.
A great coming-of-age story but not everything is as it seems.
Dunfermline Reads 