Archie Greene and the Magician's Secret by D. D. Everest
Faber & Faber, 2014. ISBN 9780571309054
(Age: Yr 4+) In a secret world deep beneath the hallowed halls of
the Bodleian Library in
Oxford lies the Museum of Magical Miscellany, a repository of all
the world's
magical books and artefacts saved from the fire that destroyed the
Library of
Alexandria and then again from the Great Fire of London in 1666. It
is into
this world that Archie Greene finds himself when he receives a
mysterious gift
on his 12th birthday, a gift that has been waiting 400 years to be
delivered and
which turns Archie's life upside-down so that within 24 hours he has
been
uprooted from the comfort of his grandmother's house (and she has
gone on a
mysterious mission) to the quirky Oxford residence of his previously
unknown
cousins Bramble and Thistle Foxe. He discovers that not only does he
bear the
mark of the Flame Keepers of Alexandria - those who find, mind and
bind the
magic books that are not yet within the safe confines of the Museum
- but he is
also a book whisperer. He can hear the words of the books as they
rustle their
pages to tell their secrets.
Immediately, Archie is thrown into a tricky situation as he
discovers that his
birthday book is one of the Terrible Tomes, one of the seven most
dangerous
books of dark-magic ever written and one which the Greaders (those
who seek the
magic for their own wicked purposes) would dearly love to have. As
he learns
more and discovers the secrets of the books, Archie realises the
important role
he has to play in protecting and preserving the ancient lores so the
magic arts
remain safe. He also starts to learn a little of his own life,
something his
grandmother has tried to keep a secret since his parents and sister
died as she
protects him from the past.
Archie is a likeable lad who is, predictably, bewildered at this new
life and
all that is happening to him, which makes it easy for Everest to
build the
fantasy world so the reader learns about it along with Archie. Did
you know
there are three types of magic? The first is natural magic which
comes from the
creatures and plants and forces of nature; the second is mortal
magic, that
created by magicians using instruments and other devices; and the
third - the
most dangerous - is supernatural magic which draws on the power of
the spirits
and other supernatural beings. There are also five lores to be
adhered to so
there is not another disaster like that of 1666. As all this is as
new to
Archie as it is to the reader, there is both empathy and
understanding as he
makes choices that he believes are for the best and we learn about
being brave
and courageous and he is well supported by the other well-drawn
characters in
the story. And there is just enough real history in the storyline to
make it
all tantalisingly true.
This is a story of magic and mystery that has more twists and turns
than the
underground passages of the Museum of Magical Miscellany. It is a
well-written
page turner that has a host of characters, both good and evil, and
right from
the start the reader is never really sure just who can be trusted
and who is not
quite who they seem. While, on the surface, it seems an easy read
for the young
independent reader, it may be more suited to those who are able to
follow
various plot strands and multiple characters simultaneously. It
would make an
excellent read-aloud, encouraging listeners to be not only waiting
for the next
chapter but also the next addition to the series.
Parallels will be drawn with another series involving an orphaned
boy who
discovers he "has the magic" and has to fight against the evil
mortals but
that's pretty much where the similarities end. This is a fresh and
new story
where "bookshelves are enchanted, librarians are sorcerers and
spells come to
life" that is not quite as dark as You-Know-Whom. Archie Greene will
become a
favourite and I will be waiting for Archie Greene and the
Alchemist's Curse,
coming later this year.
Barbara Braxton