Tricksters, magicians and mayhem makers unite! This is the perfect book for you, whether you’re a young mischief maker or a seasoned pro, there’s something in here you’re bound to learn or a nugget to catch your interest.

I really enjoyed this as it was the perfect balance between history, examples of great feats and things you can try at home. The storytelling was great and the insights you got were great too. All was bundled up in succinct pockets of information with aesthetically pleasing drawings with a great layout.

It’s a quick read that can be read in one sitting, flicked through or returned to slowly over time. I actually learnt a few things too that I hadn’t known so a book is always a win if he leaves me knowing something I hadn’t known before! Really enjoyable.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

A Miscellany of Mischief and Magic is a fun and informative book for children about the history of illusions and magic tricks. The book starts out with classic magic tricks most of us have seen or heard of, such as pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Then it moves on to introduce and inform on famous Magicians. This book covered facts and dates, too, but in a fun and interesting way that holds your attention. The illusions are fun and engaging and sure to be a hit in any classroom library!

Many kids go through a phase of obsession with illusionists and/or pranks. So this book is going to hit right in that sweet spot for a wide audience. It is separated into three main topics: magicians, con artists, and hoaxes/pranks. It should be noted that all three sections have an air of admiration, which can be troubling when it comes to cons. Each section has multiple examples, both of noteworthy figures and famous incidents. There are also a few "do it yourself" sections of card tricks, simple illusions, and good natured pranks that are easy enough for a kid to try.

Thanks to NetGalley and its author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book

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Magic tricks, or boring tricks? This books had the vibes to tell us the non-magic purpose, id est, when you do a trick, you never say how you did it or how you can do that. Thus, you have to realise there are not much pages, but it seems it has more than 100 pages, due to its huge divided words.

2.0 just boring

A whimsical collection of mischief and magic that will delight children and adults alike. Written for children, but equally entertaining and educational for older readers.

Fun with magic and mischief - Fred and George would approve! The visuals are colourful and captivating..

But I'm not sure I would have included the Trojan horse used during the Trojan War. War and bloodshed is neither magical nor mischievous.

What a colorful comprehensive look at magic! We were engrossed with this book. It is jammed packed with interesting tidbits, history, stories and fun. Not only that but it includes activities that take the magic from on the page to into your home. There really is something for everyone here and a surefire hit with anyone who loves magic and mischief. The illustrations are whimsical and fun. The colorful pages add to the excitement on each page. A great book for the magic lovers in your life (and really, who doesn't love a bit of magic)

Wow! What an amazing book!

This one is just packed with information about how magic tricks are performed, hoaxes through the centuries, frauds, conspiracies, aliens, cryptids, and pranks. Kids will surely be inspired to further investigate many of these fascinating topics. Jasmine Floyd's artwork is eye-catching, and really adds to the excitement engendered by the text.

"A Miscellany of Mischief and Magic" is an enchanting invitation to a world where deception and wonder collide, masterfully crafted by Tom Adams and Jasmine Floyd. With mischievous charm, this book beckons rascals and tricksters of all ages to explore its pages and revel in the history's most captivating hoaxes, hijinks, tricks, and illusions.

Venturing beyond the ordinary, the authors delve into the dual nature of deception, exploring both its delightful allure and its cautionary tales. From the secrets behind famed magic tricks to the stories of audacious hoaxes and pranks, the book weaves together a tapestry of cunning and creativity, unveiling lessons that extend well into the modern world.

Meet an eclectic cast of characters, from the audacious French artist Marcel Duchamp, who defied convention in the art world, to Adelaide Hermann, one of history's first female magicians, who dazzled audiences with her mesmerizing illusions. Discover the audacious exploits of George C. Parker, the American who notoriously "sold" the Statue of Liberty, showcasing the audacity of con-artistry.

The book's themed sections take readers on a captivating journey, exploring a panorama of captivating topics. From fabricated monsters and alien conspiracies to doctored photographs and elaborate disguises, readers are treated to a banquet of captivating curiosities. April Fool's Day pranks add an extra layer of whimsy, while the inclusion of pranks and magic trick guides allow the mischievous at heart to try their hand at beguiling feats.

Unveiling the shadows where fact and fiction blend, "A Miscellany of Mischief and Magic" captures the imaginations of young and old alike. It offers readers aged 8 to 13 the opportunity to glimpse into the world of Houdini, David Copperfield, David Blaine, and Criss Angel, sparking aspirations and igniting dreams.

As the pages turn, memories of a magician's apprenticeship resurface, intertwining with personal connections to magic. It's a heartfelt reminder of the enchantment that this realm can evoke. "A Miscellany of Mischief and Magic" celebrates the art of trickery while honoring the legacy of those who have practiced it. It is a treasure trove of tales that dances between the whimsical and the wise, a must-read for anyone captivated by the allure of the unknown.

A book that looked suitably wonderful enough to deliver some of the quirks of stage performances, historical ruses, downright nasty scams and more, although it didn't quite succeed throughout. We start with some magical tricks, and to pretend nobody is telling us how to saw a woman in half is daft when it's for that very kind of thing we have paid our money. The rabbit from the hat is vague, too, before we do actually see exactly what a modern levitating table affair would look like, from all the key angles.

We return to the stage later, with some quick biographies of stars of old, with a focus on bringing more black, female – and black female – performers to light. But before then we have looked at some more swindles – even at how to invent our own hoax news. We cover all things from WW2 to Roswell, to spaghetti trees on the BBC – and get a counter to the thought that it's only men who launch pyramid schemes. Presented very nicely, with a similar amount of intelligent quirk to the subjects and contents, initial quibbles were soon batted out the window – almost as if they weren't actually real in the first place. A strong four stars for this book that seems to have a novelty topic, but shows up the foibles and fake news of mankind very well.

Enjoyed this! As a lover of all things magic, this was not only informative, entertaining and at times unputdownable… but it was also BEAUTIFUL.

*I received a eARC from Netgalley. Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher*

The cover fo this book really caught my attention, and the synopsis was really interesting so a decided to give it a try. And I liked it!

It's clearly a children's book, but the informations, curiosities and magic tutorials are really informative, fun and well done. I liked that the author makes it clear that good pranks have to be fun to all the people involved. It goes from historical moments that involved hoaxes, to imaginary (or not) creatures and important magicians. All of this surrounded by really beautiful ilustrations that completes the book and gives it a touch of magic. Besides that, the author creates a game (that i lost) for us to discover the true and invented (by the author) hoexes, and it brings another cool layer to the reading.

This is the perfect book for any kid who wants to know “How’d they do that?!” It introduces several common magic tricks and explains how magicians likely executed the deception, even providing step-by-step instructions for tricks of their own. In addition, this book describes the history of several well-known and not-so-well known hoaxes, explaining why they worked and providing tips for how to avoid being tricked yourself. Mostly written to be entertaining and light-hearted, this book does include a few lessons about hoaxes and scams, even including a few stories that are a “load of baloney” asking readers if they can spot the fakes.

This book is perfect for all the kids who love magic tricks and even for some adults, it blends history facts with tricks the kids can try themselves, it’s surely a nice way to keep them informed and entertained.
The illustrations were so well done and charming, there’s so many little details in every page that I couldn’t stop but be mesmerized by it all.
I will definitely be recommending it!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this early copy

What a fun book! Any lover of magic, hoaxes, pranks, and general shenanigans is sure to enjoy this. It's a nice mix of the history behind some great mischief makers and also educating readers on how to make their own (innocent) mischief. The reminder that good pranks are harmless and don't hurt anyone or anything is a great addition.

The writing and illustrations in this book are charming and attention-grabbing. They work together to create cohesive look and feel. The writing keeps you invested in learning more, and the artwork draws your eye. This book will especially be riveting for young minds that enjoy creating some good-natured mischief.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC and for the opportunity to review this book. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

I loved loved loved loved the illustrations in this book! This was a delightful read and even adults will find something interesting in this book - I certainly learned something new while reading this. The perfect gift for the magic enthusiast of any age and absolutely fun book!

I absolutely loved this. 100% a book aimed at children but I know I would have read this 500 times as a child.

The art work was amazing and was perfect for the book and I loved the elements of magic you could try yourself and with friends.

I also really enjoyed the selection of stories for how interesting they were and also for the range from the traditional to the historical.

I was fascinated by the cover and description of this short book and its pages are indeed very colourful and beautifully illustrated with the text detailing magic tricks, hoaxes and scams that were famous in the years gone by.
While it was very interesting even to me and will fascinate the age group it is meant for, I cannot help but think of it as the equivalent of a coffee table book for young readers! Something bright to look at whenever they feel like it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I enjoyed reading it and more importantly, looking at the drawings!
Very attractively presented book.

I love the book itself but I am not sure about its sales prospect. It is an absolutely gorgeous books full of stunning illustrations and interesting information regarding all kinds of magic. But I suspect that it may only appeal to a rather niche market.

This book has everything from scams to good ol magic tricks. There’s lots of information about various magicians and tricks, as well as some con artists. An enjoyable book for kids around 8 and up.