The Magic Misfits grace the stage and page for a second time in this continuation of Harris' playful middle-grade series. After putting a stop to thieving carnival owner Bosso in their first adventure, the six kids have a new mystery to solve in Mineral Wells. The Vernons' daughter (and escape-artist-in-training) Leila takes the lead in this installment, as a mischievous monkey and traveling psychic Madame Esmeralda stir up trouble and possibly a few ghosts in town. Still, Leila can't help but admire the spirited clairvoyant. While the Misfits scrutinize curious events and follow clues left by Mr. Vernon's own childhood magic club, Leila struggles to keep a heavy secret. Harris and Azam dole out humor, suspense, and sensitivity in equal measure, once again breaking up the narrative with magic-trick tutorials (don't tell!) and illustrations. More than one mystery comes to light by the story's end, but the magical power of teamwork and family ensures that the Vernons and Misfits are strong enough to face any challenge that arises. This show is just getting started. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: It's no trick: the first book in this series was a best-seller, and a big publisher push reveals this is expected to be every bit as popular.

Escape-artist Leila, who has two adoptive dads and was first introduced in The Magic Misfits, is this second entry's protagonist. The six Misfits use magic tricks, codes, and logic to confront another scheme, here involving clowns, ghosts, and a psychic with surprising secrets; meanwhile, the series' overall mystery, involving a disbanded adult magic club, deepens further. Once again, spot and full-page grayscale illustrations and beginner magic tricks appear throughout.

The Magic Misfits are back for another outing.The second installment in this middle-grade series returns readers to the magic shop in Mineral Wells, where Carter—the protagonist of the first novel—found a family, friends, and a new life. The story centers on Leila, the dark-skinned orphan girl adopted by the Vernons, the gay couple who own the magic shop. The quest for identity is at the center of the tale, as Leila yearns to know why her birthparents abandoned her. The plot thickens when Sandra Santos, a beautiful and mysterious stranger from her father Dante Vernon's past, sweeps into town, and rumors of hauntings at the Grand Oak Resort seem to be linked to magical misdeeds from Dante's younger days. Acceptance, love, and understanding are at the heart of this novel, which features a diverse cast of child characters. Readers who love Harris' (The Magic Misfits, 2017, etc.) screen/stage presence will feel as if he's sitting next to them reading the words aloud, as the dialogue sounds authentic to his own voice. It is too cutesy at times, but the message that friendship helps children conquer adversity is a welcome one. The recap of the first novel is helpful, but interjected magic-trick instructions break the narrative flow.A heartfelt sequel that primes audiences for the next installment. (Fiction. 8-12)