The Magicians of Elephant County

The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris meets Disney’s Hocus Pocus in this rollicking illustrated middle grade novel about two aspiring magicians who stumble upon real magic in their small town.

Best friends Duncan Reyes and Emma Gilbert want to be as great as Harry Houdini someday. But when they discover that their neighborhood witch is more than just a local legend, their dreams of stardom quickly turn into a nightmare.

After they (accidentally) steal the witch’s magic wand, the duo uses it to put on an impossible new act—which draws even more dangerous foes to town in search of their secret. How are these two friends supposed to defeat the powerful dark forces threatening their town? Well, it may just take some sleight-of-hand, a bit of magic…and (allegedly) a little destruction of public property.

The Magicians of Elephant County is told through alternating chapters of Duncan’s and Emma’s hilarious witness testimony—and is paired with full-page artwork of evidence—as local police try to expose the truth about what really happened in Elephant County.

Perfect for fans of Natalie Lloyd, Tom Angleberger, and Chris Grabenstein, this debut novel is sure to dazzle young readers and deliver one surprise after another like only the best magic tricks can!

Two friends. One stolen wand. A whole lot of trouble.

• Best Friends Story: Co-magicians Duncan and Emma don’t always see eye-to-eye (he thinks she’s his assistant), but they always have each other’s backs when trouble comes calling.
• Real Magic vs. Stage Magic: One minute they’re practicing sleight-of-hand for the school talent show, the next they’re running from villains who want their stolen (and very real) magic wand.
• Hilarious Witness Testimony: Told in alternating chapters as Duncan and Emma give their (often conflicting) statements to the police about the magical disaster they definitely, probably, maybe caused.
• Illustrated Novel: Paired with full-page artwork of official police evidence, from cursed objects to magical mishaps, that brings the hilarious chaos to life.

“Page-turning gold. Heavily steeped in magic trick details and action, Perry’s debut novel will attract a wide audience.” - School Library Journal

“A classic good-vs.-evil romp. The conscious consideration given to the class differential between Duncan, whose Puerto Rican family struggles financially, and Emma, who is well-to-do and white, is just one of the novel’s many grace notes. Behind the fun there are thoughtful and subtle meditations on socio-economic class, bullying, and family relationships to boot.” - Kirkus Reviews

“A classic good-vs.-evil romp. The conscious consideration given to the class differential between Duncan and Emma is just one of the novel’s many grace notes. Behind the fun there are thoughtful and subtle meditations on socio-economic class, bullying, and family relationships to boot.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Readers will be utterly enchanted by this debut novel! The hilarious, tightly-plotted story will take them on a thrilling magical ride. I loved it!” - Jodi Kendall, author of The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City

“Perry expertly captures each voice, making it easy to set Duncan and Emma apart and get an honest feel for each of their personalities. The two friends are vastly different, but balance each other out through their strengths and faults. A clever and charming story about friendship and magic.” - ALA Booklist

“A clever and charming story about friendship and magic.” - ALA Booklist

“Very funny!” - Kelly Yang, award-winning author of Front Desk