Smoke & Mirrors - by Barry Jonsberg (Paperback)

About the Book

Grace McKellon isn't a 'people person'. All she needs is her magic tricks and her wise-cracking grandmother - until a new friend comes along and promises to make her a social media star. A wonderful and intriguing middle fiction novel from an internationally acclaimed, bestselling Australian author.

Book Synopsis

Grace McKellon isn't a 'people person'. All she needs is her magic tricks and her wise-cracking grandmother - until a new friend comes along and promises to make her a social media star. A wonderful and intriguing middle fiction novel from an internationally acclaimed, bestselling Australian author.

I don't know about love. I suspect the emotion that others apparently feel all the time is just . . . absent from me. Like there's an ingredient missing from the recipe. The possible exception is Gran.

Grace cares about only two things: performing magic and her cantankerous gran. Gran shares her prickly personality and spiky sense of humor, and she's the only one Grace lets into her tightly locked heart - until she meets Simon, a schoolmate who promises to help her turn her magic tricks into a small business and social media stardom.

When Gran is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Grace moves in to become her primary carer. With the help of Simon and some sleight of hand, Grace is determined to bring joy back into their lives. And when she confronts her worst fear, she realizes maybe her heart doesn't need to stay locked away after all.

A funny, compelling and fresh story from the author of the bestselling books My Life As An Alphabet and A Song Only I Can Hear.

Review Quotes

'Smoke & Mirrors is fantastic sleight of hand and heart; at once tender and humorous, while also having complex conversations with young readers amidst a fantastically funny tale of family, friendship and grief. Jonsberg is one of Australia's most empathetic children's writers; and in this latest book that great strength is on full display.' - Danielle Binks, author of The Year the Maps Changed - -

About the Author

Barry Jonsberg has won numerous awards for his books, both nationally and internationally. He has been published in 20 countries and translated into many languages. In 2019, his bestselling novel, My Life As An Alphabet, was made into an award-winning film, H is For Happiness, released throughout the world to great critical acclaim.