Phoebe McArthur, Messy Magic (Lucy Newton #3), Christmas Press, 72 pp., RRP $14.99 (pbk), November 2023, ISBN 9780645378870
Lucy Newton Messy Magic is the third book in the Lucy Newton series of junior fiction novels. It’s a sweet fantasy story which will appeal to young readers aged 6-9, although there is some challenging vocabulary, so newly independent readers may need some support. Black and white illustrations add interest and support young readers.
Lucy is a headstrong young witch with a very relatable problem – a very messy bedroom. However, when Lucy comes back from a walk, her room is spotless and her doll is missing. Lucy wonders if a ghost cleaned up so sets off to find it and get her doll back. She soon finds the culprit and they head off on an adventure together with Lucy’s talking spell book and pet cats.
This series would be best read in order, as there were a few unexplained references to earlier events. We reviewed both books earlier – Little witch here, and Cat trouble here.
Reviewed by Laura Holloway
