The Lost Book of Magic

Another year of sharing and enjoying the reading of books with my grandson is almost over. During 2024 we finished reading Runt by Craig Silvey. This was followed by going on adventures with The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien. Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell took us on our next fantastical adventure. The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff provided an introduction to historical fiction. Then Aiden read me Scar Town by Tristan Banks - he became so involved with the book that I was not allowed to participate in reading any of the text. Our final book for the year was The Lost Book of Magic by Amelia Mellor which he also enjoyed.

The Lost Book of Magic is the third and final book in the series of books that began with The Grandest Bookshop in the World. Once again Vally, Pearl and Ivy Cole find themselves battling against the Obscurosmith and the Wraith in order to save Coles Book Arcade before their parents return from Sydney. They  are assisted in their endeavours by Mr Pyke (Billy Pyke) and Miss Kwon (Kezia Nobody) who we previously met when they were children in The Booksellers' Apprentice. The Obscurosmith once again sets puzzles for the children to solve but this time they also have to contend with the Wraith who does not want them to succeed.

This trilogy of books is not just an excursion into a world of fantasy but also introduces the reader to places and events in the history of Melbourne during the latter part of the nineteenth century. My grandson and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the books in this series.

The Book-seller's Apprentice

Set in 1871 The Book-seller's Apprentice by Amelia Mellor is the prequel to The Grandest Bookshop in the World.  Twelve year old Billy Pike has to find a job to help his family pay the bills. He replies to an advertisement for the job as a book-seller's apprentice at Coles book stall in Paddy's Market in central Melbourne. Mr Cole wants to employ someone around sixten but agrees to give Billy the opportunity to work with him. 

Billy meets a young girl his own age, Kezia Nobody, who warns Billy about the dangerous Obscurosmith who frequently visits the market tempting people to make a deal with him. For much of the book Billy and Kezia work together to defeat the Obscurosmith and prevent him from threatening people working in or visiting the market.

There are lots of descriptions of the stalls and some of the entertainers who frequent Paddy's Market which really was the location of the first Coles book-selling enterprises. But this is basically a book of fantasy with lots of magic, lots of riddles and also tension as Billy and Kezia race aginst time to defeat the Obscurosmith. Written for children 10 + years it is a fun book for teenagers and adults to read as well.

Shortlisted for the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards - Book of the Year for Younger Children 7-12 years.

The winner of the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize – Children and Young Adult (CYA) Category.

The Grandest Bookshop in the World

The children's book, The Grandest Bookshop in the World by Amelia Mellor was published last year. Set in Melbourne in the 1890s this is a fantasy set in Coles Book Arcade, a large bookstore established at 299 Bourke Street, Melbourne, in 1883 by E W Cole. 

The characters in this book are all members of the Cole family who are engaged in saving the book arcade from the evil Obscurosmith, Magnus Maximillan. To regain the book arcade the children must solve a series of puzzles set by the Obscurosmith and it soon becomes obvious that this magician does not believe in playing by the rules. The story is a race against time as the children seek and solve the clues left for them. Meanwhile the arcade is disintegrating around them and the bands on the rainbow are fading.

My nine year old grandson and I have been sharing the reading of this book and enjoying the magic and adventures of Pearl and Vally as they race against time to save the store and their family. 

The Grandest Bookshop in the World - information.

A number of books have been written about E W Cole and his book arcade including Under the Rainbow: the life and times of E W Cole and E W Cole: chasing the rainbow. 

A brief summary online can be found in Museum of Lost Things - Coles Book Arcade - and Timeout - The Completely True and Absolutely Bonkers Story of Coles Book Arcade.

This was one of three books on the shortlist for the CYA section of the ARA Historical Novel Prize - 2021 Historical Novel Society Australasia

Winner of the 2021 Australian Book Industry Awards - Book of the Year for Younger Children 7-12 years