Is this book part of a series?

Yes, it's the first in a series. If your kid gets hooked, there are already sequels (The Tower at the End of Time, etc.) so you won't be left hanging.

Is Nine's thievery a problem for younger readers?

Not really. It's framed as a survival tactic for an orphan in a Dickensian-style 'Nest of a Thousand Treasures.' The story is about her moving away from that life.

How 'scary' is the magic?

It's more 'weird' than 'scary.' Think burping sugar bowls and tea cupboards that won't open. There is some tension with the curse, but it's very safe for the 8+ crowd.

What's the reading level like?

It's standard middle-grade. If they can handle Harry Potter book one or Diary of a Wimpy Kid, they can handle this. It’s very accessible.

The House at the Edge of Magic – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The House at the Edge of Magic

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2025

89%

WISE Score

A prickly orphan pickpocket, a wizard who loves competitive hopscotch, and a magical house that's basically a living, breathing puzzle box.

The House at the Edge of Magic

book

2025

89%

WISE Score

A prickly orphan pickpocket, a wizard who loves competitive hopscotch, and a magical house that's basically a living, breathing puzzle box.

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Screenwise Verdict

If your kid has already burned through Harry Potter and Nevermoor, this is your next move. It’s got that specific British whimsy—think eccentric wizards and magical inconveniences—paired with a protagonist who actually has some grit.

It’s not a 'lesson' book, which is why it works. It’s just a high-energy adventure that happens to feature a girl learning that having a home is better than having a full pocket. It's smart, funny, and just weird enough to stay interesting.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 8-12 crowd. It's sophisticated enough for strong readers but the humor and fast pacing keep it accessible for kids who might otherwise find fantasy 'too long.'

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The found-family dynamic is strong, even if the protagonist starts out as a cynical pickpocket. It models the idea that you don't have to be 'perfect' to do the right thing.

Imaginative

The 'higgledy-piggledy' house with its shifting rooms and eccentric inhabitants like a competitive hopscotch wizard is top-tier world-building for the middle-grade set.

Safe

Standard middle-grade fantasy fare. The 'peril' is whimsical—acid-dung bats and magical curses—rather than truly traumatizing or dark.

Enriching

Excellent vocabulary and a nuanced look at a protagonist who has to learn to care about others after a life of looking out only for herself.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Nine is a refreshing hero who isn't immediately 'good'; she's a street-smart survivor who has to be bribed into being helpful.
The whimsical world-building feels like a modern successor to Howl's Moving Castle, filled with weird magic and even weirder inhabitants.
It's a fast-paced mystery that keeps kids turning pages to figure out the curse on the house.
The humor leans into the absurd, which usually lands well with kids who find standard 'hero's journey' tropes a bit too self-serious.

⚠

What to Watch For

Nine is a professional pickpocket. While the book doesn't glamorize it, she is very good at stealing, which is her primary survival skill.
There is some gross-out humor, like bats with acid dung and burping furniture, which might be a 'mileage may vary' situation depending on your kid's taste.

Conversation Starters

"Nine starts the book only looking out for herself. When does she start actually caring about the people in the house?"
"If you had a magical house that could go anywhere, where would you want it to land first?"
"Why do you think Nine was so 'prickly' at the beginning? Does having a hard life make it harder to trust people?"
"Which of the house's quirks—like the moving bathroom or the burping sugar bowl—would annoy you the most?"

Deep Dive

The 'Howl's Moving Castle' for a New Generation

Amy Sparkes has tapped into a very specific, very successful vein of middle-grade fantasy here. The 'magical house' trope is a classic for a reason—it provides a contained, safe environment that can still be infinitely expansive and dangerous.

What makes The House at the Edge of Magic stand out is Nine. In a genre crowded with 'Chosen Ones' who are inherently brave and noble, Nine is a cynical, 'me-first' thief. She’s not trying to save the world; she’s trying to get a big enough score to retire from pickpocketing. Watching that shell crack as she realizes the eccentric inhabitants of the house (like Eric the troll and his feather duster) actually need her is where the real magic happens.

It’s also worth noting the pacing. This isn't a 500-page slog. It's tight, punchy, and moves from one magical disaster to the next with enough speed to keep even reluctant readers engaged. If your kid liked the chaotic energy of The Phantom Tollbooth or the found-family vibes of Nevermoor, this is a safe bet for the bookshelf.

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