Chase Tinker and the House of Magic (The Chase Tinker Series #1)
by Malia Ann Haberman
Summary: In Chase Tinker's world, magic, lies and secrets can be a lethal combination...
Thirteen-year-old Chase Tinker can't understand why he has the power to move things with his mind. Besides that, his dad has been missing for over a year, causing his mom to be too upset to pay much attention to her sons, so now he's been busted for shoplifting. As if this isn't enough to worry about, his younger brother Andy suddenly has a weird magical ability too.
Can things get any crazier? Chase thinks.
Then, a grandfather they thought to be long dead arrives at their door. He wants Chase and Andy to come visit him for the summer so they can learn about their supernatural heritage and why they have magical powers in the first place.
The boys soon find out that Grandfather, along with their cousin Janie, lives on a remote island in the middle of Puget Sound in an out-of-this-world house where fantastic magic can be found in practically every room, stairway and corridor. Chase can't believe their dad has been keeping so much from them.
It's an even bigger shock when Chase learns that all their magic is controlled by a very powerful and mysterious Relic in the attic, and if anything happens to this relic, every bit of Tinker magic will be lost forever. He's even more disturbed when he learns his family has a dark and powerful enemy that is determined to steal all their magic, their house and their relic.
Now Chase must find a way to stop these evil beings, while at the same time figuring out what has happened to his dad, unraveling even more Tinker lies and secrets and not letting on that he has a huge crush on the housekeeper's daughter.
Source: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review: 
Chase Tinker and the House of Magic is a wonderful and well written middle grade fantasy. I was immediately sucked into the story and I enjoyed every minute of Chase’s adventures. I thought the story of the Tinker magic was incredibly unique, as well. It’s been quite some time since I’ve read a great middle grade fantasy/adventure novel. I find that the problem I encounter the most is the writing – I feel like it’s too dumbed down and I can’t enjoy the story. This book did not have this issue! I loved the writing in Chase Tinker in the House of Magic and it was so refreshing to be drawn into the story so quickly.
Chase was a troubled 13 year old who acted out frequently after his father’s disappearance. His little brother, Andy, turned 10.5, the age in which the Tinker family line discovers their secret power. Andy’s discovery forced Chase to admit he had his own. Things got even more crazy after their grandfather showed up when he was thought to be dead and revealed they are part of a magical family line. They got to spend the summer at the Tinker House of Magic, which began their magical adventure. Chase and the other children in the house spent the summer learning more about their heritage and powers and attempted to be helpful to the overall conflict threatening the Tinker family.
I loved all the characters and their interactions. Janie was fun and her banter back and forth with Chase and his brother was hilarious. Persephone was a huge help, despite being non-magical and a little bit older and I loved her character because of the dynamic it added to Chase. Chase dealt with controlling his magical powers and handling his first crush, all while trying to uncover the mystery of his father’s disappearance and the origination of the Tinker family powers.
Chase Tinker and the House of Magic was a quirky and fun adventure. I grew to care about all of the characters and enjoyed all of their various adventures. If you are looking for a great middle grade fantasy adventure to read, I recommend this book and I’m looking forward to seeing more in the series! The book made me remember why I love the genre and I’m really glad I read it!
Labels: Adventure, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Review
