Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism (Molly Moon, 1) - Hardcover

Byng, Georgia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 006051406X ISBN 13: 9780060514068

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2003

Synopsis

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Hypnotism!

Molly Moon has spent her entire life in a miserable orphanage run by the hairy, snaggletoothed Miss Adderson. But when she finds a mysterious book, Molly discovers an extraordinary talent -- she can hypnotize anyone! Accompanied by Petula the pug, Molly hypnotizes her way to New York and Broadway stardom. But hot on her trail is the sinister professor, who is determined to use Molly to stage the crime of a century . . .

About this title

Review:

She might not be as photogenic as Harry Potter, but the charming Molly Moon makes up the difference in pluck in this somewhat similar story of a put-upon English orphan who finds that she has abilities beyond her wildest imagining.

Georgia Byng's debut novel has already swept to such success that it's due for translation in over 20 countries, with a movie version following close behind (produced by Harry Potter's David Heyman, natch). And with such a genuinely likeable (if straightforward) story and heroine, it's not hard to see why. Molly Moon struggles to survive in Hardwick House, an orphanage apparently run by and for caricatures--the beastly mistress Miss Adderstone and her bad-tempered pug, the muscly Gordon Boils (who tattooed "KING GORD" on the fingers of his fists with a compass and ink), creepy Roger Fibbin with his "sharp nose and cold, spying eyes." But as all wish-fulfillment adventures must go, Molly's life is changed one fateful day, as an arcane book draws out her special talent--she can hypnotize anybody to do anything she wants!

Byng makes good use of her otherwise mundane cast with plenty of wry asides (like Molly's fixation on the transformative promise of advertising), great running jokes (especially the metamorphosis of the orphanage's hard-boiled cook into a proud Italian capocuoco), some clever plot sleight-of-hand, and ample funny descriptions (as when Molly finds herself in the Royal Suite at the Waldorf: "She wasn't sure about the Jacuzzi. It was like ten monsters farting in her bath all at once."). (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes

About the Author:

Georgia Byng grew up by the river Itchen in Hampshire, England, in a large family. She started writing as a child, interviewing people who lived in the local village.

As an adult, Georgia wrote comic strips and eventually turned to writing books without pictures. She lives with the artist Marc Quinn and her children Tiger, Lucas, and Sky. Georgia has the following message for readers of this latest Molly Moon adventure: "Music is incredibly powerful. Some of it is even hypnotic. Listen and see!"

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 006051406X
• ISBN 13: 9780060514068
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 384