• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Alex wants to enter the Silver Stage magic competition, but he needs a sponsor.

Jack, a veteran card wizard, is willing to take on the role, but only if Alex agrees to team up with Zoe, another young magician—and Alex’s rival. Working with Jack and sharing the spotlight with Zoe, Alex comes to see that there are other ways to be a magician besides competing—and that magic is about entertaining people, not fooling them.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Erin Thomas is the author of several books for children and teens. Part of the inspiration for Haze came from Erin's own experiences with hazing at university. Erin's first book in the Orca Sports series, Boarder Patrol, was a Canadian Children's Book Centre "Best Book for Kids and Teens" selection. She lives in Whitby, Ontario, with her husband, their daughter, a small gray cat and a large black dog. Both the cat and the dog hate to swim. To learn more about Erin and her books, visit www.erinthomas.ca.

Erin Thomas' profile page

"Told from an easy-to-engage, first-person perspective, allowing readers to make their own judgments of the storyteller's opinions and perceptions."

VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) Magazine

"Succeeds by showing the value of cooperation—joining forces—and how a mentor can help a teen boy discover what really matters."

LibraryThing

"An important story of growing up and finding meaning in the profession you aspire to. Many teens will go through similar anxieties and uncertainties to those that Alex goes through during the magic competition...With its simple and easy to comprehend language, Forcing the Ace is suitable for reluctant teen readers...Highly Recommended."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"Short sentences and chapters make this perfect for reluctant readers. Within that format, the author is able to create interesting characters and a convincing story. Eventually, Alex comes full circle, learning that performing magic is a way to bring joy to others rather than performing for the sake of winning. This book is a perfect addition to libraries needing hi/lo titles."

Library Media Connection

"Thomas has researched extensively, and magic becomes an effective backdrop for well-written characters and intriguing plotting. This novel is a convincing sleight of hand, with a carefully finessed reveal of meaningful life lessons."

Resource Links