"After a mysterious accident that closes a portal to another world, magic is banned in Talhaven. But there are those like Rook who are stranded in Talhaven and still have the power to wield magic. Living in exile, a stranger offers Rook and her friend safety, but appearances can be deceiving and the pair soon find themselves in serious danger"--

"In the sequel to the "captivating"* Zig Zag Girl, DI Edgar Stephens and the magician Max Mephisto hunt for a killer after two children are murdered in a tragic tableau of a very grim fairy tale. *Wall Street Journal It's Christmastime in Brighton, and the city is abuzz about a local production of Aladdin, starring the marvelous Max Mephisto. But the holiday cheer is lost on DI Edgar Stephens. He's investigating the murder of two children, Annie...

Left to care for his little sister after their parents' passing, a young street magician turns to illegal activities to keep a roof over their heads. He is forced to use his magic and a brilliant mind to save his sister when he gets in too deep and she is kidnapped.

Illustrations and simple text relate how Zip, the unlucky alien magician, zaps Bip so they can play some ball, but things do not go according to plan when Bip grows so big that he flies away like a giant balloon. Includes note to parents, introduction to the books vocabulary, and reading comprehension questions.