47 pages • 1 hour read
Neil Patrick Harris, Illustr. Lissy MarlinThe Magic Misfits
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2017A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Carter Locke
Carter Locke, the novel's protagonist, runs away from a life of abuse and crime at the hands of his corrupt guardian, Uncle Sly, and finds himself in a strange town with no money, shelter, or plans. As his name reflects, Carter carts around a locked wooden box of secrets and likewise makes an enigma of himself by keeping his own secrets and fears locked inside himself. With this reticent approach to the world, he assumes that assimilating into a new town means he must hide his identity as a destitute runaway in order to avoid judgment or the threat of being sent to an orphanage. Gifted with the skill of legerdemain, Carter enjoys the art of magic but doesn’t put much faith in the otherworldly, mysterious side of it. Losing his parents and becoming the ward of an abusive thief has robbed Carter of his childlike innocence and his ability to dream. However, as Carter begins to explore the charming town of Mineral Wells, his cynicism fades as he bonds with fellow illusionists and lovers of magic who perform not for money or personal glory but simply for the challenge and the joy of it. Carter faces a critical choice by refusing to join Bosso’s carnival gang, and he must subsequently learn to trust his intuition and his benevolent mentor, Mr. Vernon. Carter is a dynamic character who transforms from a runaway orphan to a loved and valued member of a magician’s troupe and family.
In Mineral Wells, Carter finds freedom and a place to practice his magic skills on his own terms, rather than remaining tied to Uncle Sly’s exploitative schemes. Moreover, Leila and her friends accept Carter as he is and include him in their group without judging his appearance or his lack of resources. Theo welcomes him into his home, and even the skeptical Ridley listens to Carter’s story and offers him empathy and acceptance. However, Mr. Vernon significantly impacts Carter, serving as Uncle Sly’s opposite in every way. Instead of tearing him down or deriding his morals like Uncle Sly used to do, Mr. Vernon calls him “a young man with great intelligence, even greater common sense, and an honorable code” (83). When Carter teams up with the misfits, he gains confidence in himself. By thwarting Bosso’s heist, he also atones for the crimes he was forced to commit under Uncle Sly’s authoritarian rule. Carter’s journey from isolation to belonging underscores the importance of friendship, acceptance, and self-discovery, and his growth and development throughout the narrative highlight the redemptive power of embracing one’s identity and finding strength in the community. Through his experiences, Carter learns that true magic lies in connection, acceptance, and believing in oneself.
Uncle Sly
Sylvester Beaton became Carter’s guardian after his parents died. Appropriately nicknamed Uncle Sly, he works as a con artist and moves from town to town, using his sleight-of-hand tricks to swindle people out of their money. As the narrative wryly states, “Uncle Sly was not an ideal guardian by any stretch of the imagination” (13). Even his kinder moments with Carter are a deliberate fraud, as when others are watching, Sly pretends to love and dote on Carter, but in reality, he often threatens Carter with abuse and abandonment if the boy refuses to aid him in his schemes. Sly never provides Carter with a stable home or a reliable source of income, forcing the boy to live as a displaced, food-insecure child in a constant state of anxiety. Not only does Carter suffer physically from Uncle Sly’s neglect, but he also suffers emotionally because he knows that stealing is wrong but is still forced to assist with Uncle Sly’s fraudulent acts.
Even after Carter escapes on the train and begins his life again in Mineral Wells, he can’t shake the looming shadow of Uncle Sly’s influence as he struggles to trust others and tries to believe that he deserves a better life. Uncle Sly represents the dark side of magic when it is used for selfish and harmful practices. Thus, he represents a sharp contrast with Mr. Vernon, who teaches Carter how to use his skills for good. Uncle Sly is ultimately a villainous adult character whose power in Carter’s life is defeated by the love and acceptance that the boy gains from Mr. Vernon and the Magic Misfits.
Dante Vernon
Dante Vernon is a magician and purveyor of the magic shop in Mineral Wells. He is Leila’s adoptive father and is happily married to the Other Mr. Vernon, the head chef at the Grand Oaks Resort. When Carter first sees the mysterious illusionist performing a coin trick in the carnival crowd, he feels an instant connection to him. Mr. Vernon becomes a mentor and eventually a father figure to Carter when he finally reveals that they are related. Though he is a talented illusionist, Mr. Vernon’s true talent is protecting Carter and providing for his needs without embarrassing him. For example, after spending a night in the park, Carter realizes that someone has given him money and a blanket. Later, Carter learns that Mr. Vernon used his sleight of hand to keep Carter warm and fed, thus teaching him that magic can be used for more than trickery and profit. The text describes Mr. Vernon’s strong moral character, stating, “He did tricks for no reason other than to be friendly” (52). As a foil to Uncle Sly and Bosso, Mr. Vernon teaches Carter to trust adults and shows him what it means to care for someone. Mr. Vernon encourages Carter to become an illusionist and helps him to recapture his belief in the miraculous. With his signature phrase, “Magic is all around us. We just have to pay attention” (46), Mr. Vernon exemplifies the beauty of acceptance and reminds Carter to hold on to his childlike innocence and wonder of the world.
Leila Vernon
Leila is the adopted daughter of Dante Vernon and his husband and is a talented escape artist. Leila is the first child that Carter meets in Mineral Wells, and although she is wearing a straitjacket, her cheerful, welcoming spirit makes him feel at home in the magic shop. Leila’s talent for escaping tight, sticky situations and her relentless positivity make her a valuable member of the Magic Misfits. Although she claims that her classmates ostracize her for her love of magic, she doesn’t let this social rejection hamper her confidence. Leila’s passion for magic draws Carter in right away, but when he learns that she is adopted, he feels a deeper connection to her upon realizing that they share similar past experiences. Leila explains how she views her situation, saying, “I was rather lucky ending up with someone who understands my need to escape. I was good at it before, but since I came here, my dad’s taught me all sorts of ways to do it better” (78). Through Leila and her dad, Carter realizes that there are many different types of family, and he regains the hope that he might one day find a family, too. After escaping from Uncle Sly, Carter is bitter and cynical about life, but being with Leila restores his hope as she teaches him to look for the good in every situation. Ultimately, Leila transforms from Carter’s teammate and friend to his adopted sibling as Mr. Vernon invites Carter to become part of their family.
B. B. Bosso
Bosso is the novel’s antagonist and the owner of B. B. Bosso’s Carnival Spectacular, a traveling circus-like show that is an elaborate masquerade for an underlying criminal operation based on blatant thievery. Bosso is the quintessential mustache-twirling ringmaster villain who uses trickery, misdirection, and larger-than-life spectacles to thrill the crowd while simultaneously enriching himself with stolen goods and money. Even as he offers Carter a chance to be a part of the carnival, he shows his villainy by seeking to exploit Carter’s talents for his own profit. Bosso and his carnival crew, who remorselessly use lies and deceit for personal gain, are the opposite of Mr. Vernon and the Magic Misfits, who use magic to cultivate joy and help others. Bosso’s ruthless greed poses a formidable challenge for the children as they unite to spoil his plans to steal the diamond, but taking on the villain gives them the chance to showcase their skills and solidify their bond as a team.
