The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic: The Haunted Funfair


Children - Grade 4th-6th
238 Pages
Reviewed on 07/11/2017
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Author Biography

Alex Woburn is a glitter-loving, rainbow-riding, pop party prince based in Herne Hill, South East London.
He started writing novels in primary school after becoming obsessed with the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine, which are still his favourite books of all time.
Alex’s favourite things in life are ghost trains, graveyards, watching scary movies and eating strawberry-flavoured eyeball lollipops!

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Haunted Funfair: The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic, Book 2 is an adventure fantasy for preteens and children, grades 4-6, written by Alex Woburn. Melody Magic and her friends were intrigued when the documentary their teacher, Miss Bell, was showing them was interrupted by a commercial starring a sinister and definitely creepy clown, who just happened to be named Creep. He was announcing the arrival of Giggles Park, a renowned and legendary funfair in town. Miss Bell couldn’t figure out how that commercial ended up on the documentary, but Melody, Max, Sally and the Escott triplets were determined to find Giggles Park for themselves and to check out the action. Creep had mentioned Shadow Lane as the venue for the amusement park, which was located in a dark and quiet alley behind an old church. Sally was already getting creeped out just by the ambiance of the locale, but when Creep suddenly appeared in person and was intent on getting the group to enter the spooky old door with mystical symbols on it, Melody instinctively knew something was very, very wrong.

Alex Woburn’s dark adventure fantasy for preteens and children, grades 4-6, The Haunted Funfair: The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic, Book 2, is chock-full of spine-tingling fun and spooky adventures. I loved the first book in Woburn’s Melody Magic series, The Mermaids at Crystal Cove, and wondered how the author could possibly top the excitement and adventure of that book. Well, he did, and in a big way. Creep the clown is about as scary as a clown can get, and that’s saying quite a lot. He’s also disgusting in a way that provides for non-stop, gross-out giggles even during the scariest parts of the story. You know those movies where the girl is going into a room, and you know she shouldn’t go in there -- and you keep on thinking to yourself, why is she going in there? Well, that’s how The Haunted Funfair feels during just about every spooky and scary adventure Melody and her friends experience. I had a marvelous time reading this inventive and ingeniously plotted story and am hoping Woburn will publish the next Melody Magic adventure soon. The Haunted Funfair: The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic, Book 2 is funny, gross and scary all at once, and it’s an absolute hoot of a novel. It’s most highly recommended.

Rosie Malezer

The Haunted Funfair is the second book in The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic series, written by Alex Woburn. After the school bully, Amy, causes a near-fatal incident which almost costs a classmate her life, all future class trips are banned as a result. Sally, whose life is saved by Melody (using CPR), fast goes from that of lonesome bully-target to Melody’s best friend, while Amy continues to cause mayhem, turning classmate against classmate. Payback seems to play ping-pong amongst the students until a funfair comes to town. An unexpected invitation leads the curious group of school friends (and enemies) to explore what is on offer, but what they get is what they least expect, and imminent danger turns the funfair into a deadly ordeal. The rift between Amy’s and Melody’s friends puts them all at loggerheads, but with time fast running out for them all, they need to do the impossible and band together to escape the mortal dangers that lie ahead. If only Melody had an ace up her sleeve...

Having read the first book in The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic series, I had high expectations in reading The Haunted Funfair, knowing that surprises may lurk behind each and every corner. I was not disappointed at all by Alex Woburn’s fun-filled sequel, especially as it focuses on one of the important issues in today’s climate – school bullies. From school outings, high-end parties and temptations which will delight, terrify and thrill fans of all genres, The Haunted Funfair has the perfect recipe with the most unexpected outcome! Knowing to expect the unexpected, and indulge in the fun and friendship that goes with it is what makes Melody Magic’s tales some of the exciting I have read to date, bringing as much excitement and life lessons as other books in the children’s fantasy genre, such as those in the Harry Potter series, The Chronicles of Narnia and more. I wholeheartedly recommend The Haunted Funfair to readers aged 7-15 who enjoy seeing the bad guy get a taste of their own medicine, as well as to adults who are young at heart.

Deborah Lloyd

The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic: The Haunted Funfair by Alex Woburn is a fantasy tale for the later elementary-school-year child. This tale, the second in the Melody Magic series, begins in Miss Bell’s classroom. Melody and her classmates are discussing where to go for the first trip of newly-approved monthly class outings. They decided on an adventure assault course, and an adventure it was. However, after a student’s accident, Mr. Bumbers, the school’s headmaster, withdrew his approval. So, Melody and her friends found new adventures to pursue outside of school. They crashed a party, went to Mr. Munchkin’s Mad Box and attended the Funfair. When Melody and friends embark on an outing to the Funfair at Giggles Park, they are met by Creep the Clown. An the task of escaping the terrifying, sinister park creates many scary moments.

This book would be an enjoyable read for children who love a book full of breathtaking, spooky characters and events. Likewise, some children may become too scared by it. Young readers will be fully engaged as the pace is fast and the plot has one unexpected moment after another. Author Alex Woburn presents an unforgettable story in The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic: The Haunted Funfair. The writing is clear and crisp, and even the most implausible characters ring true. The sketches throughout the book are beautifully done and add to the imaginative aspects of the story. The ending is original and unforeseen. A fun read for those who love scary stories!

Kristen Van Kampen (Teen Reviewer)

The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic: The Haunted Funfair by Alex Woburn is a stunning fantasy book about a young girl named Melody, who has the power to breathe underwater. One day at school, her class was watching a documentary, when suddenly the show was interrupted by a commercial for a new theme park called Giggles Park. The class is immediately entranced by it, and they all want to go. Melody and her friends - Max, Sally, Harrison, Lucas, and Dylan - decided to check it out, and are followed by Amy, the school bully, and her friends. They arrive at the park, but Melody had a feeling that something just wasn't right about it, and she was correct. Soon they are being chased by everything from zombies to their own reflection. Will Melody and her friends make it out of the park alive?

I really, really enjoyed reading The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic: The Haunted Funfair by Alex Woburn. I was hooked by the first page and I did not want to put the book down. It was very well written and descriptive, and I liked that even though it's the second book in a series, it still makes sense, even if you haven't read the first book. The characters are extremely likeable, because they are brave and they show that anyone can change. This is an absolute page turner, and is a fun read. The book had many scenes that will make the reader gasp out loud, as well as scenes that will make them laugh. Absolutely thrilling from cover to cover. I would definitely recommend this book to all young readers.

Romuald Dzemo

The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic: The Haunted Funfair by Alex Woburn is a delightful blend of adventure and fantasy for young readers, part two in the Melody Magic series. Giggles Park has been in existence for over a hundred years and now it’s about to provide one of its memorable fun rides in a strange new funfair. Melody and her friends think it's really cool when Creep the Clown speaks amidst giggles, welcoming them to the funfair: “Will you survive The Acid Water Ride? Or be brave enough to go inside The Hungry Hurricane? Or how would you like to take a walk through the Hyena House? New for this year we’ve also got The Rancid Rollercoaster! Or maybe you’ll want to stick with our classics, such as The Flume of the Flesh Eaters!” Now they wish they had never come here because when the haunted fun begins, apart from struggling to stay alive, they will have to escape from Creep the Clown.

Alex Woburn has created a story that will get the young reader’s heart racing and even though it is written for kids, it was intoxicating and absorbing for me. The writing is measured, with prose that flows sweetly like honey and exciting dialogues. The characters are awesome, well-imagined and skillfully explored. It’s fast-paced, with a lot of fun, rollicking moments of adventure. The Extraordinary Tales of Melody Magic: The Haunted Funfair will absorb you and won’t let you go until you turn the last page.