Miko the Magician

Synopsis - Miko the Magician by Stuart Cubbon, Jr. Miko the Magician begins in New York City as Grandpa tells 5-year old Miko that he’s moving back to his childhood home in Australia. Miko doesn’t grasp that the move is due to health reasons, and is extremely upset. Before moving, Grandpa gives Miko a rabbit named Tomo. Although she struggles with shyness at school, Miko and Tomo become best friends after realizing they can speak to and understand each other. Four years later, Mom’s job is transferred to Australia, and they plan to move in with Grandpa. Due to a misunderstanding of strict Australian animal import laws, Customs officers seize Tomo. He is sent to an animal sanctuary and scheduled to be destroyed. At the animal sanctuary, despite initial hesitation, Tomo is befriended by a wallaby named Winnie and experiences the outdoors and other animals for the first time. At grade school, Miko is too shy to interact with her new classmates. After being forced onstage during a school assembly in which an American magician pulls a rabbit from a hat, Miko and Grandpa discover the loophole that “certified magicians” can own foreign animals. After a shaky start during the enrollment interview with the no-nonsense, wheelchair-bound owner Mrs. Roo, Miko is accepted for night-classes at a magic school. During lunchtime at grade school, Miko practices magic tricks and inadvertently captures her classmates’ attention. After making a passed note “disappear” in order to prevent a classmate from getting into trouble, Miko begins to make friends. At magic school, Miko makes steady progress but isn’t on track to achieve certification before the date Tomo is scheduled to be destroyed. To help out, Mrs. Roo allows Grandpa to become Miko’s assistant, and together they prepare for a performance. Grandpa’s health issues persist, and he unexpectedly passes away shortly before the magic performance. Devastated, Miko quits. Winnie learns that Tomo is scheduled to be destroyed, and they develop an escape plan. The escape is unsuccessful and Tomo is sent away. After Grandpa’s funeral, Miko decides not to quit. She performs successfully and receives a standing ovation. Afterwards at Mrs. Roo’s home, Miko finds out that due to several mistakes, she will not receive a magic certification. However, Mrs. Roo reveals that she has adopted Tomo and reunites him with Miko. Mom learns that her job has been transferred back to New York City. After playing outdoors with Tomo, Miko reluctantly realizes that he will have a better life living in Australia. They have a bittersweet goodbye but promise to remain friends. Back in New York City, a school assembly speaker cancels at the last-minute and newly-confident Miko surprises her former teachers and classmates by offering to perform a magic show.