The Lightness of Hands

A quirky and heartfelt coming-of-age story about a teen girl with bipolar II who signs her failed magician father up to perform his legendary but failed illusion on live TV in order to make enough money to pay for the medications they need—from the author of Symptoms of Being Human. Perfect for fans of Adi Alsaid, David Arnold, and Arvin Ahmadi.  

Sixteen-year-old Ellie Dante is desperate for something in her life to finally go right. Her father was a famous stage magician until he attempted an epic illusion on live TV—and failed. Now Ellie lives with her dad in a beat-up RV, attending high school online and performing with him at birthday parties and bars across the Midwest to make ends meet.

But when the gigs dry up, their insurance lapses, leaving Dad’s heart condition unchecked and forcing Ellie to battle her bipolar II disorder without medication.

Then Ellie receives a call from a famous magic duo, who offer fifteen thousand dollars and a shot at redemption: they want her father to perform the illusion that wrecked his career—on their live TV special, which shoots in Los Angeles in ten days. 

Ellie knows her dad will refuse—but she takes the deal anyway, then lies to persuade him to head west. With the help of her online-only best friend and an unusual guy she teams up with along the way, Ellie makes a plan to stage his comeback. But when her lie is exposed, she’ll have to confront her illness and her choices head-on to save her father—and herself.

What happens when the biggest illusion is the lie you tell the person you love most?

• Authentic Mental Health Representation: Ellie’s heartfelt, honest narration of her life with bipolar II disorder, from the dizzying highs of hypomania to the crushing lows of depression.
• A Cross-Country Con: With ten days to get from the Midwest to LA, Ellie is betting everything on a lie—and the hope that her dad won’t find out until the cameras are rolling.
• An Unlikely Romance: Along the way, she teams up with Liam, a guy from her past she’s not sure she can trust, sparking a complicated and tender connection.
• Magicians and Illusions: A richly detailed story of stage magic, sleight of hand, and one legendary, dangerous illusion that could give Ellie and her dad a second chance—or destroy them for good.