A Potterhead’s Dream and a Draco Fan’s Delight

Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton

Published: October 18, 2022

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆

Audience: 12+

Synopsis

Tom Felton takes readers on a heartfelt journey through his life, from his early acting career to his unforgettable role as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series. He reflects on the ups and downs of fame, lasting friendships he made on set, and the profound impact the Harry Potter franchise has had on him, both professionally and personally. With humor, empathy, and candid anecdotes, Felton shares a side of his life fans have never seen before.

Review

I laughed out loud, smiled, gasped, got misty-eyed, and really enjoyed this memoir! Tom is a down-to-earth author, and I loved getting an inside scoop of his experience as a young actor and his involvement in the Harry Potter series.

What I loved most about this book is his ability to look back on the last 20-something years of his life and see the timeless themes of Harry Potter and how important they are: love, family, and friends. In many ways, I empathized with Tom in the ways he was moved by the story, actors, movie-making, and just life experience. This beloved series has impacted my life in great ways, so I was moved by the way it directly shaped Felton's life.

Felton is a genuine, empathetic person - it is obvious in the way he describes his coworkers, friends, and family, and it touched my heart. I was humbled by the candid ways he reflected on the low points in his life, very graciously. Of course, as an American, I also liked hearing about his experiences here as well. Very excited for the years ahead of him!

Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton Book Cover