a seasoned stylist, weaving enchantment and enigma into the fabric of mundane objects. The simple rhythms of family life infuse her narratives with depth, serving as the fertile ground from which extraordinary events inevitably bloom. Take, for instance, a scene where Harry's mother, Naomi, alongside Anthony Hesketh, stands at the kitchen sink, their dishwashing chore becoming the canvas for unraveling the mystery of Teddy's tragic end. Harry's nocturnal journey to the beach, armed with a flashlight, transforms the nightscape; a mere black branch morphs into a lurking lizard, while tangled seaweed takes on the grim visage of a dismembered head. These uncanny transformations foreshadow the sinister approach of Hadfield. Meanwhile, the twinkling Christmas lights in the living room corner set the stage for the enchanting moment when Harry and Felix share their first kiss.

In crafting The Tricksters, Mahy constructs an intricate labyrinth where readers must disentangle clashing truths and bewildering confusions to unearth the secrets of the Carnival brothers. Books become vital breadcrumbs along this journey. Allusions to beloved children's tales and the standalone touchstones of Harry's and Teddy's narratives catalyze metamorphosis. While the younger children interpret their world through the lenses of "Alice" or "Peter Rabbit," the three brothers draw their identities from the volumes adorning the family bookshelf. Harry, too, starts to uncover the profound capacity of books to illuminate her understanding and arm her for life's challenges.
The fragmented persona of Teddy Carnival owes a nod to psychological theorists like Freud, who dissect the psyche into the battling entities of id, ego, and superego. These competing facets of personality are embodied by the Carnival brothers, each vying for supremacy.

Moreover, Mahy skillfully employs naming to convey purpose. The evocative "Carnival's Hide" denotes a sanctuary of secrets, a refuge cloaked in mystery. As Harry steps out from her shroud of hair, she transforms into Ariadne. The name "Carnival," with its connotations of "farewell to the flesh," poignantly alludes not only to the ritual of Lenten fasting but also to Teddy's demise.

Additionally, Mahy’s selection of the name Christobel suggests an intricate connection to Samuel Coleridge’s haunting poem "Christabel" (1797-1801). Within Coleridge’s verses, the titular Christabel extends an invitation to the eerie specter Geraldine, welcoming her into her fortress, only to fall prey to seduction and corruption, eventually facing her father's disapproval. Beyond these literary echoes, Mahy’s novel reverberates with Coleridge’s celebration of the imagination’s unifying and synthesizing prowess. Thus, The Tricksters stands as a beacon of stylistic and thematic brilliance, its words and imagery rich with resonance.

The Tricksters beckons the mature young adult reader into a world where passion is explored with both candor and subtlety. The narrative does not shy away from intimacy, showcasing moments that are both tender and bold. As the novel progresses, Felix and Harry find themselves entwined amidst the secluded beauty of the hills above Carnival's Hide. Elsewhere, conversations brimming with unabashed explorations of desire unfold.

The revelation that comes to light is a profound one — a past entanglement between Harry's father, Jack, and Christobel's confidante, Emma. This disclosure, handled with finesse, weaves itself into the fabric of Harry's journey toward maturity. Mahy crafts her teenage heroines as formidable, astute, and vivid characters who are anything but passive; they shape the narrative with their vibrant presence and insightful contributions.

While the specific characters and setting of The Tricksters don't appear elsewhere in Mahy's literary world, this novel unmistakably carries forward many of Mahy's thematic explorations from her earlier works. In Harry, we encounter another spirited, youthful, and imaginative Mahy heroine, navigating the vibrant highs and hidden dangers of family life. She also grapples with the bewildering journey into adulthood, confronting social, intellectual, and sexual challenges.

These heroines often find themselves in secluded family enclaves, perched at the brink of civilization, where magic and mystery are ever-present. This enchantment often springs from the heroine's own fertile imagination and sensitivity. As seen in novels like The Catalogue of the Universe and Dangerous Spaces, characters such as Harry must untangle the chaos they create, striving to channel and refine their nascent powers.

Burns, Mary M. Review. Horn Book 63 (July/August 1987): 471-472. In an illustrious starred review, Burns extols Mahy's "masterful navigation of a multifaceted narrative" and lauds the exceptional nature of her character development and prose style.

Interviews and Insights

Edmond, Murray. "Interview with Margaret Mahy." Landfall 41 (June 1987): 164-185. In an extensive conversation, Mahy unveils intimate reflections on her personal journey and literary endeavors.

Critical Analyses and Discussions

Heins, Paul. "Margaret Mahy." In Twentieth-Century Children's Writers. Edited by Tracy Chevalier. 3rd ed. Chicago: St. James, 1989: 626-629. This article delivers a concise yet penetrating examination of Mahy's significant literary contributions.

Lehman, Rebecca L. "Margaret Mahy: Mixing Family with the Unfamiliar." ALAN Review 17 (Winter 1990): 33. Lehman delves into the pivotal theme of family interwoven throughout Mahy's narratives.

Lectures and Reflections

Mahy, Margaret. "A Dissolving Ghost: Possible Operations of Truth in Children's Books and the Lives of Children." Journal of Youth Services in Libraries 2 (Summer 1989): 313-329. During the May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture, Mahy reflects on her life's journey and her illustrious career.

Comprehensive Overviews

"Margaret (May) Mahy." In Children's Literature Review. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale Research, 1984: 176-188. This piece offers a comprehensive overview of critiques and articles about Mahy's impactful work.