Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard

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Read this if you were one of those kids like me. It was a wonderful experience, and Tom's narration on the audiobook was perfection. I recommend giving it a listen!

TF: I was quite keen to not leave it out, but I didn't really feel the need to talk about it too much. It was only through the encouragement of others who said that it's quite uplifting to hear other people talk about their own struggles. I'm hoping that it will be empowering to other people that they get a chance to know that they're not alone. So, yeah: this one's for Harry Potter fans. Period. It's the hows and whys of child actor Tom, with some fun anecdotes, and then the meat is Harry Potter. Some cute stories, and lots of gushing about his favorite people. For many who were in the fandom or have attended fancons he's done, it's not strictly new, but regardless offers a good time. Nothing salacious here; mostly fluff. FP: Toward the end of the book, you so eloquently open up about your struggles while living in Los Angeles, and your time in rehab, which is a very vulnerable topic. Was it a cathartic process for you to write about? Or challenging in any way?Best known for playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, Tom Felton has penned a brilliant memoir about growing up playing an iconic role in the series. He reflects on his time shooting the movies with a wide cast of talented actors, detailing behind-the-scenes shenanigans and trouble he got into while on set. Being an actor sure comes in handy when recording an audiobook. Tom Felton’s narration of his memoir, Beyond the Wand, may very well be the best celebrity performance I’ve heard yet. Beyond the Wand]is full of colorful Wizarding World lingo, referring to “aparrating” objects and his “muggle family,” making it fun for die-hard “Harry Potter” fans. . .It’s basically a wizarding world gold mine."— Deseret News From the Publisher BuzzFeed Bring Me Obsessed with travel? Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me!

As she searches for the truth about her husband's death, a TV reporter must control her anger — and attraction — toward the man who smeared his reputation. Now, don't get me wrong: Tom's life was large outside of his time as Draco Malfoy. And it's had some bumps in the road. This book got much heavier than I expected, and much more honest. Tom's here to share his whole life's story, after all, and not just a part of it. I appreciated that. I feel like Tom and Draco are more separate in my head because of it—and that's probably a good thing. While filming Harry Potter is the bulk of this memoir, Felton also gives readers a taste of what it was like growing up the youngest of four brothers (and how one of those brothers wasn’t exactly the best on-set chaperone), night fishing when he should have been sleeping in preparing for shoots the next day, and getting his acting start in movies like Anna and the King and The Borrowers. And with the type of honesty that comes with time and self-reflection, Felton also writes about his past struggles with alcohol and his time in rehab. It’s a beautiful memoir — with a forward by Emma Watson herself — that captures the heart, charm, and wittiness of the man beyond the wand. Felton shares so many terrific stories – from his childhood, from his years playing Draco Malfoy on the Harry Potter set, and later, from his battle with depression and substance abuse – and they are all told with refreshing frankness and a dry, acerbic wit. It’s just story after story; laughter followed by more laughter. It’s worth noting, too, that Tom stayed away from mentioning J.K. Rowling too much and his praise of her was minimal. I think she was mentioned by name only four times in this book and that was a really smart move to mention her so little since J.K. Rowling is engaging in so much hateful rhetoric online.

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Tom Felton’s BEYOND THE WAND is an entertaining, funny, and poignant must-read for any Harry Potter fan. Prepare to meet a real-life wizard. Grand Central Publishing is excited to announce the publication of BEYOND THE WAND: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard, a magical coming-of-age memoir from Tom Felton, on October 18, 2022. Suzanne O’Neill, VP, Executive Editor of Grand Central Publishing, acquired North American rights to the book from Sarah Scarlett at Penguin Random House UK.

Most of this memoir felt like 1 star until the last couple of chapters, which is when it finally got real, and I appreciate his honesty and vulnerability around his stories and message on mental health. I grabbed a physical copy from my library too so I could leaf through it. I enjoyed looking at the pictures that showed his life growing up with his family, and on sets, and the lifelong friendships he made along the way. The memoir will cover his experiences playing the role of Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter, including dealing with being thrust into the spotlight at a young age and creating lasting relationships with fellow cast members. The synopsis says, “Speaking with great candor and his signature humor, Tom shares his experience growing up as part of the wizarding world while also trying to navigate the [M]uggle world. He tells stories from his early days in the business like his first acting gig where he was mistaken for fellow blonde child actor Macaulay Culkin and his Harry Potter audition where, in a very Draco-like move, he fudged how well he knew the books the series was based on (not at all).” TF: The improvisation of the line "I didn't know you could read" was a very on the day thing. The Voldemort hug — I don't think Ralph [Fiennes] even knew that he was about to hug me. That's why it was so creepy. When his arms are open and, bear in mind, we shot that scene at least 50 times already. I'd already walked past him at least 50 times. And then, that time, when his arms are open, I thought, "There's no bloody way he's trying to hug me. Oh God, he is!" So, that's why I think it was so creepy and so evil [for him to] present a physical sort of affection. I mean, not as much improvising. I know the books were all so rich with characters and content that I'm sure loads of fans out there, like myself, would have wanted. But the truth is the films would have been seven hours long if we put in absolutely everything. So, I think they did a fantastic job fitting in as much as they possibly could.An immortal comes to the end of a long and violent journey and finds a far more dangerous threat in this dark and thrilling novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Carpathian series. TF: I like to think yes — I think we would do it in a heartbeat. Honestly, if the right project came up. I can't say there's anything on the imminent horizon. But as far as the first question, I've got no idea. I'm afraid you're gonna have to ask her that one. Missing Hogwarts? Tom Felton, who played white-haired villain Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise, bas written about the magical moments on set and an adolescence within the pop culture phenomenon."— Parade Tom’s chapters on his mental health struggles hit hard, but it gave great insight into his life and it showed how being in the spotlight from a young age can really impact celebrities. Tom also did a great job of normalizing therapy, mental health treatment, and rehab. These treatment methods are often viewed with a great deal of shame, especially by men, but Tom did a great job at talking about the benefits of those treatments and how those treatments personally improved his life. It was moving for me to be reading Tom’s stories with mental illness as I’m currently in a bit of a depressive episode. Our situations aren’t exactly the same, but knowing that someone I look up to has struggled with mental illness helps me feel less alone in my struggles. The first and only behind-the-scenes Harry Potter memoir from one of the films' biggest stars, Tom Felton