Beyond the wand The magic and mayhem of growing up a wizard

Actor Felton, best known for his portrayal of bleached-blond antagonist Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, recounts his career in his charming debut memoir. Raised in the 1980s in the London suburb of Surrey, Felton's first on-screen role, at age nine, was in the 1997 film The Borrowers; three years later, he earned the part of Draco. Felton recalls tender memories of support from his family, such as how his grandfather taught him how to perform the distinctive Draco sneer. Felton also reveals his struggle to maintain a sense of normalcy during his teenage years; later, after moving to L.A., he became disillusioned with the persona he'd cultivated, which made him feel lonely. Felton's narrative is both self-deprecating ("I was born enthusiastic rather than talented") and frank; he discusses the drinking problem he developed in his 20s and advocates for the destigmatization of mental health problems. He regards praise from fellow actors with a grain of salt, but treasures the written accolades he received from author J.K. Rowling. Felton weaves a seamless, sensitive narrative that will enchant Potterheads and fans of celebrity memoirs alike. Agent: Stephanie Thwaites, Curtis Brown. (Oct.)

A star of the Harry Potter film franchise tells his story. What made Draco Malfoy such a memorable movie villain was the feeling that there was more to him than viewers were able to see. It turns out the same goes for the actor who played him. Felton fills much of his memoir with charmingly told behind-the-scenes stories of what it was like filming the eight movies in the Harry Potter series. He recalls how he brushed off Emma Watson in their first meeting and how she once slapped him in the face. "I didn't have the cojones to tell Emma that I hadn't meant her to thwack me in the face, or that she nearly had me in tears," he writes. The author's anecdotes about his co-stars, from Daniel Radcliffe to Judi Dench, are similarly sweet and self-deprecating. However, as he fondly recalls his nonchalant reaction to his early career as a child actor and how his tightknit family kept him grounded, there is foreshadowing of potential problems, particularly when the Harry Potter films concluded. "I craved an escape from the version of myself I was becoming," he explained. "I craved the old me. I craved authenticity." Suddenly, Felton's studied British charm and detached cool were replaced with the frenzied discomfort of a man struggling with very real demons. To his credit, the author is as unflinchingly forthcoming during this period as he is in the rest of his life. "Part of the reason that I took the decision to write these pages," he writes, "is the hope that by sharing my experiences, I might be able to help someone else who is struggling….I'm no longer shy of putting my hands up and saying: I'm not okay. To this day I never know which version of myself I'm going to wake up to." A surprisingly deep memoir from the actor who brought a memorable villain to the big screen. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.