Half Magic

Reviewed by: Deidre Walsh - Goodall Memorial Library, Sanford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 21, 2016

Review

It's summer & three siblings are bored silly. Jane, the eldest wishes for something fun for them to do. She then finds a coin and soon discovers that it is a magic coin. Well, only half magic. It seems that the coin will grant wishes, but only half of a wish. The children don't discover this until after they make a wish. A series of misadventures & amusing chaos ensue. The children have to learn how to use the coin properly, and fast. They also have to figure out how to fix all the half granted wishes. Edward Eager writes with an engaging style. The flow of the text pulls the reader straight into the world of Half Magic. This is a fun, action packed, classic that is a joy to read. It will leave a smile on most readers' faces. Half Magic is the first in the Magic Tales series. This title is the perfect choice for grades 3-6. It is magical adventure with a strong dose of humor. This edition is a paperback reissue with new cover art done by Peter Fergusen. The new cover is well-conceived and very detailed. If your library is in need of extra copies or replacement copies, purchase this new edition. It is lovely. Aside from the new cover art, there is also an introduction by Alice Hoffman. It is helpful in understanding the author, the story and the characters. An excellent purchase for libraries in need of fresh copies. The new cover art may also be able to pull some new readers into the world of Magic Tales. Let's hope.

Overall Book Score: very good