Magic Tree House is a popular children's book series written by Mary Pope Osborne. The eighth book in the series is titled "Midnight on the Moon." In this installment, the main characters, Jack and Annie, travel to the moon in their magic tree house. In "Midnight on the Moon," Jack and Annie find themselves on a mission to help a computer engineer named Morgan le Fay. Morgan tells them that she needs a special object from the moon in order to break a spell that has been cast on her. Using their trusty tree house, the siblings make their way to outer space and land on the moon.
Using their trusty tree house, the siblings make their way to outer space and land on the moon. Once on the moon, Jack and Annie must navigate the lunar landscape and face various challenges. They encounter low gravity, which allows them to jump and float effortlessly.
I Visited a Notoriously Haunted Doll, and Bad Luck Followed Me Everywhere
I'm a relatively superstitious person. I would never walk on someone's grave in a cemetery, I believe in ghosts, and I'm careful to not walk under any ladders. So while I was on my honeymoon in Key West recently and heard about a ghost tour that involved Robert the Doll — a famously haunted doll that brings bad luck to those who visit him — I was pretty intrigued.
For an inanimate object, Robert is pretty well-known. He's been featured on several TV shows and is even toted around to various conventions that center on the occult. Eager to see what all the fuss was about, my husband, Chris, and I booked a tour with a company called Ghosts & Gravestones, which included a stop at the Fort East Martello Museum where Robert resides. While the tour was awesome, our brief encounter with Robert was . . . less than ideal. Why? Well, because he "haunted" me for about 36 hours afterwards.
Related:In order to understand the full extent of this, it's important to know Robert's sordid past. Originally given as a gift to Eugene Otto, an author and painter, by his grandfather in 1904, the two were instantly inseparable. It's said that Robert the Doll's outfit was even modeled after one Eugene wore. As a boy, Eugene would often blame the doll for accidents and misgivings, claiming, "Robert told me to do it." Seems like somewhat normal little kid behavior, right?
According to our tour guide, the real trouble started when a woman who worked for the Otto family was fired abruptly without cause. But rather than packing her bags and leaving, she reportedly used voodoo to put a curse on the doll as a form of revenge. And while it may seem pretty far-fetched to some, others believe it actually worked.
"Once he was put on exhibit, cameras and electronic devices malfunctioned in his presence, and soon letters began arriving addressed to the doll offering apologies for disrespectful behavior or asking forgiveness."
As an adult, Eugene became an artist. Considered by many to be "eccentric," Eugene returned to his family home in Key West with his wife, Annette Parker, after they got married in 1930. And despite being an adult, Eugene's love of Robert never wavered (legend has it that Robert sat right next to Eugene while he painted). Annette obviously wasn't a huge fan of her husband's best friend, and vice versa, so once Eugene died in 1974, Annette left Key West. She left Robert behind in the attic of the home, where he was found years later by the home's new owners. While strange things had often happened in Robert's presence before — people hearing voices, noises, and other unexplained sounds — it wasn't until he was donated to the Fort East Martello Museum in 1994 that his less-than-kind attitude went full-scale.
Before walking into the museum to get a peek at Robert, the tour guide gave us some strict rules to follow: you must greet and introduce yourself to Robert; if you want to take a photo of him, you must ask first; and you can't leave the museum without saying goodbye. While a bit weird, that all sounded doable to Chris and me, so we did as we were told. After snapping a few photos, we learned about what happens to people who don't follow the rules or poke fun at Robert. A nearby TV showed thousands of letters from people from around the world who experienced terrible luck after rubbing the doll the wrong way.
According to some of the letters, visitors have been met with all kinds of misfortune, from getting burned by hot water to missing their flights to — yep — even getting divorced. "Once he was put on exhibit, cameras and electronic devices malfunctioned in his presence, and soon letters began arriving addressed to the doll offering apologies for disrespectful behavior or asking forgiveness," says the website. "Letters continue to arrive daily."
As a respectful visitor, I thought I was off the hook. I followed the rules and was genuinely interested in learning about him. But boy, was I wrong. I made ONE comment about a grown man carrying around a doll, and my fate was sealed. As soon as I woke up the next day, the bad luck began. First, our flight home was delayed. Then, we were forced to rebook our flight because the plane was too heavy, resulting in us having a five-hour layover and getting transferred to another connecting flight. While both of these things were annoying, I also knew they happen sometimes. It couldn't have been because of a doll, right?
I realized that Robert might actually have had it out for us when we finally landed back home around midnight. The problem? Our luggage never showed up. We were told to go home and that the suitcase was probably on the next flight in. Fast forward to the next morning — still no sign of the bag. And no one on either airline that we used could locate where the suitcase was. It was simply missing without a trace. Frustrated and near tears, we decided to give into our superstitions and write letters to Robert in the hopes of reversing whatever bad luck he gave us and finding our lost bag.
The siblings also learn about the moon's extreme temperatures and the lack of air and water. It becomes clear to them that survival on the moon would be impossible without proper spacesuits and equipment. While exploring, Jack and Annie stumble upon a moon base, where they meet astronauts who are conducting research. The astronauts are surprised to find two visitors from Earth and share their knowledge and experiences with the young adventurers. The siblings learn about the Apollo missions and the first human landing on the moon. With the help of the astronauts, Jack and Annie manage to retrieve the special object Morgan needs. They return to the tree house and deliver it to her. Morgan is overjoyed and breaks the spell that had been cast on her. "Midnight on the Moon" is an educational and captivating adventure that introduces young readers to the wonders of space and the significance of the moon landing. It combines fantasy elements with real historical events, allowing children to learn while being entertained. The book inspires curiosity about science and sparks the imagination of its readers..
Reviews for "The Power of Imagination: Lessons from Magic Tree House 8"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic Tree House 8". I found the plot to be repetitive and predictable. It felt like the author was just recycling the same ideas from previous books in the series. The characters also lacked depth and development, making it hard for me to connect with them. Overall, I was underwhelmed by this installment and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 3 stars - "Magic Tree House 8" was okay, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The story had potential, but it felt rushed and incomplete. There were many unanswered questions, and I was left wanting more. Additionally, I found the writing style to be lacking, with overly simplistic language and dialogue. While it's an easy read for young readers, I was hoping for more substance and complexity.
3. Emily - 2.5 stars - I have enjoyed previous books in the "Magic Tree House" series, but book 8 fell flat for me. The plot seemed disjointed and lacked a clear direction. I found myself getting bored and disinterested halfway through. The characters also didn't have the same charm and likability as in earlier books. Overall, it was a forgettable read and not one that I would recommend to others.
4. Mark - 2 stars - "Magic Tree House 8" was a letdown for me. The premise had potential, but the execution fell short. The adventure felt rushed and lacked excitement. I also struggled to connect with the main characters, Jack and Annie, as they seemed one-dimensional and lacking in personality. The writing style was simple, which may work for younger readers, but I was hoping for more depth. Overall, this book just didn't capture my attention or imagination.
5. Julia - 2.5 stars - I found "Magic Tree House 8" to be a mediocre addition to the series. The plot felt repetitive, following a similar structure to previous books, and lacked any surprises or twists. The dialogue was also lacking, with unnatural and unrealistic conversations between the characters. While the book is an easy read, it didn't captivate me like earlier installments. I would recommend skipping this one and moving on to other books in the series with more engaging storylines.