"The Magic Half" "The Magic Half" is a children's novel written by Annie Barrows. The story revolves around a young girl named Miri, who feels like the odd one out in her family. She has one older sister, Molly, who is incredibly popular and good at everything she does. Miri, on the other hand, struggles to fit in and feels invisible most of the time. However, one day, everything changes when Miri discovers an old trunk in the attic. The trunk transports Miri back in time to 1935, where she finds herself in the body of a girl named Molly.
I’ve decided to focus this review on my experience reading this book aloud to my kids. I think this is a great read aloud because of the fun adventures of the sibling protagonists and the way they interact with each other. This would also be a great novel for younger chapter book readers to read to themselves. The stories are easy to follow, and I think their vocabulary will expand as well. I hope you enjoy this book whether reading aloud, to yourself, or recommending it to a young reader.
When the family moves to an old farmhouse Miri accidentally travels back in time to 1935 only to discover Molly, a girl in need of a real family to call her own. Still, I truly do like The Magic Half and my childhood self was even more than prepared to award a high four star rating until the ending which not only occurs much too abruptly, but simply having Miri and Molly suddenly appear as another set of family twins and thus, the default, really makes the entire premise of the novel, namely that Miri feels misunderstood and cast aside, forgotten, in and by her family, rather and unfortunately moot.
The trunk transports Miri back in time to 1935, where she finds herself in the body of a girl named Molly. To her surprise, everyone believes she is Molly, and Miri quickly realizes that Molly's life is not as perfect as it seems. In fact, Molly is being bullied at school, and her family life is far from ideal.
[Half Magic]: A Review
Happy last full week of June! I knew June would go fast with all the fun events we’ve had in our family lately. But wow, here it is! We’re ready to welcome July and new baby!
Today I am thrilled to be sharing a review of one of my childhood favorites: Half Magic by Edward Eager. This fits will with the prompt that I chose for this week’s Top 10 Tuesday anniversary post about childhood favorites. Whenever I think about books that I loved as a kid, this is top of the list. It was a dream come true to read this one aloud to my kids.
- I’m happy to say that this childhood favorite lived up to my lofty expectations when reading aloud to my kids!
- Fun fact: did you know this book is the first in a series of books about magic written by Eager? I thought there were only two books growing up as those were the only two we had. But no, there are several more. I can’t want to experience more of these stories with my kids!
According to Goodreads, “Beloved by children (and the parents lucky enough to share it with them) since it was first published in 1954, Half Magic is the uproarious tale of four siblings who discover a charm that grants exactly half of whatever they wish for–with results that are twice as predictable (and hilarious) as you might expect.
Jane, Mark, Katharine, and Martha manage to cope with an unexpected trip to the Sahara and nearly a disastrous trip to the time of King Arthur. But can these plucky and resourceful children deal with the changes magic is bringing to their tight-knit family?
Set in Ohio in the late 1920s, yet fresh and funny now as the day it was written. Half Magic weaves its spell anew in this full cast recording that will entrance newcomers as well as fans who have loved this wonderful book for decades.”
I’ve decided to focus this review on my experience reading this book aloud to my kids. I think this is a great read aloud because of the fun adventures of the sibling protagonists and the way they interact with each other. This would also be a great novel for younger chapter book readers to read to themselves. The stories are easy to follow, and I think their vocabulary will expand as well. I hope you enjoy this book whether reading aloud, to yourself, or recommending it to a young reader.
Why Half Magic is a great read aloud:
- It has such a clever story! The four siblings find a magic coin that grants wishes by halves. Nothing goes as planned. I enjoy all the accidental wishes. I loved their medieval adventure at King Arthur’s court, their journey in the Sahara desert, Martha being half there, Jane half belonging in another family, and perhaps most of all how they try to help their mother believe in magic. And it’s so fun to see how Jane, Mark, Katherine, and Martha manage to resolve each surprising adventure!
- The magic is clever and easy to connect with. I know magic is not for everyone. But I love it because it can teach us to believe in things that we can’t see and hope for adventure and excitement beyond our normal lives. Perhaps we won’t all find a magic coin that grants wishes. But we can see magic in smaller ways just in everyday life. I love that magic is central to this story and that it happens in our world. It makes magic seem so real–something we could encounter around any corner. I love the description of how true magic smells, feels, and looks at the end of this book. It makes me believe in magic all over again and encourage my kids to believe in magic too.
- Great family dynamic. I love the relationships between these siblings–friends and yet enemies. They argue and they make up. They are always there for each other. They argue over who gets to make the next wish and how to fix the problems they find themselves in. And ultimately, they are each other’s biggest support and confidants. Also loved how their mother is able to find love again (and Mr Smith is a favorite character with his views on magic and wisdom on people. Aso he’s just a genuinely good person, runs a bookstore, and really loves their mother and the kids).
- Fun pictures in each chapter showing their adventures. Any chapter book with pictures in it is a winner at our house lately.
Things to keep in mind for a read aloud:
- The chapters are longer (there are only about 8 total) so I tried to find a place each time we read that I could stop inside each chapter. That worked fine overall. But I prefer having shorter chapters instead.
- The language is rather advanced for my little kids. This isn’t a bad thing (great to build vocabulary) But it did make our reading a bit slower as sometimes I explained what words meant or sometimes I changed the wording slightly so they would understand.
- This book was first published in the 1950’s giving it a different backdrop than our modern world. So some of the action or details are a bit outdated but I think that is a good thing for our modern young audience to see what summer was like for children years ago. Kids still played games, got bored, and had to be home for lunch. Perhaps young readers today can see that they aren’t so different from the kids of generations past.
This novel is still one of my favorites! I am so glad my kids enjoyed it as well. I would love to read some others in the series to my kids in future!
What are some of your childhood favorites?
Do you enjoy reread those favorites years later?
Miri must navigate Molly's world and try to make things right. As Miri delves into the past, she discovers that there is a family curse that affects all the girls in her bloodline. The curse splits them in half, with one half of their spirit being sent back in time while the other remains in the present. Miri realizes that she is the twin sister of Molly from the past, and together, they can break the curse. Throughout the book, Miri learns important lessons about empathy, friendship, and the power of belief in oneself. She realizes that she does not have to be invisible and that she is capable of making a difference. With the support of her newfound friends, both in the past and the present, Miri begins to find her own voice and start a journey of self-discovery. "The Magic Half" is a heartwarming and engaging story that teaches young readers about the importance of accepting oneself and embracing one's unique qualities. It explores themes of identity, family, courage, and the power of love. Through Miri's adventures, readers learn that sometimes the magic lies within ourselves, and that true happiness comes from embracing who we truly are. Overall, "The Magic Half" is a delightful tale that captivates readers with its blend of fantasy, adventure, and relatable characters. It is a story that encourages young readers to believe in their own magic and to never underestimate their potential..
Reviews for "Growing Your Potential with the Magic Half"
1. John - 1/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Magic Half". The plot felt so predictable and formulaic, with nothing new or exciting to offer. The characters were also quite one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect or care about them. Overall, the book felt like a missed opportunity to explore the magical world it promised, instead opting for a generic and uninspiring story.
2. Sarah - 2/5 - I found "The Magic Half" to be a lackluster and forgettable read. The pacing was slow, and it felt like not much was happening for the majority of the book. The writing style was also quite simplistic, lacking the richness and nuance that could have brought the story to life. While the concept of time travel and parallel worlds was intriguing, the execution fell flat and left me underwhelmed.
3. Mike - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "The Magic Half", but unfortunately, it fell short. The narrative felt disjointed and confusing at times, making it difficult to follow the plot. The dialogue between the characters also felt stilted and unnatural, hindering my immersion in the story. Additionally, the resolution felt rushed and wrapped up too neatly, leaving me unsatisfied. Overall, "The Magic Half" lacked the magic and charm that I was hoping for.
4. Emily - 1/5 - I found "The Magic Half" to be a complete bore. The characters were uninteresting and lacked any real development or growth throughout the story. The plot also felt overly simplistic and lacked depth, making it hard for me to feel invested in the outcome. The dialogue was often cliché and predictable, further adding to my disappointment. Overall, I found "The Magic Half" to be a forgettable and uninspiring read.