The Magic Tree House is a popular children's book series written by Mary Pope Osborne. It follows the adventures of two main characters, Jack and Annie, as they travel through time using a magical tree house. The series presents historical events and places in a fun and engaging way, making it a favorite among young readers. While the Magic Tree House incorporates historical elements into its stories, it is not entirely accurate to categorize it solely as historical fiction. The books combine elements of fantasy, adventure, and educational content, making them a unique blend of genres. The primary focus is on the journey and experiences of the main characters rather than providing a completely accurate representation of historical events.
Is magic tree house historical fiction
Historical fiction is a genre that has been debated over for many years. There is also a great deal of tension around the genre and around the elements that categorize historical fiction for novice readers as what it is. Many argue that historical fiction is a great tool while others argue that it clouds students’ true understanding of the historical time period, person or event that is being discussed in the book. One of the biggest tensions that surrounds the genre of historical fiction is that of the magical elements many historical fiction books for novice readers seems to always have. The Magic Tree House series is no exception to this generality. These books that Mary Pope Osborne have written include a large number of fantastical elements such as the time traveling tree house, the wishes on books, and the help from animals when Jack and Annie get stuck on their missions. Other tensions surrounding the genre of historical fiction involve the accuracy of history and whether or not these books can really be tools to help readers understand history a little bit better, and also, the issue of the writing being too wrapped up in what we know today to really portray the life and times of certain historical events. While this may be the case with many historical fiction books, Mary Pope Osborne is able to avoid a large amount of this controversy by using the fantastical events to create two explicit and clear narrators from contemporary times. Jack and Annie are not people of the time period and/or place they are visiting, but instead are outsiders who take it upon themselves to learn from the people of the time and to reflect upon it when they get home.
“Historical fiction occupies a strange position in our notions of history. [It] both accepts the past as presented to us in historical documents and constructs a past that never was. ” (McGillis). In the Magic Tree House books, things happen to Jack and Annie when they get in to a sticky situation that more than likely never would have actually occurred in history. For example, in Hour of the Olympics, Annie sneaks into the Olympic Games and is discovered by the guards after she cheers too loudly and removes the helmet that she is wearing, allowing her hair to fall down. In order to save Annie, Jack must call upon the lost story that he and Annie had just recently recovered from an anonymous female author. Jack holds up the story and shouts, “Save Annie!” Soon a white, winged horse “galloped out of the dust. and he was galloping straight toward Jack” (Osborne, 51). Within the book, Hour of the Olympics, there is a vast array of accurate historical information, but there are also moments like this where the magical elements inside the text can create this idea of a past that never really existed. Women were not allowed in the Olympic Games and women who snuck into the games, much like Annie did, were punished, but no children with a philosopher ever hitched a ride from the mythological creature known as Pegasus. What this does is add that fantastical element that children love to the historical facts. Many people like McGillis, argue that this use of fantasy alters the way that novice readers understand many parts of history, while others, like Rycik and Rosler see value in students being able to “see history through a child’s point of view and identify with their emotions” (163). It can be argued that the emotions that are portrayed to the reader while Annie is jumping up and down with her pigtails flying (47) and while Jack is “staring in horror at Annie” (43) and trying to save her a few pages later, allow these novice readers to feel in the moment with the main characters and to get a feel for what it would have been like for them to have been in the shoes of a woman in Ancient Greece who snuck into the Olympics.
Another fantastical element that is used in Magic Tree House, is the magical tree house. What this tree house does is travel through time and space to allow Jack and Annie the opportunity to embark on secret missions. "[They] climbed into the tree house. it was filled with books. Jack and Annie soon discovered that the tree house was magic. It could take them to the places in the books. All they had to do was to point to a picture and wish to go there" (Osborne, 1). The tree house makes its appearance in different ways through the three Magic Tree House books that I used as primary sources. In Hour of the Olympics and Afternoon on the Amazon, Jack and Annie run into the woods and find the tree house in the trees. However, in Eve of the Emperor Penguin, Jack is raking leaves and "glanced up at the late-afternoon sky - just in time to see a bright streak of light pass over the Frog Creek Woods" (Osborne, 4). This transition that the main characters take from present day life to historical time periods addresses the major way that Osborne's work can be critiqued. Jack and Annie are present day characters who travel in time and a lot of the things that they do, they look at from a futuristic perspective. For example, in Ancient Greece they meet an anonymous female writer who gives them the story of Pegasus that she wrote. She says to them, "Perhaps someday women everywhere will write books just like men" and Jack responds with "they will. I promise" (Osborne, 27). This confuses the woman because she is unaware of the things that will take place in the future times from which Jack and Annie come. It is worth noting the ways in which Osborne tries to contradict this feature known as presentism.
One of the biggest ways that she counteracts this, is by having Jack carry a notebook around with him that he takes notes in about the things that he learns. The main characters learn a great deal from the people they encounter during their adventures. For example, when they were in Ancient Greece, Jack was able to go to the Olympics because he was a boy and he vigorously took notes for Annie in his notebook. On pages 32 and 33 of Hour of the Olympics, Jack writes in his notebook the following things for Annie, "Ancient Greeks invented gyms", "Olive tree is sacred". and "Nike is goddess of victory" (Osborne). In Afternoon on the Amazon, Jack and Annie don't encounter any people, so instead of writing down what people say to him, Jack carries around the book about the Amazon River from the tree house. Whenever they encounter a new sound or animal they look it up. An example of this is seen as soon as Jack and Annie descend from the tree house. They hear "a crackling sound [that] sound[s] like people walking over leaves" (Osborne, 20-21). The siblings notice that many animals have fled the area and it grows incredibly silent around them aside from the sound. Jack "opened the book and found a picture of different animals running together. He read: Whenever animals hear a crackling sound, they flee in panic. The sound means that 30 million flesh-eating army ants are marching through the dead leaves" (Osborne, 21). The book serves as a guide for them to learn from much like the people in the other books do.
One final thing that Osborne does to bypass many of these tensions about historical fiction is to have Jack and Annie reflect on their adventures at the end of each book. They discuss the things they learned with each other or with tree house owner, Morgan le Fay. They also compare what they learned during their adventure to their lives today showing that people, even a seven-year-old and an eight-year-old, can learn from the things that have occurred in history, in other countries, and in other people's lives. For example, in Afternoon on the Amazon, Jack and Annie encounter a number of different animals that inhabit the rain forest around the Amazon River. A crocodile and some piranhas try to eat them, a snake tries to bite Jack, a monkey tries to help them, and an angry mama jaguar roars at Annie for playing with its cub. At the end of the book as Jack and Annie are walking home from the woods they say to each other, "nothing was being mean. The army ants were just marching. That's what army ants do. the piranhas were just being piranhas. the snake was just being a snake. the crocodile was just being a crocodile. the jaguar was just taking care of her baby" (Osborne, 65). Jack goes on to think, "That's true about the whole rain forest. everyone should just leave it all alone" (Osborne, 67). Another example is in Eve of the Emperor Penguin, when Jack and Annie get to Merlin and Morgan after spending time in Antarctica. They had to find the fourth and final secret of happiness to save Merlin the magician. They left Antarctica with a baby penguin. When the penguin cheers Merlin up, Jack and Annie have no idea what the secret really is, so they discuss it with Morgan. Morgan explains to them, "Taking loving care of another can make one very happy. Like the other three secrets, it helps us look outside ourselves. Then we can better see all the gifts the world has to offer" (Osborne, 99). When Jack and Annie return back to Frog Creek, they discuss this secret together and Jack says "I think sometimes you can make other people happy by letting them take care of you" and Annie responds with "It seems to make Mom and Dad happy to take care of us" (Osborne, 104).
Despite the tensions people have about the genre of historical fiction, author Mary Pope Osborne has a found a way to write a best-selling series that has critics "praising the books as successful combinations of fun learning and adventure" (Mary Pope Osborne). She has also found a way to have critics discussing her "consistent creativity and integration of knowledge and imagination" despite "some critics accusing the series of being contrived" (Mary Pope Osborne).
The Magic Tree House Book Series & Reading Levels
Instructor: Rachel Palmer Show bio Rachel has taught 6-8 ELA for over 10 years. She has a BA in English from the University of Colorado at Boulder and teaching licensure for Secondary English from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She also has TEFL/TESOL certification from the Council of International Educational Exchange.
Explore Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series. Discover the reading levels of the Magic Tree House books, meet the characters, and review a series analysis. Updated: 10/24/2023
The primary focus is on the journey and experiences of the main characters rather than providing a completely accurate representation of historical events. Although the plots are often based on historical times, the stories include fictional elements such as talking animals, magic spells, and time-traveling capabilities. These fantastical elements make the series more appealing to young readers and differentiate it from traditional historical fiction that strictly adheres to factual events.
Table of Contents
- The Magic Tree House Books by Mary Pope Osborne
- Characters in the Magic Tree House Series
- Plot of the Magic Tree House Books
- Analysis of the Magic Tree House Series
- Legacy of the Magic Tree House Books
- Lesson Summary
Despite the fictional aspects, the Magic Tree House series does incorporate historical details and accurate information about the time periods it covers. Each book includes a non-fiction companion guide that provides more in-depth information about the historical era or event featured in the story. This additional educational component further enhances the series' value as a learning tool for young readers. In conclusion, while the Magic Tree House series incorporates historical elements and provides educational value, it cannot be classified as purely historical fiction. The books blend fantasy, adventure, and educational content to create an engaging reading experience for children, presenting historical events in an imaginative and accessible way..
Reviews for "Fact or Fiction: Examining the Historical Aspects of the Magic Tree House Series"
1. John - 2 stars - As someone who enjoys reading historical fiction, I was disappointed with the Magic Tree House series. Sure, it may have historical elements within the storylines, but it lacks depth and accuracy. The simplistic writing style and repetitive plotlines made it difficult for me to stay engaged. I would much rather read a well-researched historical fiction novel that delves deeper into the time periods it explores.
2. Sarah - 3 stars - I must admit, I was initially drawn to the Magic Tree House series because of its promise of historical fiction adventures. However, I found that the books were too simplified and lacked the complexity typically found in historical fiction. The characters felt one-dimensional, and the historical events were often glossed over or romanticized. While it may be a good introduction to history for younger readers, it didn't satisfy my desire for a more in-depth reading experience.
3. Mark - 2 stars - If you're looking for a truly immersive historical fiction experience, the Magic Tree House series is not the answer. While it does incorporate historical settings and events, it does so in a superficial way. The overall storyline and character development take precedence over historical accuracy. As an avid reader of historical fiction, I couldn't help but feel let down by the lack of depth and attention to detail in these books. I would recommend looking for other historical fiction novels that offer a more rewarding reading experience.