The Magic Tree House series is a beloved children's book series written by Mary Pope Osborne. One of the many exciting adventures in this series is titled "Civil War on Sunday." Jack and Annie, the main characters of the series, find themselves transported back in time to the American Civil War. They end up in Virginia during the year 1863, right in the middle of a battlefield. They witness the devastating effects of war firsthand and soon find themselves caught up in the middle of it all. As they explore the area, they meet General Ulysses S.
After the first round of firing, the students wrote their incantations upon the rough surface of the bowls. Using Shaul Shaked’s “Aramaic Bowl Spells” (2013) as their base, students adapted and copied existing Aramaic incantations onto their bowls. Some students were inspired to translate incantations into other languages they knew, such as Arabic and Old English. They then smoothed pigment into the crevices of the bowls in order to mimic the weathered imperfections of firing systems of late antiquity (the kiln at Kenyon is just too clean!). The last step was to seal the bowl with wax.
5 The adjurations are written in ink on the inside of a concave clay bowl, sometimes including an illustration of the demon s addressed in the incantation. These circles are believed to contain energy that forms a sacred space to provide protection for the practice of magic spells and invocation of gods and spirits.
As they explore the area, they meet General Ulysses S. Grant, one of the key figures of the Civil War. He asks for their help in delivering a message to a spy in enemy territory.
Incantation Bowls and Embodied Knowledge
Anthropologists of the early twentieth century were impressed by the intellectual agility of basket diviners. The ritual featured a man shaking a basket aggressively while various articles jostled inside. As they landed, the ritual expert interpreted the meaning of their fall for his client in a serious and reflective tone. This led researchers, most famously Victor Turner, to classify divination as a supremely cognitive symbol in contrast to more emotional rituals.[2] These scholars saw their classification of divination’s analytic emphasis as a way of intellectualizing the practice from its “primitive” setting. Yet as anthropologist Sónia Silva writes above, knowing is never just a cognitive enterprise. Indeed, divination is a means of accessing otherwise inaccessible information, but it is also a deeply spiritual and embodied practice. As Silva observed during her fieldwork in northwest Zambia, Africa, “Diviners report that they feel the truth before they see and speak it; and that they think in the head and heart.”[3]
When I set out to teach a course on ancient Jewish magic, I wanted to echo Silva’s point. The course traces the arc of divination and prophecy, spells and amulets, and magicians and exorcists from the ancient to the modern world. While we dealt with Jewish traditions, we also considered the categories of “magic” “miracle” “science” “philosophy” and the methods of knowing in the world. But rather than focus solely on cognition, I wanted to emphasize the embodied role of the ritual expert. This inspired me to bring incantation bowls into the classroom.
Incantation bowl with an Aramaic inscription around a demon. From Nippur, Mesopotamia 6th–7th ce. Photographer Marie-Lan Nguyen
Babylonian incantations bowls dating from the fifth to seventh centuries C.E. number in the thousands.[4] Written mostly in Jewish Aramaic, the bowls employed a variety of incantations, including Jewish legal language, to redress ills usually attributable to demonic agents.[5] The adjurations are written in ink on the inside of a concave clay bowl, sometimes including an illustration of the demon(s) addressed in the incantation. These bowls protected clients and their households from demonic agents.
It was important to me that my students see incantation bowls as more than symbols, or even just textual incantations, but as a real form of knowledge embodied in relationships between human subjects, divine beings, and material objects. Late Antiquity was a time in which gods and men routinely interacted, and experts of knowledge—of both heavenly and earthly origin—provided meaningful ritual services. This was a radically different way of inhabiting the world than for many in modernity.[6] I wanted my students to feel the clay, examine the words of their incantations, and feel the physicality of ritual knowledge and expertise.
Jack and Annie eagerly accept the mission, knowing that the outcome of the war may depend on their success. Throughout their adventure, Jack and Annie learn about the harsh realities of war. They witness injured soldiers, experience the fear and chaos of battle, and realize the importance of bravery and sacrifice. They also learn about the bravery of everyday people who played important roles in the war, such as Harriet Tubman and Clara Barton. Mary Pope Osborne skillfully weaves historical facts into a fictional story, educating young readers about the American Civil War in an engaging way. As with every book in the Magic Tree House series, "Civil War on Sunday" manages to entertain, educate, and inspire its readers. By the end of their adventure, Jack and Annie not only successfully deliver the message but also gain a deeper understanding of the importance of peace and the impact of war. As they return to the present day, they carry with them the lessons they learned in the past. Overall, "Civil War on Sunday" is an exciting and educational addition to the Magic Tree House series. It introduces young readers to a significant period in American history while also teaching valuable lessons about empathy, bravery, and the power of knowledge..
Reviews for "The Magic Tree House: An Exciting Adventure into the Civil War Era"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic Tree House: Civil War". I have been a fan of this series for a while, but this book just didn't live up to my expectations. The storyline was dull and predictable, and the characters lacked depth. Overall, it felt like a rushed and half-hearted attempt at a historical adventure. I would not recommend this book to other fans of the series.
2. Sarah - 3 stars - As a long-time reader of the Magic Tree House series, I had high hopes for "Civil War". Unfortunately, I found it to be lacking in excitement and originality. The plot felt repetitive and recycled, and the historical elements were not as engaging as in previous books. While the book had its moments, overall, it fell short of capturing my attention and left me wanting more. Not the best installment in the series, in my opinion.
3. Michael - 2.5 stars - I found "Magic Tree House: Civil War" to be a subpar addition to the series. The characters seemed flat and one-dimensional, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The historical aspect, which is usually a highlight of these books, also fell short. The Civil War setting lacked depth and failed to truly transport me to that time period. I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied after reading this book.