Yesterday, I was helping my mother decorate our house for Halloween. We had just finished putting up various spooky decorations, and it was now time to tackle the witch tree decoration. This particular decoration was a large tree branch that had been painted black and adorned with witch-themed ornaments. It was meant to be hung from the ceiling and create a whimsical, eerie atmosphere in the room. As my mom climbed up the ladder to hang the witch tree, I eagerly handed her the ornaments one by one. We carefully placed each one on the branch, taking care to distribute them evenly and create a balanced look.
"Full of wonder and real-life enchantment, Amy Ephron's Carnival Magic is a charming adventure that will make a believer out of anyone!" —Rachel Vail, author of Well, That Was Awkward and the Friendship Ring series
Internationally bestselling author Amy Ephron returns with a companion novel to The Castle in the Mist and creates a magical tale filled with adventure, mystery, fantasy, family, and fun. Before Tess can shake herself out of the hypnosis, before Max can do anything, they seem to be traveling--along with the rest of the carnival--too quickly for the two of them to jump out.
We carefully placed each one on the branch, taking care to distribute them evenly and create a balanced look. The ornaments included tiny witches riding brooms, black cats with arched backs, and miniature cauldrons filled with tiny skulls. Once all the ornaments were in place, my mom asked me to help her secure the witch tree to the ceiling.
Carnival Magic
Tess and Max are back in England for another summer with their Aunt Evie--this time by the seashore in South Devon. And they're incredibly excited about the travelling carnival that's come to town. There are rides, games, acrobats, The House of Mirrors--and even a psychic, with a beautiful wagon all her own.
In a visit to the psychic's wagon, while Tess is being hypnotized, the wagon seems to move. Before Tess can shake herself out of the hypnosis, before Max can do anything, they seem to be travelling--along with the rest of the carnival--too quickly for the two of them to jump out. But where are they going and what awaits them? Will they be caught in a world different from their own? And do the Baranova twins, acrobats who miss their sister almost as much as Tess and Max miss their family, hold the keys to the mystery?
Internationally bestselling author Amy Ephron returns with a companion novel to The Castle in the Mist and creates a magical tale filled with adventure, mystery, fantasy, family, and fun.
Praise for Carnival Magic:
"Full of wonder and real-life enchantment, Amy Ephron's Carnival Magic is a charming adventure that will make a believer out of anyone!" —Rachel Vail, author of Well, That Was Awkward and the Friendship Ring series
"Tess is a thoroughly modern heroine: She's athletic, impulsive, and fearless . . . The siblings are authentic children [and] the fantastic elements are the stuff of daydreams. Perfect for classroom read-alouds." —Kirkus Reviews
"The short chapters filled with mystery and action will have readers eagerly continuing to discover the secrets that await them. . . . Fans of the first book will be eager for this fun middle-grade fantasy with a classic sensibility." —Booklist
"The setting is contemporary—yet the language and tone feel distinctly nostalgic. This novel, which works as a stand alone, will captivate readers who enjoy their whimsy with a dash of risk." —School Library Journal
"[Carnival Magic is] a softer otherworldly take on childhood mystery, reminiscent of classics like A Secret Garden . . . [it] is in itself an escape. Tess especially follows in that lineage of strong, intelligent female characters – a sort of Lucy Pevensie/Hermione Granger hybrid who is a leader, who believes in magic." —Teen Vogue
"Amy Ephron has always been a magical storyteller. . . . In Carnival Magic, the companion book to Ephron’s successful The Castle in the Mist . . . Tess and Max are teaching children and their parents about the power of thoughtful decision-making, loyalty, and self-confidence. Life lessons and carnival rides . . . the perfect beach read for all ages." —Parade
“Ephron renders this magical world with such assertive beauty that readers of all ages, who are fortunate enough to believe in the power of magic, will enjoy immersing themselves in the roller-coaster fun of these stories, and come to trust, even if for a short time, that in this ‘alternate universe’ it is possible for us to come together and ‘touch the sky.’” —Jewish Journal
On sale: May 1, 2018
Age: 8-12 years
Grade: Grades 3-7
Page count: 0 Pages
ISBN: 9780525625377
Run time: 6 Hours and 0 Minutes
Amy Ephron (www.amyephron.com) is a bestselling author of books for children and adults. The Castle in the Mist, her first book for young readers, was nominated for a SCIBA Award, and was followed by Carnival Magic and The Other Side of the Wall, all part of the Other Side series. Ephron is also the author of several adult books, including A Cup of Tea, which is an international bestseller. Her novel One Sunday Morning received the Booklist Best Fiction and Best Historical Fiction of the Year awards and was a Barnes & Noble Book Club selection. She also writes for TIME magazine and Air Mail Weekly and was a contributor at Vogue, Vogue.com and The New York Times T Magazine. Her work has appeared in numerous other publications as well. She was Executive Producer of Warner Bros.’ A Little Princess. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband. Between them they have five children. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @AmyEphron.
Praise for Carnival Magic:
"Full of wonder and real-life enchantment, Amy Ephron's Carnival Magic is a charming adventure that will make a believer out of anyone!" —Rachel Vail, author of Well, That Was Awkward and the Friendship Ring series
"Tess is a thoroughly modern heroine: She's athletic, impulsive, and fearless . . . The siblings are authentic children [and] the fantastic elements are the stuff of daydreams. Perfect for classroom read-alouds." —Kirkus Reviews
"The short chapters filled with mystery and action will have readers eagerly continuing to discover the secrets that await them. . . . Fans of the first book will be eager for this fun middle-grade fantasy with a classic sensibility." —Booklist
"The setting is contemporary—yet the language and tone feel distinctly nostalgic. This novel, which works as a stand alone, will captivate readers who enjoy their whimsy with a dash of risk." —School Library Journal
"[Carnival Magic is] a softer otherworldly take on childhood mystery, reminiscent of classics such as The Secret Garden . . . [it] is in itself an escape. Tess especially follows in that lineage of strong, intelligent female characters – a sort of Lucy Pevensie/Hermione Granger hybrid who is a leader, who believes in magic." —Teen Vogue
"Amy Ephron has always been a magical storyteller. . . . In Carnival Magic, the companion book to Ephron’s successful The Castle in the Mist . . . Tess and Max are teaching children and their parents about the power of thoughtful decision-making, loyalty, and self-confidence. Life lessons and carnival rides . . . the perfect beach read for all ages." —Parade
“Ephron renders this magical world with such assertive beauty that readers of all ages, who are fortunate enough to believe in the power of magic, will enjoy immersing themselves in the roller-coaster fun of these stories, and come to trust, even if for a short time, that in this ‘alternate universe’ it is possible for us to come together and ‘touch the sky.’” —Jewish Journal
Audiobook Download $18.00 May 01, 2018 | 360 Minutes | Middle Grade (8-12) | ISBN 9780525625377 --> Buy
We used sturdy fishing wire and hooks to anchor it, making sure it was well-supported and wouldn't fall down. It took a bit of effort, but eventually, we managed to hang the tree securely. Satisfied with our work, my mom and I stepped back to admire the final result. The witch tree looked absolutely stunning and added a spooky touch to our Halloween decorations. However, just as we were reveling in our success, disaster struck. Out of nowhere, our mischievous black cat, Luna, zoomed into the room and jumped onto the back of the sofa. From there, she launched herself towards the witch tree, unintentionally crashing into it. It happened so fast that there was no time to react, and before we knew it, the tree came crashing down. Ornaments flew across the room, hitting the walls and shattering into pieces. My mom and I stood frozen, staring at the mess in astonishment. Luna, completely unfazed by the chaos she had caused, sauntered away as if nothing had happened. After recovering from the initial shock, my mom and I set to work cleaning up the broken ornaments and assessing the damage. Thankfully, most of the ornaments were salvageable, and we were able to glue them back together. It took some time and effort, but eventually, the witch tree was repaired and hung up again, this time being extra cautious to keep Luna away. In the end, the crashing of the witch tree decoration became a funny memory that we'll always remember. It taught us the importance of securing decorations properly and reminded us of the unpredictable nature of pets. Despite the mishap, our Halloween decorations turned out to be a great success, and the witch tree became the centerpiece of our spooky-themed living room..
Reviews for "Get Creative with a Crashing Witch Tree Decoration This Halloween"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - The "Crashing witch tree decoration" was a huge disappointment. The image on the website made it seem like such a fun and spooky addition to my Halloween decor, but in reality, it was poorly made and looked cheap. The witch's broomstick kept breaking and falling off, and the fabric used for the witch's body was thin and flimsy. I ended up having to return it because it didn't last through one night of being outside. Don't waste your money on this!
2. John - 1/5 stars - I bought the "Crashing witch tree decoration" thinking it would be a great addition to my Halloween setup, but boy was I wrong. The quality of this item is absolutely terrible. The materials used felt like they would disintegrate with just a slight touch, and the stitching was sloppy and falling apart. The worst part was that the witch's face looked nothing like the picture online. It was just a mess. Definitely not worth the price and a complete waste of money.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was excited to receive the "Crashing witch tree decoration" as I wanted to create a spooky ambiance for Halloween. However, when I took it out of the package, I was disappointed with the overall quality. The construction was flimsy and it didn't hold up well outdoors. Within a week, one of the witch's arms had snapped off and the fabric started tearing. It's definitely not durable and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a long-lasting Halloween decor.
4. Tom - 1/5 stars - I wish I could give the "Crashing witch tree decoration" zero stars. It was a complete waste of money. The design was poorly executed, with the witch's body failing to hang properly on my tree. The fabric was so cheap that it tore when I tried to adjust it slightly. The entire product felt incredibly fragile, and after one day outside, it was already falling apart. Save your money and invest in better quality decorations.