The Magic Tree House series is a popular collection of children's books written by Mary Pope Osborne. The first book in the series is titled "Dinosaurs Before Dark". It was originally published in 1992 and has since captivated young readers with its exciting adventure and intriguing storyline. The book follows the main characters, Jack and Annie, as they discover a magic tree house in the woods near their home. Jack and Annie stumble upon the tree house and soon realize that it has the power to transport them through time and space. In "Dinosaurs Before Dark", the tree house takes them back to the time of dinosaurs.
In "Dinosaurs Before Dark", the tree house takes them back to the time of dinosaurs. As the siblings explore this ancient world, they encounter various species of dinosaurs, brave dangerous situations, and ultimately learn important lessons about courage and teamwork. The main idea of "Dinosaurs Before Dark" is the power of imagination and the thrill of exploration.
Embracing the witch with a kiss
The Witch’s Kiss by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr
Genre: Fairy Tale, Contemporary
Published: HarperCollins
Pages: 424
Format: ARC e-book
Rating: ★★★★
Note: We received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Sister writing duo, fairy tales, witches, oh my! There was a lot to look forward to in The Witch’s Kiss and I loved every single second! If this book wasn’t made for me, I’d be surprised! Going into it, I didn’t realise it was going to be part of a series, so I was reading it thinking everything was going to resolve by the end, and it almost does, except for a little thread that just itches at you, making you desperate for the second book. We’re only waiting until February 2017, though, which isn’t too long….right?
Merry is descended from a group of powerful witches. She’s part of a curse that means she must be the one to defeat the evil wizard, Gwydion and his minion, the King of Hearts. The bad part is, Merry hasn’t practiced magic in a year. She’s rusty and uncertain but wholly supported by her brother and best friend Leo.
Things get complicated when it turns out that the King of Hearts, Jack, is an extremely handsome teenage boy, who’s a serious candidate to fall in love with. Jack is equally cursed to work for Gwydion, ripping the hearts out of people, Once Upon a Time style.
Isn’t love, magic and an evil curse a recipe for disaster??
Apparently it’s the recipe for a four star book!
F A I R Y T A L E E L E M E N T S
My favourite parts of the story were the parts that felt the most familiar to me already. The sleeping curse, the evil magical being, three magical sisters, being raised by people who aren’t your true parents, true love’s kiss saving the day…it was Sleeping Beauty and Hercules mashed together to create something beautiful. This really proved to me that familiarity doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It was used in such a way to make an original tale. I liked being able to pick up strands from the classic fairy tales I know and love, but discovering what The Witch’s Kiss did to shake it up was the best part of the book.
The expositional few chapters, that tell you about the legend of Gwydion and Jack, and gives their origin story in Anglo-Saxon times, alongside the three witches’ backstory, is a little bit shoehorned in, but necessary to get some understanding of the wizard’s evil motives.
C H A R A C T E R S
Merry is such a fabulous character because she’s so insecure about her powers and capabilities. There are lots of vulnerable moments for Merry in the book, where she talks about how she’s abused her powers to do well in school and maintain relationships with her friends. Her moral greyness makes her super relatable, because you know she’s a good person, but I can’t say if I had magic, I wouldn’t use it to my advantage sometimes, can you?
Leo was a great older brother, always looking out of Merry and although he wasn’t a wizard or witch himself, he was still super important in the deciding if the curse would be fulfilled or forgotten. The fact that Leo and Merry actually communicated well with each other was lovely to read!
Jack. Well, as a love interest he was sweet, but I couldn’t really get round his forced, dark past. To be honest, I was so focused on Merry, I wasn’t really paying much attention to the other most important character, haha!
So, although it felt a little slow paced in some moments, and maybe the whole find-your-way-to-the-bottom-of-the-lake bit did take most of the book to solve when if Merry had just listened to her magical manuscript telling her what to do, they could have saved the world a lot sooner.BUT, those are the reasons this is a book doesn’t get the whole five stars. Apart from that, I loved The Witch’s Kiss and The Witch’s Tears is the top of my anticipated reads for 2017! (Magical tears being another fairy tale trope, woo!)
The book takes young readers on an immersive journey to the world of dinosaurs, where they can learn about these fascinating creatures and their prehistoric environment. It also highlights the importance of working together and using one's wits to overcome challenges. The Magic Tree House series, including its first book "Dinosaurs Before Dark", has become a beloved classic in children's literature. It has not only encouraged a love for reading among young audiences but also inspired their curiosity about history, science, and the wonders of the world. Through engaging characters and captivating storytelling, Mary Pope Osborne creates a magical reading experience that continues to enchant readers of all ages..
Reviews for "Escaping into Adventure: A Review of the First Book in the Magic Tree House Series"
1. Samantha - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The 1st book in the magic tree house series". The story felt incredibly dull and lacking in excitement. The characters were also quite one-dimensional, and I struggled to connect with them. Additionally, the writing style was simplistic, which made it difficult for me to fully engage with the story. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and struggled to finish it.
2. Jonathan - 1 star - "The 1st book in the magic tree house series" was not my cup of tea at all. The plot felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction, making it hard for me to follow along. I also found the main characters, Jack and Annie, to be irritating and unrealistic. The book seemed to rely heavily on unrealistic magical elements which further disconnected me from the story. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The 1st book in the magic tree house series", but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The writing style felt very basic and didn't engage me as a reader. The plot was predictable, and the characters lacked depth. I was hoping for a more immersive and magical experience, but it just didn't deliver. Perhaps it may appeal to younger readers, but it didn't capture my attention or imagination.