Magic Tree House: Space Mission In one of the popular books in the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne, "Magic Tree House: Space Mission," Jack and Annie find themselves on an out-of-this-world adventure. This time, their mission takes them to outer space, as they embark on a journey to learn about the wonders of the universe. As the story begins, Jack and Annie, the main characters and siblings, are transported to the Magic Tree House. This magical tree contains branches that transport them to different times and places. Equipped with their trusty research book, they find themselves in a space capsule hurtling towards the moon. Their mission is to help a famous astronaut named Morgan to find the missing Moonstone, which is essential in protecting Earth from environmental damage.
That was J.L. Bell’s point in his review. He said the fact that the characterizations were a little two-dimensional might be due to this being the first part in a series. But I don’t think that works for me. For example “Jellaby” was this perfect little book that also happened to be the first in a series and didn’t need subsequent titles to make the first one strong. Weep not for my criticisms. Any man who has already sold his film rights to a project that involves Will Smith’s kids is gonna do just ducky without my blessing.
I have it in my grade 9 classroom library, and it s my go-to book for reluctant readers, especially those of the male variety although lots of girls read it too. Kids who claim to hate reading come alive when they discuss the book the main thing they love, other than the art, is the balance of plot development and action.
Their mission is to help a famous astronaut named Morgan to find the missing Moonstone, which is essential in protecting Earth from environmental damage. With their unwavering bravery and determination, Jack and Annie venture into the unknown in search of the Moonstone. Throughout the mission, the siblings encounter various challenges and obstacles that test their courage and problem-solving skills.
#297—Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
Graphic novels can be a tricky beast to review. While some are dialogue and exposition heavy, reading like a novel with pictures, others rely more on visual storytelling. This means you can sweep over a number of pages in seconds as you take in the sequence of events, but ultimately there is not as much story there to review as you first expected.
This is one of those times, so I’ll be reviewing the first two books in this series, The Stonekeeper and The Stonekeeper’s Curse, just so I have more material to work with.
Amulet is a nine part graphic novel series written and drawn by Kazu Kibuishi. I always envy writers who can draw (or artists who can write). It feels like they can convey more of their vision than either a writer or artist can on their own.
The story starts off with young Emily Hayes involved in an accident that leads to the tragic death of her father. Two years later, she, her mother, and her brother all move into her great-grandfather’s house, Silas Charnon, and it soon becomes evident that her great-grandfather was no ordinary man. Strange forces lurk in the shadows, as Emily discovers an amulet hidden in the study, and activated by her blood.
After that, things get weird.
Before I go on about the series, a bit about the author. Kazu Kibuishi was born in Tokyo but moved to the US when he was four, and started drawing at age five. Though he initially went to university to study film (“I was trying to quit drawing”) he instead ended up starting his comic career there writing for the Daily Nexus.
He eventually caught the eye of Erik Larsen and Image Comics with an idea for an anthology series called Flight, and followed that up with another anthology called Explorer. The first volume of Amulet debuted in 2008 and, as of this writing, the series is up to book 8. The final book in the series has been announced, but not released.
Now, back to the weird. So, Emily’s mom gets swallowed up by a giant arachnopod thingy in the basement and carried off to a fantastical world full of monsters, evil elves, and humans turned into anthropomorphic animals… as you do. Emily and her brother Navin are forced to chase after her.
Along the way, Emily learns that the amulet she found possesses great power, along with great risk. It also talks to her, guiding her to none other than her long lost great-grandfather, who is on his deathbed in a remote house surrounded by waterfalls and populated by robotic assistants, one of which is a pink cartoony bunny rabbit called Miskit.
From there, the two children must hatch a plan to rescue their mother with the robots’ help, except there is another force at play. The prince of the Elf King wants the amulet for himself, but perhaps the person who wears it is more valuable to him…
But this is only the beginning, because Emily, having accepted the power of the stone amulet, is now bound to it. Cursed. She cannot remove it, and while she can control it, it also seeks to control her.
Oh, and there’s a whole underground rebellion against the evil elves and large stone houses that transform into giant robots and talking trees with magical fruit… It’s pretty wild.
As I stated earlier, this is not a story that is heavy on exposition, relying on the art to help carry the story. And what great artwork it is. While it is of a simple cartoony style for the characters, Kibuishi’s backgrounds have a wonderfully painted feel to them, especially the splash pages showing off key moments.
In many ways, the story is set up like storyboards for a movie. That’s not as common a trait as you might think. Many western comics (especially superhero ones) showcase moments of action very well, but don’t work in that “storyboard” way of setting up your camera shots. Try using your average superhero comic as a guide for shooting a scene, and it would be a mess. But on the page it looks damn cool.
Amulet, on the other hand, feels like you could use this as the layout for an animated movie, and the pacing of the sequences also lends to that cinematic feel.
I’ve seen comparisons made for this series to Jeff Smith’s Bone, and I can see why. The varied artwork, blending cartoonish and realistic elements, as well as comedy and drama, should definitely appeal to fans of the series.
While marketed for kids, this definitely falls under the sub-category of family entertainment, as I think adults will enjoy it just as much. Just don’t expect each book to take up more than a couple of hours of your time.
While marketed for kids, this definitely falls under the sub-category of family entertainment, as I think adults will enjoy it just as much. Just don’t expect each book to take up more than a couple of hours of your time.
They come face to face with space creatures, experience weightlessness, and navigate through the moon's treacherous terrain. Along the way, they also learn fascinating facts about space, planets, and galaxies. As Jack and Annie explore the vastness of space, they begin to understand the importance of teamwork, resilience, and curiosity. They witness the beautiful spectacle of a solar eclipse, marvel at the stars, and gain a new appreciation for our planet Earth. "Magic Tree House: Space Mission" not only provides an exciting adventure for young readers but also serves as an educational tool. Through the captivating story, children are introduced to real scientific concepts and astronomical facts. The book encourages curiosity and a love for learning, inspiring young minds to explore the mysteries of the universe. In conclusion, "Magic Tree House: Space Mission" is an engaging and educational adventure that takes readers on a journey through the wonders of space. With its blend of imagination, science, and storytelling, this book captures the hearts and minds of young readers, inspiring them to reach for the stars metaphorically and academically..
Reviews for "The Magic Tree House: Guardians of the Universe"
1. Amy - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic Tree House: Space Mission". I found the storyline to be weak and the characters lacked depth. The whole space adventure felt rushed and the ending was unsatisfying. Additionally, the writing style was too simplistic for my liking. I think this book could have benefited from more in-depth explanations and descriptions of the space environment. Overall, it just didn't capture my attention or make me feel invested in the story.
2. Mike - 3 stars - "Magic Tree House: Space Mission" didn't live up to my expectations. While I appreciate the educational aspect of the series, I felt that this particular installment lacked excitement. The plot felt predictable, and I was hoping for more twists and turns. The characters' actions and motivations also seemed quite basic. I think this book would have benefited from more complexity and a stronger sense of adventure. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I can't understand why "Magic Tree House: Space Mission" is so highly praised. The writing style was dull and the dialogue felt forced. The scientific explanations were also oversimplified to the point of being inaccurate. As someone interested in astronomy, I was disappointed by the lack of accuracy and depth in the space-related content. The plot was predictable and the characters one-dimensional. Overall, I found this book to be a major letdown.