Magic Tree House 29: A Big Day for Baseball "A Big Day for Baseball" is the 29th book in the Magic Tree House series written by Mary Pope Osborne. This educational and adventure-packed book takes readers back in time to the year 1947 when Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in modern Major League Baseball. In this thrilling installment, siblings Jack and Annie travel to Ebbets Field, the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Their mission is to help a young boy named Spike fulfill his baseball dream. Upon their arrival, Jack and Annie find themselves in the middle of a crowd, surrounded by the vibrant atmosphere of a live baseball game. As they explore the stadium, the siblings spot a mysterious box labeled "The Third Magic.
Studio: XLrator Media
Director: Pearry Teo
Writer: Pearry Teo, Josh Nadler
Producer: Ehud Bleiberg, Pearry Teo
Stars: Ethan Peck, Natalie Hall, India Eisley, James Adam Lim, Zack Ward, Scott Alan Smith, Cyd Strittmatter, Mim Drew, Bruce Davison
If you can hang in there beyond the too-slow pacing of the first half of the movie, there are some wonderful visuals and story twists to be appreciated waiting for you. Reclusive artist Thomas Kaiser wakes with sleep paralysis from a recurring nightmare in which visions of an old house prevent him from kissing Sleeping Beauty.
As they explore the stadium, the siblings spot a mysterious box labeled "The Third Magic." They soon discover that this magic object can help them in their quest to assist Spike. Throughout their adventures, Jack and Annie meet notable figures from baseball history, including Jackie Robinson, Branch Rickey, and Red Barber.
Reviewing “The Curse of Sleeping Beauty” Atmosphere and interesting story twists can't completely overcome inconsistent pacing
Fairy tales, myths and legends are stories that endure, being told over and over again through countless generations and even across many centuries. Some of the details may shift or be glossed over depending on what audience they’re being told to at that moment, but the themes and the characters are timeless.
Maybe that’s what keeps bringing us back to them, again and again, digging around in the old stories to find different truth, a different hero or even a different villain. Maybe it’s easier to create that new twist, by building it from a new perspective on an existing story framework that’s been proven over time.
(L-R) Ethan Peck as Thomas and India Eisley as Briar Rose in the thriller film “THE CURSE OF SLEEPING BEAUTY”. Photo courtesy of XLrator Media
In The Curse of Sleeping Beauty, several twists are added to the old Grimm fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty”, which include demons, djinn, golems, and shifting the curse from the sleeping princess to the males of the bloodline that family legend says are acting as guardians. Thomas is a troubled young man who’s been having dreams about the fairy tale for several years, and the dreams always end in an attack from some kind of monster he can’t identify and a fit of sleep paralysis.
He believes that the dreams signify something more than the obvious, but psychologists continue to tell him that he’s still being affected by the sudden death of his fiancé, and the dreams are a way of keeping himself locked in by his grief and refusing to move on and begin his life again. Needless to say, he’s not convinced.
Things start to get interesting for Thomas when he is informed that an uncle he never really knew has committed suicide and he’s inherited the family estate. He learns about the family curse and his literal connection to the old house while trying to get appraisals and repairs done to it so he can just sell it. At first, he wants nothing to do with the house, until he discovers that he can’t live without it, literally. While living in the house, he begins experiencing deeper and more lush dreams with the princess, and more vivid encounters with creatures trying to kill him before he wakes up. Briar Rose, who is now awake in his dreams, asks for his help to kill the demonic forces in the house keeping her prisoner and to set her free.
During his investigation into his family history, Thomas learns that over the years many people have disappeared on the property, and previous family members had been under suspicion of being murderers, but nothing ever had been found to directly implicate anyone. He also comes across Linda, a young woman on a search of her own, and Richard, a paranormal investigator, and they begin to fill in some of the blanks about the house’s history for him. All of the information they’ve gathered convinces Thomas that the only way to break the curse and free himself and his family is to find Briar Rose and wake her up with a kiss… but finding her will be a dangerous journey for them all.
(L-R) Natalie Hall as Linda, Ethan Peck as Thomas and Bruce Davison as Richard in the thriller film “THE CURSE OF SLEEPING BEAUTY”. Photo courtesy of XLrator Media
This is where parts of the story have problems with pacing. Some of the information is spun out too quickly while some of the action and character interactions happen too slowly. The beginning of the film is almost too slow in some parts, but when it jumps back and forth between different locations in the “real world”, it seems jarring. The transitions between the real world and Thomas’ dream world don’t suffer from that problem, and the design of both the dream world and the monster-laden underworld Thomas must travel through to reach Briar Rose are delightful.
It’s very easy to see how in this fast-paced modern time of ours, many people might stop watching the film because of it’s slow pacing early on, and miss out on the shift when building towards the climax and conclusion. Maybe a few too many things were left behind because of budget reasons, it’s not easy to say, but the twists added to the original fairy tale to form the core of this movie were appealing to me, especially since the original versions of the fairy tales were intended to scare children into being obedient and silent and mindful of their elders without question, not to entertain them.
If you can hang in there beyond the too-slow pacing of the first half of the movie, there are some wonderful visuals and story twists to be appreciated waiting for you.
The Curse of Sleeping Beauty is an entirely new, dark vision of the classic Brothers Grimm adventure. Thomas Kaiser (Ethan Peck) inherits an ancestral mansion that has been in his family for generations — only to learn that he has also inherited an ancient curse stemming back to the Crusades. Forced into his new role as “protector” — the guardian appointed to keep the evil demons in the house at bay — Thomas must unravel the mystery of the house, while struggling to awaken the beautiful Briar Rose (India Eisley), held captive in a terrifying netherworld seen previously in his dreams.
CAST: Ethan Peck, Natalie Hall, India Eisley, Bruce Davison
WRITERS: Pearry Teo and Josh Nadler
DIRECTOR: Pearry Teo
Reviewing "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty"
Summary
It’s very easy to see how in this fast-paced modern time of ours, many people might stop watching the film because of it’s slow pacing early on, and miss out on the shift when building towards the climax and conclusion. Maybe a few too many things were left behind because of budget reasons, it’s not easy to say, but the twists added to the original fairy tale to form the core of this movie were appealing to me. If you can hang in there beyond the too-slow pacing of the first half of the movie, there are some wonderful visuals and story twists to be appreciated waiting for you.
Small screen motives don’t translate into big screen scope. Although aesthetically appealing as a film, “The Curse of Sleeping Beauty” undercuts itself as a feature by trying to pull double duty as a TV pilot. Additionally undone by the dead weight of an overstretched story, stereotypical setups, and a twist telegraphed before the opening titles conclude, “The Curse of Sleeping Beauty” doesn’t fully develop the distinguishing characteristics it wants, and needs, to truly pop as a distinctively visionary property.
Osborne effectively incorporates historical facts and context into the story, allowing young readers to gain insight into the struggles Robinson faced and the importance of his breakthrough for racial equality. The book highlights themes of perseverance, friendship, and equality, making it both educational and relevant for young readers. As with other books in the series, "A Big Day for Baseball" seamlessly blends fantasy and history. The magical element of the Magic Tree House enables the characters to travel back in time, experience real-life historical events, and learn valuable life lessons along the way. Mary Pope Osborne's writing style is engaging and accessible to children, making it easy for readers to connect with Jack and Annie, as well as the historical figures they encounter. The book is accompanied by illustrations by Sal Murdocca, adding visual appeal and aiding in the storytelling process. Overall, "A Big Day for Baseball" is a captivating addition to the Magic Tree House series. Through the adventures of Jack and Annie, children can explore the historical significance of Jackie Robinson's journey and the impact of his milestone on the sport of baseball..
Reviews for "Embark on a literary journey with Magic Tree House 29"
1. Mary - 2/5 stars - I have been a fan of the Magic Tree House series for a long time, but I was really disappointed with Book 29. The plot felt rushed and lacked the magical element that attracted me to the series in the first place. The characters also felt flat and uninteresting, and I couldn't connect with them like I did in the previous books. Overall, I found this installment to be underwhelming and would not recommend it.
2. David - 1/5 stars - I found the writing style in Magic Tree House 29 to be very simplistic and not engaging at all. The story seemed repetitive and did not offer anything new or exciting. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unrealistic. I was hoping for a captivating adventure, but I was left feeling bored and uninterested. I would advise skipping this book in the series and choosing a different installment that offers a more compelling story.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I have always enjoyed the Magic Tree House series because of its educational value and entertaining storytelling. However, Book 29 failed to deliver on both fronts. The historical aspect felt forced and shoehorned into the plot, making it feel more like a history lesson than an engaging adventure. The writing style also seemed more juvenile and less sophisticated than in previous books. Overall, I found this installment to be lackluster and not up to the standards I have come to expect from the series.
4. John - 1/5 stars - I found Magic Tree House 29 to be incredibly predictable and unoriginal. The plot followed the same formula as many previous books in the series, and there were no surprises or twists to keep me interested. The characters also felt one-dimensional and lacking depth. It felt like the author was just going through the motions and not putting in the effort to create a compelling story. I was left feeling bored and uninspired, and I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting read.