"Magic Tree House Book 10: Ghost Town at Sundown" is another exciting installment in the popular children's book series written by Mary Pope Osborne. In this book, the main characters, Jack and Annie, embark on another thrilling time-traveling adventure. The story begins when Jack and Annie find themselves transported back in time to the Wild West. As they step out of the magic tree house, they discover that they are in a ghost town called "Sundown." The town appears deserted, with dusty streets and abandoned buildings. Jack and Annie soon realize that they have arrived just as the sun is setting, and they only have a few hours before the magic tree house whisk them back to their own time.
Jack and Annie soon realize that they have arrived just as the sun is setting, and they only have a few hours before the magic tree house whisk them back to their own time. Determined to solve the riddle that will help them on their next mission, Jack and Annie explore the ghost town. They stumble upon a general store and meet a girl named Kathleen, who mistakes them for ghost hunters.
Glossy Pop Newsletter: Donni Davy changed makeup, and with Half Magic, the ‘Euphoria’ look is here to stay
This week, countless publications (including Glossy) have announced the arrival of Half Magic, the makeup line created by Doniella [Donni] Davy and entertainment company A24. The collection puts Davy’s stamp of approval on the trends she has both catalyzed and mainstreamed since “Euphoria” first premiered in June 2019. Since then, the show has become known for its maximalist, expressive makeup — a rainbow of colors, crystal gems, and facial adornments, which existing brands have been quick to create. (See: the burgeoning category of eye gems).
While fashion trends have come from the small screen into the real world plenty of times, it has been less common for makeup trends to transcend in that way, let alone to even be as noticeable as “Euphoria” wants its makeup to be.
After “Euphoria” premiered, Davy had plenty of offers for co-branded eyeshadow palettes and other beauty collaborations. But she chose to hold off, save for her collaboration on eye decals — which she also used on the show — with Face Lace by Phyllis Cohen. In addition to potential brand deals, she also rapidly amassed a following on social media. Today, Davy has 579,000 followers on Instagram and is just shy of 100,000 followers on TikTok.
Most impactful, though, were the fans reaching out. “I was so touched by people who would DM me and say that they were kind of nervous to do [“Euphoria” style] makeup or wanted to but never had the guts to. Then, they saw the show, got inspired and tried it and now they’ve found themselves,” Davy told Glossy.
“I was stoked that people were responding to the behind-the-scenes inspiration for the looks and the emotional place where the looks were coming from. That was really exciting, not just because it’s cool or the actor looks cool or hot or whatever. People love the backstory,” Davy said.
“In ‘Euphoria,’ we are always working to communicate the heightened emotions that are part of being young, of growing up, of figuring out who you are. Donni’s work is a key part of finding that heightened expression and uncovering more of who our characters are on an emotional level,” Euphoria creator Sam Levinson told Glossy in an email.
As the show’s impact became more apparent, executives at A24 went to Davy with the idea for a brand. “[Your work] is really doing something in the beauty industry, it feels important and it feels like we should make a makeup line,” Davy recalled them saying. She knew she was interested in creating one, but she wanted to do it from the ground up. “I wanted to create everything about it, the user experience, the packaging, the formulas, everything.”
Half Magic launched direct-to-consumer on Tuesday, May 17, and ranges in price — for single products — from $10 for a silicone tool that helps perfect a winged liner shape to $24 for the brand’s liquid eye pigments. Davy’s goal? A brand that makes everyone feel welcome. “The most important thing to me is that this brand doesn’t come off as being a ‘cool girl brand,'” she said. For her, experimentation is for everyone.
The “magic” of the products lies in the fact that “these formulas, colors and textures allow you to achieve endless customization,” said Sam Sachs, Half Magic’s director of product development and packaging.
The extent to which “Euphoria” has inspired makeup experimentation has been well documented. On TikTok, the hashtag #EuphoriaMakeup has a mind-boggling 2 billion views. “Overall, ‘Euphoria’ is definitely influencing the makeup category,” said Yarden Horwitz, co-founder of Spate, a data analysis firm. “Consumers are searching for ‘Euphoria’ inspiration and have shown signs of getting more creative with their makeup designs (i.e. butterfly eyeliner, silver eyeliner, and even flame eyeliner).” All things considered, Horwitz said, it’s still the early stages and most of these searches are not yet occurring alongside a brand, which indicates that there is room for growth in the space.
Davy, it should be noted, does not take credit for “bold makeup,” which has long existed in drag culture, at raves, on runways and simply on the fringes of mainstream makeup culture. “The tendency to be bold with makeup has always existed,” she said. “I feel like I was the shepherd, getting it on to a mainstream platform, so people could enjoy it and be inspired to partake. Runway makeup has been a thing forever. But that’s the thing — [it feels like it’s only for] models walking down a runway, so I think the impact I’ve had more so than even the looks themselves is just the bringing [the makeup] to regular people and showing them, through the show, not only how to wear it, but that they can wear it.”
As the show’s impact became more apparent, executives at A24 went to Davy with the idea for a brand. “[Your work] is really doing something in the beauty industry, it feels important and it feels like we should make a makeup line,” Davy recalled them saying. She knew she was interested in creating one, but she wanted to do it from the ground up. “I wanted to create everything about it, the user experience, the packaging, the formulas, everything.”
Kathleen informs them about the legend of Morgan le Fay, who haunts the town every night after sundown. As the siblings continue their exploration, they encounter various challenges and meet interesting characters, including a newspaper boy named Blain, a mysterious cowboy, and a friendly dog named Bell. With each encounter, Jack and Annie learn more about the history and secrets of the ghost town. Throughout the adventure, Jack and Annie learn the importance of bravery, friendship, and helping others. They must face their fears to solve the riddle and complete their mission. With time running out, they must find the solution before the sun sets and the magic tree house transports them back home. "Ghost Town at Sundown" is a captivating story that combines elements of history, mystery, and fantasy. It introduces young readers to the concept of the Wild West and allows them to explore a different time period through the eyes of Jack and Annie. As with other books in the series, Mary Pope Osborne skillfully weaves educational content into an action-packed and engaging story. Overall, "Magic Tree House Book 10: Ghost Town at Sundown" is a delightful addition to the Magic Tree House series. It takes readers on an exciting adventure through time, teaching valuable lessons along the way. Whether children are long-time fans of the series or new readers, they are sure to enjoy this captivating tale..
Reviews for "A Trip through Time: Delving into Magic Tree House Book 10"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was quite disappointed with "Magic Tree House Book 10". The plot felt rushed, and there was little character development. The writing also lacked depth and complexity, making it difficult for me to fully engage with the story. Additionally, I found the dialogue to be unrealistic and forced. Overall, I expected more from this book and was left feeling underwhelmed.
2. John - 3 stars - While "Magic Tree House Book 10" had an interesting premise, I found the execution to be lacking. The pacing was inconsistent, with parts of the story feeling rushed and others dragging on. The character interactions felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult for me to connect with them. Furthermore, I felt that the writing style was too simplistic, lacking the depth and nuance I prefer in a book. Overall, it was an average read, but not one that I would highly recommend.
3. Emily - 2 stars - Unfortunately, "Magic Tree House Book 10" didn't live up to my expectations. The plot seemed predictable and lacked originality, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, which made it challenging to form a connection with them. Additionally, the writing style felt repetitive and lacked creativity. I was hoping for a more captivating and imaginative story, but this book fell short for me.