Half Magic
by Edward Eager
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Read in November, 2002
recommends it for:
E. Nesbit Readers
Four siblings, Jane, Mark, Katherine, and Martha, find their dull summer vacation transformed by the magical, wish-giving coin that Jane finds one day. After a number of experiments in which the children discover that the coin only half-grants the wishes asked of it, they set out to have some adventures, asking for twice as much of everything they desire. Hilarious misadventures ensue when the children travel back to the time of King Arthur, when baby Martha half disappears, and when Jane wishes...more
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Read in June, 1962
recommends it for:
Reading Children and Young-at-Heart Adults
This was the first book I read on my own as a child, and it was my favorite as a boy. From time to time, I re-read it and find it still holds up well from an adult perspective. It is a wonderfully literate, and literary, book which never talks down to its readers.
Half Magic is the story of four children of a widowed mother who have a summer of wonder after one of them finds a magic charm that works by halves. For example, wish yourself on a desert island, and you may end up in a desert....more
Half Magic is the story of four children of a widowed mother who have a summer of wonder after one of them finds a magic charm that works by halves. For example, wish yourself on a desert island, and you may end up in a desert....more
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Read in January, 1968
recommends it for:
The Young Of All Ages
Edward Eager was my very first "favorite" author. I remember reading "Half Magic" and feeling a light turn on in my mind; my imagination was stimulated like never before. This is the first of a series of magical adventures involving two sets of children, who are intertwined biologically and magically (in Eager's later book "The Time Garden," the children of the characters in this book and "Magic By The Lake" would be saved by their own future children). Ba...more
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Read in May, 2008
Delightful, innocent, neatly wrapped up fun.
"Jane was the oldest and Mark was the only boy, and between them they ran everything.
"Katharine was the middle girl, of docile disposition and a comfort to her mother. She knew she was, because she'd heard her mother say so. And the others knew she was, too, by now, because Katharine would keep boasting about what a comfort she was, and how docile, until Jane declared she would utter a piercing shriek and fall over dead if she h...more
"Jane was the oldest and Mark was the only boy, and between them they ran everything.
"Katharine was the middle girl, of docile disposition and a comfort to her mother. She knew she was, because she'd heard her mother say so. And the others knew she was, too, by now, because Katharine would keep boasting about what a comfort she was, and how docile, until Jane declared she would utter a piercing shriek and fall over dead if she h...more
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recommends it for:
fantasy and comedy fans
Four children find a coin that grants them half a wish. Unfortunately, they don't find out about the magic until each one accidentally makes a wish including their mother. The children have wacky adventures through the desert, king arthur's court, and at the movies. They must learn to wish wisely or surely they will be stuck! Should they tell an adult? What if the coin runs out of wishes? A great fantasy book for 4th grade and up.
Food for thought: If you had one wish what would it be?
Food for thought: If you had one wish what would it be?
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Read in March, 2008
Some kids find a magic coin that can grant wishes. The twist is that it gives you exactly half of what you wish for. That's not so bad if you wished for a chocolate cake, but what if you wished for your cat to talk?
This got me thinking about what I would wish for - two million dollars, to be exactly twice my ideal weight, to get exactly twice as much sleep as I need every night, for my kids to get along 4 times as well as they do now. I'd love to find a coin like that!
This got me thinking about what I would wish for - two million dollars, to be exactly twice my ideal weight, to get exactly twice as much sleep as I need every night, for my kids to get along 4 times as well as they do now. I'd love to find a coin like that!
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Read in March, 2008
Reading this aloud to Beanie (7 yrs). She adores it, as did her sisters before her. Eager cracks me up: very wry humor and realistic characterizations—in a fantasy where unlikely events are occurring. It's a delicious combination.
Written in the spirit of E. Nesbit's books, this is the tale of four siblings who find a magical charm that grants wishes—sort of. It only grants *half* a wish, which causes all sorts of confusion and misadventure.
Written in the spirit of E. Nesbit's books, this is the tale of four siblings who find a magical charm that grants wishes—sort of. It only grants *half* a wish, which causes all sorts of confusion and misadventure.
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I just reread this book based on how much I enjoyed it as a child. I was dismayed to find Arab and Chinese stereotypes early on in the book. How had I missed them the first time? Even as a child, I was pretty sensitive to those kinds of issues. Not sensitive enough, I gather. While I would still recommend the book to others, I'd do so with a caveat I hadn't had before. It makes me sad.
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recommends it for:
children and those who wish they found a magical talisman as a child
This is where to begin with Edward Eager books. The beauty of Eager's stories is that he makes the idea of finding a magical object as a child, and hiding it from adults, realistic. Please notice the title...the kids don't find full magic, they find "half" magic. Also, since these are children the wishes are more creative and brash.
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Edward Eager's books are classics, and some of my very favorites from childhood. The illustrations by N.M. Bodeker were a huge influence on me, and I loved the stories (you think Harry Potter is original? Hardly). These are excellent books, published mid-century, that build on a foundation laid decades earlier by masters like E. Nesbit.
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Read in March, 1990
The first time I heard this book (note: I said "heard") was when my 2nd grade teacher read it aloud to the class. I was immediately enthralled! I've read it several times since and it has yet to lose half its magic. (pun!)
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Read in January, 1987
recommends it for:
Everyone
This was the most checked out book in my elementary school library. There was a waiting list a mile long on it. I remembered this as an adult and I went ahead and bought it again. I still love it. I think it is highly entertaining and good for children since magic is something it seems we all want to be able to do.
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oh, one of my all time favorites. i LOVE when they wish the cat could talk and since it is half-magic, the cat's every other word is "meow."
i bought this (and the rest of the series) for my niece for christmas a couple of years ago, and i can't wait until my daughters are old enough to read it.
i bought this (and the rest of the series) for my niece for christmas a couple of years ago, and i can't wait until my daughters are old enough to read it.
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Read in May, 1990
recommends it for:
kids and adults
I first read this enchanting book as a child in the late 1950's and then with my daughter when she was about 10 years old in 1990. Adults will love all Edward Eager books, whether or not they're reading them to children. JK Rowling (Harry Potter) should study Edward Eager, but I bet she already has!
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Half Magic is a story about some kids who are having a very boring summer. That changes when they find a strange coin that gives you wishes you ask for. But soon they discover it gives them half only half what they ask for. So they have to ask for two x what they want. A great book to read any day!
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Read in August, 1975
I read all the Eager books I could find as a child. When I re-read them with my son I didn't like them quite as much as I did as a child, but they're not bad. I think SEVEN-DAY MAGIC was my favorite both times. We've also listened to some of HALF MAGIC driving around in the car.
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Its been a long time since I read this, but I loved it in grade school. The characters get to make wishes but they only come true half-way. They have to find creative ways to wish for twice what they want to get exactly what they want. Things don't always turn out as planned.
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Read in September, 1961
recommends it for:
kids 7 & up, fantasy & kids' lit fans
Loved this book in elementary school. This is my favorite book in the series and the one I remember best also. I love the “half magic” concept. Charming adventure story. Like the kids. Love the magic, especially the way it works in this book. Really imaginative.
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I read this book when it was new (yes, that does mean I'm ancient) & never forgot it or changed my opinion that it's wonderful. My own children agreed. It's the first of a wonderful set of similar stories & as the original will always have first place in my heart.
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
fantasy fans
Five children find a silver medallion, and discover that it grants wishes - but only half-way! Hilarity ensues. My favorite part is when they idly wish the cat could talk.
This is my favorite book by Eager, with lots of wit and humor. A great summer read.
This is my favorite book by Eager, with lots of wit and humor. A great summer read.
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