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The Magic Books #3
Fur Magic
Enter a world of ancient magic.
When his father is called to active duty in Vietnam, Cory Alder is sent to spend the summer with his adopted Native American uncle, Jasper.
Accustomed to life in the city, Cory finds the reality of the ranch scary-every shadow is full of menace. But when an encounter with a medicine man catapults Cory into a world of Native American legend, conquering his fears becomes a matter of survival. Transformed into a beaver called Yellow Shell, Cory is now part of a war between the People, animals whose intelligence equals that of humans.
In order to return home, Cory must help Yellow Shell and his allies defeat the Changer, who is attempting to enslave the People in this world-and in Cory's world as well. With two worlds hanging in the balance, Cory will have to use every ounce of courage and animal instinct within him to defeat this enemy . . .
When his father is called to active duty in Vietnam, Cory Alder is sent to spend the summer with his adopted Native American uncle, Jasper.
Accustomed to life in the city, Cory finds the reality of the ranch scary-every shadow is full of menace. But when an encounter with a medicine man catapults Cory into a world of Native American legend, conquering his fears becomes a matter of survival. Transformed into a beaver called Yellow Shell, Cory is now part of a war between the People, animals whose intelligence equals that of humans.
In order to return home, Cory must help Yellow Shell and his allies defeat the Changer, who is attempting to enslave the People in this world-and in Cory's world as well. With two worlds hanging in the balance, Cory will have to use every ounce of courage and animal instinct within him to defeat this enemy . . .
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
11 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
699 books1,390 followersAndre Norton, born Alice Mary Norton, was a pioneering American author of science fiction and fantasy, widely regarded as the Grande Dame of those genres. She also wrote historical and contemporary fiction, publishing under the pen names Andre Alice Norton, Andrew North, and Allen Weston. She launched her career in 1934 with The Prince Commands, adopting the name “Andre” to appeal to a male readership. After working for the Cleveland Library System and the Library of Congress, she began publishing science fiction under “Andrew North” and fantasy under her own name. She became a full-time writer in 1958 and was known for her prolific output, including Star Man’s Son, 2250 A.D. and Witch World, the latter spawning a long-running series and shared universe. Norton was a founding member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America and authored Quag Keep, the first novel based on the Dungeons & Dragons game. She influenced generations of writers, including Lois McMaster Bujold and Mercedes Lackey. Among her many honors were being the first woman named Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy and SFWA Grand Master. In her later years, she established the High Hallack Library to support research in genre fiction. Her legacy continues with the Andre Norton Award for young adult science fiction and fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
unfinished
February 26, 2018At 37%, I'm waaaay bogging down on this one. Magical Native American totem beasts and their mythical warfare are just not interesting to me. I think this type of plot was more the thing back when it was published, but doesn't work so well for this middle-aged reader. (And, no it's not Watership Down--I make an exception for that one.)
I don't know whether to force myself to finish this, or skip to the next one in the series.
I don't know whether to force myself to finish this, or skip to the next one in the series.
April 27, 2020
One of Norton's Magic books, which seems to be appropriate for ages 8 to 12, the story introduces some American Indian concepts, notably the Trickster. Although the book was first published in 1970s, the story is still appealing and not outdated, due to its outdoor setting.
January 16, 2026
I'm torn, you can see the innovation but it does come a little at the expense of having fun. Norton is celebrated for her change of direction but I don't know how much I'm ultimately going to dig it ... we'll see in a few books time!
August 12, 2019
Early Bird Book Deal
November 28, 2025
One of my favorite authors. Boy gets to be beaver. Conservation. Reread.
February 4, 2018
This is typical Andre Norton’s coming of age Science Fiction Books. It is about a young boy named Cory, who has left the state of Florida When his dad goes to the air rescue unit in Vietnam, and his aunt Lucy went to assist her grandmother recover from her operation in San Francisco. Rather than being home alone, he was given to operatically to visit his uncle Jasper who lives on a ranch in Idaho, and raised Appaloosa horses for rodeos. This was about as different in climate and people as Cory could imagine. He had never even seen a unpaved road before, and the mountains nearby were higher than he had ever imaged a mountain could possibly be.
Cory Alder fists surprise was that he found that he was afraid of the large animals, and especially the horse he was expected to ride. After getting bucked off the first time, he disappointed Uncle Jasper by refusing to get back on and trying to ride again. He found he was also afraid of the night noise, animal sounds, and the wide open spaces.
The next morning he came down for a jeep ride to a line camp with his uncle and a friend to look over the horse heard, and possible purchase some stock. He was to stay at the line camp to meat an old Indian that was over a 100 years old named Black Elk, and telephone for a jeep, or help him in what ever way that man requested.
While waiting for Black Elk, Cory has several unexpected adventures, seeing some Buffalo, a coyote, and what looked like an Indian medicine man doing some type of dance. He also falls in a covered crevice on top of a hide bag, that when he looks finds it is something Indian made, and possible belongs to Black Elk. Her returns it to where he found it, and later when Black Elk arrives, tels him about the find, and that he touched it.
Black Elk insists that since Cory touched it, he must cleanse it, and puts some leaves in the camp fire making a lot of smoke. Cory is instructed to hold the medicine bag in the smoke until it is cleaned. He awakes later before a smoking camp fire far back in time as a beaver, with a spear, purse to hold items, etc. He hurries to water, and thus starts a grand adventurer that allows him to over come present and future fears. At the completing of this adventure which involves many different animals. He finally succeeds at his assigned task and returns as Cory Alder to the camp fire before Black Elk. They talk about the Indian spirit dream, and what it means, and how it can change a individuals life forever. This is a good book for young readers, and I encourage every one to read it a some time.
Cory Alder fists surprise was that he found that he was afraid of the large animals, and especially the horse he was expected to ride. After getting bucked off the first time, he disappointed Uncle Jasper by refusing to get back on and trying to ride again. He found he was also afraid of the night noise, animal sounds, and the wide open spaces.
The next morning he came down for a jeep ride to a line camp with his uncle and a friend to look over the horse heard, and possible purchase some stock. He was to stay at the line camp to meat an old Indian that was over a 100 years old named Black Elk, and telephone for a jeep, or help him in what ever way that man requested.
While waiting for Black Elk, Cory has several unexpected adventures, seeing some Buffalo, a coyote, and what looked like an Indian medicine man doing some type of dance. He also falls in a covered crevice on top of a hide bag, that when he looks finds it is something Indian made, and possible belongs to Black Elk. Her returns it to where he found it, and later when Black Elk arrives, tels him about the find, and that he touched it.
Black Elk insists that since Cory touched it, he must cleanse it, and puts some leaves in the camp fire making a lot of smoke. Cory is instructed to hold the medicine bag in the smoke until it is cleaned. He awakes later before a smoking camp fire far back in time as a beaver, with a spear, purse to hold items, etc. He hurries to water, and thus starts a grand adventurer that allows him to over come present and future fears. At the completing of this adventure which involves many different animals. He finally succeeds at his assigned task and returns as Cory Alder to the camp fire before Black Elk. They talk about the Indian spirit dream, and what it means, and how it can change a individuals life forever. This is a good book for young readers, and I encourage every one to read it a some time.
April 13, 2022
When Cory's father is called away to military service and his mother is burdened with caring for a sick relative, his Uncle Jasper invites him to spend the summer on a horse ranch in Idaho. At first Cory is elated, but then, when he gets to the ranch, he discovers his fear. He is scared by the noises in the night, fearful of meeting wild animals in the hills, and terrified of the horses that his uncle breeds. Facing the fact that he is a coward, Cory resigns himself to a summer of shame. Then, an accidental fall into a cave containing ancient Indian artifacts and a meeting with an old medicine man sends Cory to a world where animals rule, and he is transformed into one of them. In this form, he finds that he is the only one who can challenge the Changer, a malevolent spirit who is working to undo all of creation. Can poor, cowardly, miserable Cory stand up to the Changer before the world is turned upside down?
This is a book that delves deeply into the mythology of Native American spiritualism, as well as telling an engrossing tale about a young man's journey of self-discovery. The author, probably best known for her Beastmaster and Witch World books, also wrote a number of other series, this being the third in one of them. This is original YA fantasy, written at a time before that genre was even known in fiction. Though the bracket story takes place in the 1960s, before cell phones, Ipads, and GPS, this is hardly relevant. The main body of the story happens in a mythological land based on American Indian legends, and is thoroughly enthralling. This is highly recommended for adults as well as younger readers, who will want to follow young Cory on his quest for courage.
This is a book that delves deeply into the mythology of Native American spiritualism, as well as telling an engrossing tale about a young man's journey of self-discovery. The author, probably best known for her Beastmaster and Witch World books, also wrote a number of other series, this being the third in one of them. This is original YA fantasy, written at a time before that genre was even known in fiction. Though the bracket story takes place in the 1960s, before cell phones, Ipads, and GPS, this is hardly relevant. The main body of the story happens in a mythological land based on American Indian legends, and is thoroughly enthralling. This is highly recommended for adults as well as younger readers, who will want to follow young Cory on his quest for courage.
December 24, 2025
Cory the boy is not happy to be dropped from his nice Florida school into a rough cowboy style life at his Uncle Jasper's ranch, out in the deserts of Idaho. Cory had been happy at the thought of horses and rifles and real Indians - until he found that he was expected to learn to do cowboy things such as riding an animal (the horse) much larger than himself. His Uncle Jasper, really an honorary uncle, is an Indian / Native American, and although he cares for Cory, he won't allow him to malinger.
So Cory takes on tasks on his uncle's ranch, his clumsy blundering scratching or breaking things. When a very old Indian arrives, he is angry that an ancient old artifact was one of the items broken, and orders Cory to bring it, resulting in a spirit dream / fall into an ancient world, where it seems Cory has a job to do.
He had turned into a beaver, and as such sought first to help someone else, then, with some new strength granted him by his actions, sought to work with the beaver to warn his tribe that there was trouble in the wind.
Strength and courage he didn't know he had came with him out of his adventure, and he was able to great his Uncle and the workers on a more equal footing.
So Cory takes on tasks on his uncle's ranch, his clumsy blundering scratching or breaking things. When a very old Indian arrives, he is angry that an ancient old artifact was one of the items broken, and orders Cory to bring it, resulting in a spirit dream / fall into an ancient world, where it seems Cory has a job to do.
He had turned into a beaver, and as such sought first to help someone else, then, with some new strength granted him by his actions, sought to work with the beaver to warn his tribe that there was trouble in the wind.
Strength and courage he didn't know he had came with him out of his adventure, and he was able to great his Uncle and the workers on a more equal footing.
Read
April 10, 2010A fairly classic Trickster tale, with a vision quest set by Black Elk himself. This story tends to leave a bitter taste in the mouth--perhaps because the protagonist hates himself so much for being fearful that he never seems to question whether fear might be appropriate, in perilous situations.
There's less murderous violence in this book than in most of Norton's books, but there's quite a bit of beating and bullying. If it's intended to cater to children, it's not likely to be reassuring to those who've been bullied.
There's less murderous violence in this book than in most of Norton's books, but there's quite a bit of beating and bullying. If it's intended to cater to children, it's not likely to be reassuring to those who've been bullied.
April 22, 2015
City kid is sent to the country when his dad goes overseas. But the Wild West is not like the books he read. It is too wild, he is scared of everything, and is ashamed of how fearful he is.
When he finds a skin medicine bag, it starts him on an adventure in the time before men, when the first people, the Animal People, lived in the world. And The Changer, the Coyote, was trying to turn the world.
When he finds a skin medicine bag, it starts him on an adventure in the time before men, when the first people, the Animal People, lived in the world. And The Changer, the Coyote, was trying to turn the world.
August 21, 2010
This is the last one of the Magic Books that I have (Can't find a copy of Lavender-green Magic), and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't amazing either.
The main character is kinda annoying, and while the Native American mythos is pretty interesting, the plot was kinda thin. After a while, the whole 'magic for empowerment' thing gets old.
The main character is kinda annoying, and while the Native American mythos is pretty interesting, the plot was kinda thin. After a while, the whole 'magic for empowerment' thing gets old.
April 18, 2024
I am not usually a big fan of books where the main character gets thrown back in time or across space and ends up inhabiting someone else's body, but Norton's approach here worked better for me than usual.
September 12, 2016
Classic "coming of age" story. Boy must face unaccustomed environment, makes some fearful and foolish choices and grows by accepting consequences and facing his fears. (OK he does so as an otter, but it is fantasy)
November 25, 2015
This book was written for the younger crowd but has the Grand Master's flair for building a believable story of fantasy and history, climaxing in a believable story with a comfortable touch.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews