What do you think?
Rate this book
Magic Attic Club #16
Keisha to the Rescue
Keisha's thrilled to be a lifeguard at an exclusive country club. But some of the other lifeguards are snobby. They seem more interested in acting cool than guarding lives, and a little boy almost drowns. Does Keisha dare stand up to them?
Hardcover
First published August 20, 1996
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 18, 2024
Welcome to a Very Special Episode plot of the Magic Attic Club in which we tackle racism and prejudice.
First, for the intro to me reading Magic Attic Club, go here.
In the real world, Keisha and her friends are running an errand for Ellie. They split up briefly, with Keisha going into the drug store for Ellie’s medicine. The pharmacist is nasty to her – accuses her of being about to steal some bracelets she’s looking at, then refuses to fill the prescription because she’s a kid. Keisha retreats, her friends try to comfort her, and Megan successfully picks up the meds, despite also being a kid.
The levels on which this situation sucks stack up like a layer cake. You hate that this is happening to Keisha. You hate that Magic Attic gave this plotline to Keisha. You hate that this happens in the world, making Magic Attic feel they needed to give this plotline to Keisha. I haven’t gotten my hands on anywhere close to all of these, but I sure haven’t seen Alison, Megan or Heather get a plot that makes them feel this awful.
Naturally, Keisha goes up to the magic attic to feel better. She picks out a colorful swimsuit, hoping for sun and swimming, and becomes a lifeguard at a busy country club pool.
Reading as an adult, my hackles were up: this seemed like a setting with ample opportunities for racism, especially since the mirror sometimes takes you back in time. Fortunately, Magic Attic decided not to be that mean to Keisha. Yes, we get a plotline about prejudice, but the target is a girl who can’t afford the right swimsuit and whose father works as a janitor. This part is entirely by the numbers: Keisha is nice to everyone. The mean girl is both mean and negligent at her lifeguarding. Keisha puts her CPR training to good use and saves a life. (You know we needed to get a little unhinged here somewhere. We'll also overlook the fact that these lifeguards are ten years old; fantasy is fantasy.)
Because these were written in the '90s and the message re: racism could be “stand up for yourself!” instead of “steer clear of trouble,” Keisha uses her lifeguarding confidence to tell the pharmacist to check himself, flanked by her friends.
Because I’ve spent so much time in American Girl stories in recent years, I can’t help pointing out that the first part of this plot lines up so well with the middle of Happy Birthday, Addy, you almost wonder if it was done on purpose. Both girls are trying to pick up medicine for a surrogate grandma type friend, both encounter a hostile pharmacist. Here’s what it looks like in 1865, here’s what it looks like in 1995.
Want more? Here are the other Magic Attic books I've babbled about.
First, for the intro to me reading Magic Attic Club, go here.
In the real world, Keisha and her friends are running an errand for Ellie. They split up briefly, with Keisha going into the drug store for Ellie’s medicine. The pharmacist is nasty to her – accuses her of being about to steal some bracelets she’s looking at, then refuses to fill the prescription because she’s a kid. Keisha retreats, her friends try to comfort her, and Megan successfully picks up the meds, despite also being a kid.
The levels on which this situation sucks stack up like a layer cake. You hate that this is happening to Keisha. You hate that Magic Attic gave this plotline to Keisha. You hate that this happens in the world, making Magic Attic feel they needed to give this plotline to Keisha. I haven’t gotten my hands on anywhere close to all of these, but I sure haven’t seen Alison, Megan or Heather get a plot that makes them feel this awful.
Naturally, Keisha goes up to the magic attic to feel better. She picks out a colorful swimsuit, hoping for sun and swimming, and becomes a lifeguard at a busy country club pool.
Reading as an adult, my hackles were up: this seemed like a setting with ample opportunities for racism, especially since the mirror sometimes takes you back in time. Fortunately, Magic Attic decided not to be that mean to Keisha. Yes, we get a plotline about prejudice, but the target is a girl who can’t afford the right swimsuit and whose father works as a janitor. This part is entirely by the numbers: Keisha is nice to everyone. The mean girl is both mean and negligent at her lifeguarding. Keisha puts her CPR training to good use and saves a life. (You know we needed to get a little unhinged here somewhere. We'll also overlook the fact that these lifeguards are ten years old; fantasy is fantasy.)
Because these were written in the '90s and the message re: racism could be “stand up for yourself!” instead of “steer clear of trouble,” Keisha uses her lifeguarding confidence to tell the pharmacist to check himself, flanked by her friends.
Because I’ve spent so much time in American Girl stories in recent years, I can’t help pointing out that the first part of this plot lines up so well with the middle of Happy Birthday, Addy, you almost wonder if it was done on purpose. Both girls are trying to pick up medicine for a surrogate grandma type friend, both encounter a hostile pharmacist. Here’s what it looks like in 1865, here’s what it looks like in 1995.
Want more? Here are the other Magic Attic books I've babbled about.
May 29, 2021
This was one of my favorite Magic Attic books when I was a kid. It deals with Keisha's experiences with racial discrimination in a realistic way, engaging well with her hard emotions about how to discuss this with her friends, and the resolution is believable and emotionally satisfying. However, that part of the story is primarily a framing device, and what I most remembered was Keisha's experience working as a lifeguard during her trip through the attic mirror.
Although no one in their right mind would let a ten-year-old work as a lifeguard, all of the books in this series require some suspension of disbelief, and the rest of the story's details are so convincing that I could fully enjoy it. In this book, Keisha stands up for another lifeguard who people look down on for class reasons, and she saves a boy's life when he falls into the deep end. This story was very memorable to me, and I enjoyed how brave Keisha was as she confronted the negligent lifeguard who had allowed this to happen.
Part of why I liked this book so much as a child was because justice won out in the end, and teenagers who were goofing off and neglecting other's safety got their comeuppance. That resonated with me, and I appreciate how Keisha was able to be bold, honest, and forceful without being overly aggressive. This book models confrontation very well, and is more intense than many of the other books in this series. I really enjoyed it, and my younger sister remembers this as one of her favorites as well. It's one of the top titles I would recommend to anyone interested in this series.
Although no one in their right mind would let a ten-year-old work as a lifeguard, all of the books in this series require some suspension of disbelief, and the rest of the story's details are so convincing that I could fully enjoy it. In this book, Keisha stands up for another lifeguard who people look down on for class reasons, and she saves a boy's life when he falls into the deep end. This story was very memorable to me, and I enjoyed how brave Keisha was as she confronted the negligent lifeguard who had allowed this to happen.
Part of why I liked this book so much as a child was because justice won out in the end, and teenagers who were goofing off and neglecting other's safety got their comeuppance. That resonated with me, and I appreciate how Keisha was able to be bold, honest, and forceful without being overly aggressive. This book models confrontation very well, and is more intense than many of the other books in this series. I really enjoyed it, and my younger sister remembers this as one of her favorites as well. It's one of the top titles I would recommend to anyone interested in this series.
April 2, 2011
A cute children's books (better for girls) that brings up some good conversation topics about race, responsibility, etc... Great for girls with a good imagination!
August 28, 2017
This was really cute. I just didn't think that Keisha's real life problem tied in very well with he adventure problem. It was similar but her real life problem was much more serious.
August 9, 2012
I enjoyed this book, but I thought it was pretty unrealistic, even by "Magic Attic Club" standards. Like why would a young girl like Keisha be a lifeguard? Isn't that more of a job for a teenager or adult?
February 21, 2010
These are a pretty interesting series. Very fun for little girls.
July 29, 2011
I liked how this book showed that being predijest against another isn't limited to the color of skin.
Read
January 21, 2014The first book I read in this series.
January 15, 2016
Read this as part of a reading challenge: book with my name in the title. First one I found. Ok book.
March 13, 2016
Oh look! The race card!!!
May 26, 2023
Keisha to the Rescue (Magic Attic Club #16) by Teresa Reed - Keisha is a girl boss in the best sense of the word even at the pool! Happy Reading!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews