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What Members Thought
This is an almost book. It is almost a great story, but somehow the elements just didn't together. At times the fairy tale aspect becomes transparent and reveals the glaring morality tale underneath. Details intended to give enough reality to make the story plausible instead raise questions that illuminate its implausibility. The only well developed character is the elephant while all the human characters remain flat.
The entire plot hinges on this idea: "And everyone, each person, had hopes and ...more
I don't know if I would call this book a fairy tale, fantasy, fable, or something else, but I would call this story captivating. Young orphan, Peter Augustus Duchene suddenly has reason to believe that the sister that he had been told died at birth is alive, and the answer to her whereabouts lies with the elephant. But this is the city of Baltese and there are no elephants in the city. None until a failing magician conjures one up during a magic show, an act that paralyzed a patron and put him i
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Kind of dark and existentialisty (new word) for a middle grade novel. Definitely not one of my favorites by DiCamillo but an interesting book none the less. The story is fantastical in a modern allegory kind of way but it has a beautiful message and ending. As usual DiCamillo writes beautifully. I am not sure that the age group it is intended for will really "get" or even embrace this book, but that doesn't make it a bad book. I just felt maybe it missed the mark with its intended audience.
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I love Kate DiCamillo, but I'm always nervous when an author I love releases a new book. I hate worrying that it won't live up to expectations.
Well, The Magician's Elephant isn't as good as The Tale of Despereaux (then again, nothing really is). It didn't bring me to tears like The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. But it's a sweet, lovely read anyway with an ending that warms your heart. I'd recommend reading this one during winter - it'll make you feel cozy. ...more
Well, The Magician's Elephant isn't as good as The Tale of Despereaux (then again, nothing really is). It didn't bring me to tears like The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. But it's a sweet, lovely read anyway with an ending that warms your heart. I'd recommend reading this one during winter - it'll make you feel cozy. ...more
Very original story, but I was having trouble staying engaged in the book. Other books started making their way to the top of the stack. Not a good sign. I think the narration was a little too subtle for me, or perhaps it was as foggy in real life as it was in this book. Either way, I drifted through it, pleased but not amazed.
Actually 4.5 stars. My review can be found here:
http://froztfreez.com/2009/09/the-mag... ...more
http://froztfreez.com/2009/09/the-mag... ...more
A strange little book about hope and believing.
A little weird...I liked her other books better.
A sweet story about a boy who believes that an elephant who was conjured up unexpectedly by a magician has the power to lead him to his long lost sister. Best for grades 4-6 although some third graders with a good vocabulary might enjoy it too.
Sep 17, 2009
Monica
added it
Sep 24, 2009
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)
marked it as to-read
Feb 21, 2010
Claire
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Apr 21, 2010
Melissa
marked it as to-read
Jul 09, 2010
Shanshad Whelan
marked it as to-read
