Posts Tagged ‘Magic’

As if high school isn’t tough enough, Rachel also has to deal with the discovery that her little sister is a witch. Not one to miss an opportunity, Rachel is quick to manipulate the situation for her own benefit: she makes the team, gets the guy, and almost cancels her dad’s wedding.

Watch Out For: Witchcraft, obviously, is a plot point. The consequences of casting spells to get what you want is the main theme, however. Rachel must learn about the qualities of real friends, the virtues of hard work, and that her ‘evil step mother’ really isn’t that bad. Rachel makes some very bad decisions and has to live with disappointment and the guilt of having hurt others.

An interesting beginning to a series of fantasy books, The Dark Hills Divide left me wishing it has been written for an older audience. The book follows young Alexa, daughter of the mayor, as she investigates her city and the walls around it. She discovers what lives outside the walls, and brings the truth to her people.

Watch Out For: The book begins with the sudden death of a character, and Alexa has to come to terms with being alone with the man when he died. Alexa is a very independent 12 year old, exploring by herself for days at a time. She learns a lot about judging other people as she learns to trust a foe and is betrayed by a friend.

The popular Magic Tree House series begins with protagonists Jack and Annie find a tree house in the woods that allows them to travel through time. Their first visit is to the age of the dinosaurs, where they meet mommy anatosauruses, run from a tyrannosaurus rex and ride on a pteranodon.

Watch Out For: Big brother Jack is careful and cautious while little sister Annie is more adventurous. Jack gradually realizes that without his sister, he never would have gone into the treehouse. Annie just begins to learn to be careful and listen to her brother.

A intriguing start to a fantasy series, 100 Cupboards tells the bizarre story of Henry York’s discoveries in his Uncle’s home. A wall of cupboards opens worlds of magic and reveals hidden family history. Children who enjoy the Narnia books or Harry Potter will probably enjoy this series.

Watch Out For: Henry is sent to live with his Aunt and Uncle because his mother and father are kidnapped in South America. This hardly bothers Henry, because he enjoys the new freedoms that come with his new family, although he struggles with guilt for this. Henry is introspective and notes at the end of the book that he has been blamed for a series of events entirely beyond his control.