Black and Blue Magic [Paperback]

Zilpha Keatley Snyder (Author), Gene Holtan (Author)

Book Description

Twelve-year-old Harry Houdini Marco is awkward and clumsy, bearing little resemblance to his magician namesake, until he acquires the gift of flight.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The recipient of three Newbery Honor Book awards for The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid, and The Witches of Worm, Zilpha Keatly Snyder's first book was published in 1964. Since that time she has authored 42 books, mostly for children aged 9 to 13, but also including two books for young adults, four picture books for younger children and a book of poetry. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks; 2 edition (October 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689718489
• ISBN-13: 978-0689718489
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,857,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great summer reader for children who want to dream, July 6, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (michigan, usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black and Blue Magic (Paperback)

I read this book about 25-30 yrs ago right after school let out for the summer . I still remember the great feeling of dreaming that I was able to fly just like the lead character into the night after everyone was asleep....the stars and blueness of the night still remind me of the magic that was found in the pearly magic cream....I have seven children and I have introduced this book to each of them as they reach the fine age when summer vacation is a true treat ..and I once again go flying ,but now with them as they tell me how much fun they are having reading it. This book will never leave the children behind......

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Childhood Treasure, November 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Black and Blue Magic (Paperback)

I read this when I was about 10. I've searched for it ever since. 25 years later Amazon found it for me. All I remembered was my love of this book, the magic vial containing a pearly potion that made a lonely young boy sprout wings, his clumsy first flights in a carriage house, then a flight over a foggy park where he was mistaken for an angel. When I read the book as an adult I was shocked to find I had assimlated much of this book into my own life. I had even moved 1500 miles and now live less than a mile from the neighborhood that it is set in. I had always wondered why I was driven to live here. I'd love to read it again now, but I have given away my copy, again, to an 11 year old boy. Give it to any child. It is magic.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dark, mysterious, flying fantasy story for any age., April 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Black and Blue Magic (Paperback)

I read this book when I was around 9 and really believe this is where I first learned to "disappear" into a story. What a fantasy world. I absorbed every word and agree with another reviewer of this book that "The Velvet Room" was also just as wonderful. I gave my book away to one of my friend's children and, even though I was glad that they could experience such a wonderful story, I have regretted it ever since because I wanted to jump into those pages again. So, I'm glad to see it's still available and many other children can enjoy disappearing as well.