Fog Magic [Paperback]

Julia L. Sauer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 1986 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Newbery Library, Puffin

Greta had always loved the fog—the soft gray mist that rolled in from the sea and drifted over the village. The fog seemed to have a secret to tell her. Then one day when Greta was walking in the woods and the mist was closing in, she saw the dark outline of a stone house against the spruce trees—a house where only an old cellar hole should have been. Then she saw a surrey come by, carrying a lady dressed in plum- colored silk. The woman beckoned for Greta to join her, and soon Greta found herself launched on an adventure that would take her back to a past that existed only through the magic of the fog.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An exquisite book, one that has great rewards for the imaginative reader. -- The Christian Science Monitor

Skillful blending of reality and magic. -- Booklist

About the Author

Julia L. Sauer (1891–1983) was a librarian and children’s author. Her book The Light at Tern Rock also received a Newbery Honor. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 107 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (October 7, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140321632
• ISBN-13: 978-0140321630
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,796 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book with a good story and great imagery, January 11, 2001

By 

jasenao (Dothan, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fog Magic (Paperback)

"Fog Magic" is about a young girl named Greta who is deeply fascinated with fog. She doesn't know what it is to begin with, but there's just some kind of magic feeling that she gets when she stares at or walks in fog, even though it drives her mother crazy. Greta lives close to the sea in a place called Little Valley. In a distance in Blue Cove, there's old places where houses used to be and all that is left to show that people used to live in these places are old cellar holes. Greta soon discovers a bit of the magic in the fog. When the fog appears, she can see houses where the old cellar holes are in Blue Cove. It's like she's seeing the past before her own eyes.

The best thing about "Fog Magic" is definitely that it has great imagery. While I was reading about what Greta sees and feels like in the fog, I could see it in my own mind like I was walking in fog myself. It's also a great story and the author, Julia L. Sauer did a great job with this book. My only complaint is that some of the chapters such as "The Government House Ball" seem a little bit out of place and it would've been better if more dealing with Greta and the Morrill family or Greta and her mom would've been included instead. But it's still a great book and I recommend anybody who has a good imagination or anybody who likes reading books with superb imagery to get "Fog Magic."

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Childhood favorite, July 30, 2001

By 

Dawn (Somerset, Pa USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fog Magic (Paperback)

I first read this book when I was a little girl and never forgot it! I really believe it was "the book" that turned me onto reading in general and the fantasy genre in particular. Although I remembered the story, I could never remember the title so thought the book was lost to me forever. After doing a random search under the word FOG, I found it!!! I read it again through the eyes of the 10 year old that I was and found I was as delighted with the book as I was the first time. I plan on sharing this with my nieces in hopes that it will instill the same love of reading in them as it did for me.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchantment in the fog, October 16, 2005

By 

abt1950 "abt1950" (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fog Magic (Hardcover)

I read this book several times as a child. Along with the Oz books and "David and the Phoenix," it was my first introduction to fantasy. In it, a young New England girl wanders through the fog to another village in earlier, Colonial times. On her visits, she makes friends with another little girl in the village. There's a bittersweet feeling when she realizes that where the village once was, now only cellar holes remain. Ghosts, time-travel, and a hint of Brigadoon made this book one that I still remember as an adult.