Half Magic: Fiftieth-Anniversary Edition [Hardcover]

Edward Eager (Author), N. M. Bodecker (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Edward Eager's hilarious and heartwarming Half Magic has been working wizardry on young readers for fifty years. To celebrate the golden anniversary of this enduringly popular story, a deluxe edition of the book has been created. It features the original jacket and a new introduction by Jack Gantos, the award-winning author of Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Half Magic is a funny, charming, timeless book, as much a pleasure to read to a child now as it was forty years ago. Those who had it read to them then may even have an obligation to pass on the pleasure." --The New York Times Book Review

About the Author

EDWARD EAGER (1911-1964) worked primarily as a playwright and lyricist. It wasn't until 1951, while searching for books to read to his young son, that he began writing children's stories.

JACK GANTOS is a National Book Award finalist, the recipient of a Newbery Honor and a Printz Honor, and the bestselling author of Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, Joey Pigza Loses Control, the Rotten Ralph series, and Hole in My Life, as well as a dozen other widely acclaimed books of fiction for young readers. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 50 Anv edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152053026
• ISBN-13: 978-0152053024
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #451,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting Fantasy Story for Middle Readers, September 24, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Half Magic: Fiftieth-Anniversary Edition (Hardcover)

Siblings Jane, Mark, Katharine, and Martha don't suspect anything out of the ordinary when Jane finds a nickel on the sidewalk and takes it home. After all, money is money. However, Jane soon realizes that the nickel isn't really a nickel, but rather a strange coin. A magical coin. For when Jane, who along with her brother and sisters, is having the most boring summer ever makes a wish, half of it is granted. It is soon found out that the mysterious coin grants wishes, but only by halves, so you have to wish for twice as much as you really want. While many of the wishes turn out just fine, some of them have caused nothing but trouble, in both the children's lives, as well as the lives of many people in present time and history, and it's the fault of the strange coin itself.

Edward Eager has created an enjoyable fantasy novel that is sure to please the middle readers both of today, and yesterday. Filled with four characters who all hold their own quirks, and possess sassy tongues, as well as vivid imaginations, who will easily be loved by readers young and old. And let's not forget the enchanting green and white illustrations littered throughout the novel, that will capture the imaginations of all. HALF-MAGIC is an absolute must have!

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plenty of fun, July 1, 2007

By 

Jill Malter ([e-mail]) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Half Magic: Fiftieth-Anniversary Edition (Hardcover)

These days, when so many of us are reading the Harry Potter books, it may be good to remember some of the more classic fantasy tales of a couple of generations ago. Yes, one could try "Peter Pan" and all the Oz books, but there were a bunch of other books such as this one which I think were excellent as well.

I think that "Half Magic" is about right for kids around eight or so. The language is about right for children (the toughest line for a really young reader might be "whence do you hail?"). And it is simply a charming little book. We get to read about a talking cat, visits to faraway places, and maybe best of all, a person who is not exactly all there.

I highly recommend this book. Of course, it's supposed to be only for kids. We grownups are supposed to be way past reading this sort of thing. And if we did read it, we probably wouldn't admit it. But some kids will still recommend this book to their grandmothers, and I think they're right to do so.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My all time favorite children's book, April 13, 2007

By 

S. E. Amerson "cardmaker" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Half Magic: Fiftieth-Anniversary Edition (Hardcover)

I first read "Half Magic" in elementary school and I have read it 4 or 5 times, since. It is a funny, exciting, literate, book that is good for all ages. Toddlers will miss a lot of what it has to say, but get the adventure.
Four children find a magic charm that grants wishes by halves. Fun and adventure happens when they use the charm and when they forget its secret. Their lives and the lives of those they love are made much better. When the book is finished, the reader smiles and wishes there were more. There are more books in the series, but this one is the best.