Amazon.com: Knight's Castle (9780192750990): Edward Eager: Books

Review

Roger and Ann, ages 11 and 8, live with their understanding parents in a nice house, in a pleasant town, having a very good childhood indeed, until their father is diagnosed with a mysterious illness one day in early summer. They have to forgo their plans for a family trip to the Rocky Mountains and go stay with their cousins, bossy Eliza and aloof Jack, in Baltimore, Maryland. Roger brings along his set of two hundred and fifty-six model soldiers, including the one he calls the old one, who happens to be magic. Once they get to Baltimore, all kinds of magic adventure await the four children and their toy knight's castle. The action-filled plot is told with such humor, gentleness, and great storytelling that many young readers will stay up late reading under the covers, unable to put it down. Edward Eager's tremendous love for and understanding of children rings out loud and clear in this new edition of a wonderful book from the 'fifties. 1999 (orig,) (Children's Literature ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Edward Eager was a playwright and lyricist who turned his hand to children's books after reading the stories of the great British fantasist E. Nesbit. His seven books remain among the most popular children's fantasies ever written by an American.

N. M. Bodecker, an illustrator and author of children's books, died of cancer of the colon Feb. 1 at his home in Hancock, N.H. He was 66 years old.

For many years Mr. Bodecker's illustrations appeared in Harper's magazine, as well as The Saturday Evening Post, Esquire and Holiday.

He also illustrated books for adults and children's books by other authors, but he was best known for the many children's books that he wrote and illustrated himself. Awards for Poetry.

Niels Mogens Bodecker was born and educated in Copenhagen. He emigrated to the United States after World War II and lived for 20 years in New York City and Westport, Conn., before moving to Hancock in 1972.

He is survived by three sons, Alexander, of Portland, Ore., Torsten, of San Francisco, and Niels, of Hancock.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique fantasy, July 29, 2000

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (TOP 100 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Knight's Castle (Paperback)

This was my first Edward Eager book, and it was not my last. It's a part of Eager's ongoing, sometimes intertwined fantasy serieses starring flawed yet admirable characters. Note: There's a bit of an in-joke in one bit of dialogue, concerning the kids' mothers from a previous book of Eager's, but it won't confuse you if you've so much as read the back of the other books.

Roger and his sister's father needs surgery, and his frightened kids are taken along to stay with their cousins, bossy Eliza and camera-obsessed Jack. The thing that cheers frightened Roger up is a toy castle his aunt gives him, and his vast army of toy soldiers. But the oldest of them all tells Roger that he must EARN his wishes...

Soon Roger and his relatives (parents excluded) are tossed into the medieval world of Robin Hood and Ivanhoe, a world that can be altered by what is set around the toys, such as wastepaper baskets and dollhouses.

The ending is still a bit confusing (I'm not entirely certain what's going on) but the book overall has far more intricacy and imagination than Harry Potter or Which Witch or anything like that. Especially since Eager wrote this decades ago, when children's fantasy was much more scarce. The kids are all totally believable and enjoyable, and the various knights and ladies either make you cheer or boo, depending on whether they're despicable or not..

Utter not the words of power: "Lead soldiers!"

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Book for Kids of Any Age!, December 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Knight's Castle (Edward Eager's Tales of Magic) (Hardcover)

When I was in Sixth Grade in 1964, my teacher read a chapter of this story at the end of each day. No one wanted to go home!!! It's a wonderful story about children who, because their father is ill, have to stay with their cousins. Their Aunt takes everyone to see the movie Ivanhoe and afterwards gives them a miniature castle complete with knights and ladies. Of course the kids designate these toys as the characters in the movie and you guessed it, the castle and the characters magically become alive. Nothing goes like the real story of Ivanhoe and there are many very funny magical adventures. I've read every Edward Eager book and this is the best one!

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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harry Potter's cousins, January 4, 2000

Kate.Lepp@home.com (Los Gatos, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knight's Castle (Edward Eager's Tales of Magic) (Hardcover)

Potter, Schmotter! As much as we loved the Harry Potter books, and my daughters and I devoured them, I knew they would love Edward Eager's books just as much, if not more. Believably real children, believable magic, everyday situations that turn out to be anything but, Edward Eager wrote about it all forty years ago. My older sister introduced me to Half Magic when I was about 8, and after reading the whole collection, I re-read them again in high school. Knight's Castle was always my favorite, for all the reasons mentioned by the other reviews, but also because it dealt with the very real situation of children who have more and children who have less, and how we all get along. I wonder, what is Edward Eager doing now? Does anyone know?

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