“This one will delight.”--Christian Science Monitor
The Well-Wishers (Books for Young Readers)
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle.
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- This item is eligible for our 4-for-3 promotion. Eligible products include select Books and Home & Garden items. Buy any 4 eligible items and get the lowest-priced item free. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
First published in 1960, this latest reissue of one of Edward Eager's "magic" novels holds its own. Long autumn days are made more interesting when six friends discover the magical properties of an old abandoned well. Each of the kids is involved in a particular adventure and each relates his/her own story. James finds a home for a lonely orphan and brightens a teacher's life, old Mr. Appledore and Madame Salvini find love in the apple orchard, Dicky LeBaron gradually changes from thug to hero, and James, who rescues a damsel in distress, gets more than he bargained for. With subtle humor and insight into human behavior as the strong points, readers will quickly realize that all of the magic is not in the well. References to a hi-fi, Elvis, and a Thunderbird date the story as do the illustrations of kids in 60's style clothing. Quentin Blake's cover art may have been a better choice throughout the book. The awkward handling of the arrival of the first black family in the neighborhood confirms the author's discomfort with the topic. Flaws aside, this is a pleasant, nostalgic read that still has the magic to delight. (Children's Literature )
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.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
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.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as Part I, August 27, 2004
By
Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Well-Wishers (Paperback)
Anemic sequel to the earlier and superior MAGIC OR NOT? The same children reappear, Kip, Lydia, Laura, Gordy in an upscale suburban neighborhood something like Scarsdale, NY or Greenwich, CT. Children love this book with its search for magical wishing wells, as well as trying to figure out Eager's clever puzzle--are the things that happen to them the result of their wishes, or is it all just a coincidence? Adults will like the spectacle of the different John Cheever-ish neighbors being lampooned in a variety of smirky ways. One added bonus is that, his character Madame Salvatini, the retired opera singer, reminisces of the days when she was young and she was just "plain Maggie Smith." This book was written well before Maggie Smith became an international star. "No one gave a hoot about me when I was plain Maggie Smith; but they drank champagne out of Madame Salvatini's slipper!"
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Maybe Its Not Really Magic, But Its Still Magical, January 11, 2009
This review is from: The Well-Wishers (Paperback)
This is Edward Eager's sequel to Magic Or Not. In The Well Wishers Laura, James, Deborah, Lydia, and Kip are joined by Gordy, a misfit who, unusually for Edward Eager, isn't particularly intelligent and definitely hates to read. Eager continues the equivocation over whether the magic is real or not that he started in Magic Or Not, making this book, like its predecessor, a bit less sparkling than Eager's other works. Nevertheless, there are many fine features to The Well Wishers. Each child gets a chapter to express his or her own point of view on the adventures, and Eager's trademark multitudinous literary and historical references continue. Additionally, there is some gentle but thought provoking commentary on the world of the late 1950s and the early 1960s which might elude many of the children who read it, but will appeal to discerning adults looking for quality reading for the young. And, like all of Eager's works, those adults who come back to them after first reading them as children will recognize with pleasure that they are as funny and fresh as we remember them.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful!, August 11, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The Well-Wishers (Paperback)
This is a great book about magic! Five kids discover a magic wishing well and use it for the greater good-sort of. Edward Eager's books are all immensely enjoyable, much like Harry Potter or E. Nesbit! Wonderful and I recommend all his books!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
I know people who say they can read any kind of book except an "I" book, and sometimes I think I agree with them. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
secret house Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Miss Wilson, Madame Salvini, Doctor Lovely, Hopeful Hill, Silvermine Road, Harold Tillinghast, Miss Silloway, Muriel Breitenwisher, Florence Squibb, Lady Baltimore, Van Nest, Lydia Green, Adam Appledore, Doctor Emma Lovely, New York City, Hagar Gryce, Journey's End Road, Old Stamford Road, Town Hall, Hiram Bundy, Maggie Smith, Marguerite Salvini, Miss Isabella King New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
I know people who say they can read any kind of book except an "I" book, and sometimes I think I agree with them. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
secret house Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Miss Wilson, Madame Salvini, Doctor Lovely, Hopeful Hill, Silvermine Road, Harold Tillinghast, Miss Silloway, Muriel Breitenwisher, Florence Squibb, Lady Baltimore, Van Nest, Lydia Green, Adam Appledore, Doctor Emma Lovely, New York City, Hagar Gryce, Journey's End Road, Old Stamford Road, Town Hall, Hiram Bundy, Maggie Smith, Marguerite Salvini, Miss Isabella King New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
|
|
