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The Wizard in the Tree
Mallory notices there's something funny about an old oak tree, takes a closer look, and before she knows it, she's broken a magical spell. Arbican the wizard has been trapped in the oak for thousands of years, and his powers are gone. Will he get them back in time to save Mallory's village from greedy Squire Scrupner?
138 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 1974
About the author
Lloyd Alexander
122 books2,046 followersLloyd Chudley Alexander was an influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books. His most famous contribution to the field of children's literature is the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. The concluding book of the series,
The High King
, was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1969. Alexander's other books have also won the National Book Award and the American Book Award. He was also one of the creators of Cricket Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
January 16, 2019
Basic plot: Mallory frees a wizard from being trapped in a tree, antics ensue.
I like this book more for a funny thing that happened to me than for the content. The book was good- a cute, little fantasy story- but nothing that'll really be remembered over time the way The Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings will.
I was in 5th or 6th grade when a parent in the school system where I went to elementary school threw a fit about this book at a school board meeting due to two words contained therein: "slut" and "damn." Both words, I should note, were used in context (historical in the case of "slut" and non-cursing in the case of "damn"). This book was in the elementary school's library, and she thought it was an inappropriate book. My father was reading this in the newspaper and started complaining about the state of books in our school's library, getting all self-righteous about the whole thing. I listened to him for awhile, then finally heard the title of the book. I quietly left the room and retrieved the book from the bookshelf in my room, then returned and handed it to him. (oh, the look on his face...)
Well, clearly the self-righteous rant ended there, as he found out I'd had the book for years. Then I found the words in question, and discovered their contextual nature. My dad never had another word to say about what I did or didn't read, and I can't recall him ever saying anything about a book being "questionable" in a library again. :)
I like this book more for a funny thing that happened to me than for the content. The book was good- a cute, little fantasy story- but nothing that'll really be remembered over time the way The Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings will.
I was in 5th or 6th grade when a parent in the school system where I went to elementary school threw a fit about this book at a school board meeting due to two words contained therein: "slut" and "damn." Both words, I should note, were used in context (historical in the case of "slut" and non-cursing in the case of "damn"). This book was in the elementary school's library, and she thought it was an inappropriate book. My father was reading this in the newspaper and started complaining about the state of books in our school's library, getting all self-righteous about the whole thing. I listened to him for awhile, then finally heard the title of the book. I quietly left the room and retrieved the book from the bookshelf in my room, then returned and handed it to him. (oh, the look on his face...)
Well, clearly the self-righteous rant ended there, as he found out I'd had the book for years. Then I found the words in question, and discovered their contextual nature. My dad never had another word to say about what I did or didn't read, and I can't recall him ever saying anything about a book being "questionable" in a library again. :)
July 9, 2014
If Chocolate Frogs Famous Wizard Cards featured beloved wizards from the pages of literature, you know there would be a card each for J. K. Rowling's Dumbledore, and Tolkien's Gandalf, and Peter Beagle's Schmendrick, and John Bellairs' Prospero... I've already got quite a long list in mind. Now that I've read this brief book by the Newbery Medal and National Book Award winning author of the Prydain Chronicles, I have another name to add to that list: Arbican. He doesn't do much magic in this book, and most of what he does goes wrong, and on first acquaintance he may seem a bit brusque and grumpy, not very lovable at all. But in the last few pages of this book, he earns his Chocolate Frog Card, wands down. In fact, for the sake of one paragraph, a single speech in which he finally sets straight what is and isn't true about fairy tales, he's a shoe-in.
We first find Arbican—and by "we" I mean a young kitchen drudge named Mallory—glaring balefully out of the middle of a felled tree trunk. He's been in there an awfully long time, due to a magical mishap that only released him when the tree's life ended. As soon as Mallory busts him out of the dead trunk, he means to set off for the Vale Innis, that far-away country to which all the enchanters retired long ago when the magic went out of the world. He has just this little problem: he seems to have lost his powers. Even after they start to come back, his efforts to do magic fizzle quickly. He tries to turn himself into a horse, for example, and becomes a stag instead. He unintentionally becomes a pig, then cannot change back—even when a farmer threatens to turn him into bacon and ham. If only he can find a circle of gold, he may get all his powers back.
Mallory would really like to help him. In fact, she often seems to care about Arbican more than he deserves. While he is absorbed in his own problems, she has to deal with the hard-handed mistress at the cookshop, the crooked squire of the Holdings, a greedy gamekeeper, and a murder mystery that puts both girl and wizard in deadly danger. Too often, the only thanks she receives is to be crisply informed that everything she learned about wizards from her mother's fairy tales is wrong. Wish granting? Phooey. Powerful spells? Meh. Riding on broomsticks? Not so much. What Arbican slowly leads Mallory to understand—just as he slowly reveals the warmth and affection hidden under his crusty exterior—is that the magic that really matters is what people do for themselves, when they wish for something hard enough to do what needs to be done.
Lloyd Alexander's books, mainly fantasy novels for young readers, sound the depths of folklore from many cultures. In a 52-year writing career (from 1955 until his death in 2007) he wrote some of the most movingly beautiful stories I have ever read—fiction that is powerfully lyrical, dramatic, and epic at the same time. He is simply one of the best. The list of his books that I have read is long, but the list of those I have yet to read is even longer. I have not touched one page of his Westmark trilogy or his Vesper Holly sextet. More of his titles that I intend to find and explore include The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man, The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha, Gypsy Rizka, and The Gawgon and the Boy.
We first find Arbican—and by "we" I mean a young kitchen drudge named Mallory—glaring balefully out of the middle of a felled tree trunk. He's been in there an awfully long time, due to a magical mishap that only released him when the tree's life ended. As soon as Mallory busts him out of the dead trunk, he means to set off for the Vale Innis, that far-away country to which all the enchanters retired long ago when the magic went out of the world. He has just this little problem: he seems to have lost his powers. Even after they start to come back, his efforts to do magic fizzle quickly. He tries to turn himself into a horse, for example, and becomes a stag instead. He unintentionally becomes a pig, then cannot change back—even when a farmer threatens to turn him into bacon and ham. If only he can find a circle of gold, he may get all his powers back.
Mallory would really like to help him. In fact, she often seems to care about Arbican more than he deserves. While he is absorbed in his own problems, she has to deal with the hard-handed mistress at the cookshop, the crooked squire of the Holdings, a greedy gamekeeper, and a murder mystery that puts both girl and wizard in deadly danger. Too often, the only thanks she receives is to be crisply informed that everything she learned about wizards from her mother's fairy tales is wrong. Wish granting? Phooey. Powerful spells? Meh. Riding on broomsticks? Not so much. What Arbican slowly leads Mallory to understand—just as he slowly reveals the warmth and affection hidden under his crusty exterior—is that the magic that really matters is what people do for themselves, when they wish for something hard enough to do what needs to be done.
Lloyd Alexander's books, mainly fantasy novels for young readers, sound the depths of folklore from many cultures. In a 52-year writing career (from 1955 until his death in 2007) he wrote some of the most movingly beautiful stories I have ever read—fiction that is powerfully lyrical, dramatic, and epic at the same time. He is simply one of the best. The list of his books that I have read is long, but the list of those I have yet to read is even longer. I have not touched one page of his Westmark trilogy or his Vesper Holly sextet. More of his titles that I intend to find and explore include The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man, The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha, Gypsy Rizka, and The Gawgon and the Boy.
January 11, 2019
I enjoyed this, I think especially for the illustrations. Though the wizard kept telling the girl that she, as a mortal, has her own special magic, I never believed him... and I'm not sure that she did, either. And what's with calling her a mortal when he could die, too? I dunno... I'm sure I'm being way too picky. It's a fun read that gives younger kids some stuff to think about, stuff they wouldn't necessarily find in very many other light fantasy books.
I did find the chronology a hoot. Squires and peasants... and pistols and steam engines.... Theoretically it could all fit but it was funny imo. Well of course the whole book was funny.
Since it's Lloyd Alexander month in the Children's Books group, I will read just a few more by him. And I will look for more by the illustrator.
I did find the chronology a hoot. Squires and peasants... and pistols and steam engines.... Theoretically it could all fit but it was funny imo. Well of course the whole book was funny.
Since it's Lloyd Alexander month in the Children's Books group, I will read just a few more by him. And I will look for more by the illustrator.
January 27, 2022
This was an old children's favorite that I stumbled upon recently: I wanted to read it to the grandkids but they firmly refused the offer! Just as good perhaps, because it is the story of a girl in "olden days" so thoroughly steeped in fairy tales (which these grandkids don't know) that the primary joke of the book is how different "real" magic may be to those old tales. I still loved re-reading it myself. . . but was just a bit taken aback at how preachy it all was. The message is absolutely unmistakable: if you rely on "magic" to accomplish your goals in life you are quite foolish -- better to turn to hard work and and your own resourcefulness to achieve what you want. I'm sure that was quite the norm for most books written for kids in 1975. It still speaks to me, but the world is a different place now.
March 24, 2013
I bought the book for only 15 Php. It's the second Lloyd Alexander book I read so far...coz after reading the first book of his Prydain Chronicles, I was bored to proceed to the next one.
Neways...The Wizard in the Tree is not in a series. It's on a different setting, different time. The story of a girl named Mallory who accidentally freed an ancient wizard named Arbican who was trapped inside an oak tree for thousands of years. Now, you might be wondering the book is one of those freeing-an-enchanted-creature-and-get-a-wish. Nope, it's not. The truth is, for many years that the wizard was inside the tree, he seemed to forget about his powers at all.
And poor Mallory, how much she needed the wizard's help for her problems. They're living in a place governed by this rich man named Scrupnor and all that Mallory wished was for the cruel man to be out of the place. But Arbican couldn't do anything. His magic did come back...but one at the same time. They had to deal with their problems together with a lot of marauding escapades.
The point in the book is that, wizards and other magical people that we know didn't use their powers to alleviate their status of living. In fact, some of them were bored to perform magic. Much as we humans want magic power to use for ouselves, it irritates the magical people. Such that, many many years ago, they decided to leave the world of mankind and travel to this enchanted place called Vale Innis to be forgotten for eternity. Unfortunately, Arbican was one of those whose trip was delayed.
They have to help each other, Mallory and Arbican, or it would be the end of them both. It all happened in just two days but the adventure was a fun to read.
Get to know the true nature of magic in the book. Lots of lessons from magicians.
Neways...The Wizard in the Tree is not in a series. It's on a different setting, different time. The story of a girl named Mallory who accidentally freed an ancient wizard named Arbican who was trapped inside an oak tree for thousands of years. Now, you might be wondering the book is one of those freeing-an-enchanted-creature-and-get-a-wish. Nope, it's not. The truth is, for many years that the wizard was inside the tree, he seemed to forget about his powers at all.
And poor Mallory, how much she needed the wizard's help for her problems. They're living in a place governed by this rich man named Scrupnor and all that Mallory wished was for the cruel man to be out of the place. But Arbican couldn't do anything. His magic did come back...but one at the same time. They had to deal with their problems together with a lot of marauding escapades.
The point in the book is that, wizards and other magical people that we know didn't use their powers to alleviate their status of living. In fact, some of them were bored to perform magic. Much as we humans want magic power to use for ouselves, it irritates the magical people. Such that, many many years ago, they decided to leave the world of mankind and travel to this enchanted place called Vale Innis to be forgotten for eternity. Unfortunately, Arbican was one of those whose trip was delayed.
They have to help each other, Mallory and Arbican, or it would be the end of them both. It all happened in just two days but the adventure was a fun to read.
Get to know the true nature of magic in the book. Lots of lessons from magicians.
June 8, 2021
One word: hilarious. And clever. Once again Lloyd Alexander offers Readers a completely likable, strong heroine and a grouchy wizard who manages to be funny rather than simply annoying. He sets it in the perfect time period - no, not at all medieval - and presents a storyline which is quite well thought out, rather than tha slapped-together feeling so many of his endings seem to have. In some ways, the story has a little bit of a Charles Dickens feel to it (probably the names, and the fact that the majority of the people were villains), which of course heightened it in my good opinion.
The Wizard in the Tree has to be one of my absolute favorite Lloyd Alexander books.
The Wizard in the Tree has to be one of my absolute favorite Lloyd Alexander books.
April 20, 2014
Random children's book find. I adored every minute of it.
This is a book I wish I had been able to read as a child and grown up with.
Better late than never. I need to get my own copy of this one for my 'childhood favorites' shelf.
This is a book I wish I had been able to read as a child and grown up with.
Better late than never. I need to get my own copy of this one for my 'childhood favorites' shelf.
April 12, 2015
It's not a bad book, but I don't really like to read it, because it gives me a deep feeling of claustrophobia whenever I imagine it. I just get really uncomfortable for some reason. I'm not saying I don't recommend it, it's just not for me.
August 13, 2014
Just wasn't very good. Pretty mean spirited, not much of a plot, characters aren't very sympathetic. I read it out loud to my 7 year old daughter, and she agreed it was just ok.
December 2, 2015
Inventive story idea and great title. Mostly all despicable characters including the wizard at times. Did not like some of the language, such as slut and wench, it was not needed.
October 14, 2019
Interesting book- I've been meaning to read Lloyd Alexander's juvenile fiction, but most of his stuff seems to be part of a series and I didn't quite want that level of commitment. Happened upon this one in a thrift store and noticed it was a standalone and decided to give it a try.
It's pretty dark for juvenile fiction, most of the people aren't particularly good people. Everyone is struggling and thus they care little for the fellows who are in similar straits. I did like the writing style and it was a quick read. There's just not much in the way of bright points until the end. Though, I suppose this was a fairly short piece of fiction.
It's like Tolkien, but, with less likable characters.
Honestly, I would still be tempted to give one of his series a shot to see if the longer format would let me become more attached to the characters.
It's pretty dark for juvenile fiction, most of the people aren't particularly good people. Everyone is struggling and thus they care little for the fellows who are in similar straits. I did like the writing style and it was a quick read. There's just not much in the way of bright points until the end. Though, I suppose this was a fairly short piece of fiction.
It's like Tolkien, but, with less likable characters.
Honestly, I would still be tempted to give one of his series a shot to see if the longer format would let me become more attached to the characters.
September 27, 2019
We're in the process of discovering various gems from the pen of Lloyd Alexander that I had somehow previously missed or overlooked. This one, from 1975, won't be among my top favorites of his many books, but it did have character and charm. It reads rather like an extended fairy tale, I suppose, and features a brief fantasy-adventure-mystery. The characters, as usual with Lloyd Alexander, are either endearing or at least interesting in every case, and well developed despite the relative brevity of the story. It reminded me, in some respects, of C.S. Lewis and Roald Dahl, which is surely not a bad thing.
August 29, 2019
A good book for people of many ages. Mallory, a serving girl adopted by a terrible lady innkeeper and her mild-mannered innkeeper husband, gets involved with a wizard, who she helps get out of a tree he has been magically imprisoned in for ages. Although he’s a true wizard, his enchantment skills are rusty, to say the least, and Mallory’s quick thinking and determination more than match his magical powers. Which is one of the points of the book, and which gives it some depth, while not overburdening what, for most young readers, will mostly be a very fun old-time wizard tale.
January 11, 2021
When Mallory notices something sticking out of an old tree and she takes a closer look, she has broken a magical spell. Arbican the wizard has been trapped in the tree for thousands of years; his friends are gone and so are his powers. When the greedy men steal, kidnap, and murder; Mallory and Arbican try to escape but without his powers their hopes to get away are gone. An interesting story, written in 1975, with a lot of large words like: assumption, obviously, disembodied, contradicted, and disconcerting, etc.
February 2, 2022
اولش که شروع کردم فکر میکردم کتابِ ساده تر و بچه گانه ای باشه و خب خیلی از اون حد فراتر نرفت اما از چیزی که من انتظار داشتم بیشتر بود نویسنده مفاهیمی میخواست رو به صورت قشنگی انتقال داده بود و فکر میکنم در نهایت به چیزی که میخواست رسیده بود . از روند داستان و خوندنش تو دو دوره ی سنیم لذت بردم و آخرش برای من پایان زیبایی بود و فکر میکنم خوب تموم شد. در کل کتاب خیلی پیچیدگی نداره و میتونید از خوندنش برای یک روز لذت ببرید و برای کسایی که نیاز به یک تلنگر یا زاویه دید جدید دارن کتاب جالبی میتونه باشه.
November 4, 2022
lllustrated by Lazlo Kubinyl
This book is a quick fun read. Young, mistreated kitchen mid Mallory meets up with Arbican, an elderly wizard who was trapped inside an Oak tree. Now freed he wants to escape to Vole Innis to rejoin others of his kind. Mallory is disappointed he is not like wizards in fairy tales and can’t or won’t grant her wishes. Arbican is disappointed because he has lost his most of his powers and can’t control them. This leads to many strange and sometimes goofy experiences as they uncover the evils of the local squire.
This book is a quick fun read. Young, mistreated kitchen mid Mallory meets up with Arbican, an elderly wizard who was trapped inside an Oak tree. Now freed he wants to escape to Vole Innis to rejoin others of his kind. Mallory is disappointed he is not like wizards in fairy tales and can’t or won’t grant her wishes. Arbican is disappointed because he has lost his most of his powers and can’t control them. This leads to many strange and sometimes goofy experiences as they uncover the evils of the local squire.
June 17, 2017
There's a charming little story here about an feisty orphan girl who frees a wizard from the tree that's held him for centuries, but finds that his powers have become quite rusty during his long sleep. But it's almost strangled by the surrounding SJW preaching about an evil industrial developer. And if you want to tell me that some industrial developers are truly evil, I will answer that some feisty orphan girls are evil, too, but I would be dismayed to find one in a fairy story.
September 16, 2021
I really enjoyed the exploration of 'magic' and what we think it is and what might bring magic about in our lives. Light and quick read (though one of the characters does call Mallory, the main character, a 'slut' at one point which led to an interesting bedtime discussion with an 8 and 10-year-old). We decided to read Alexander's Prydain Chronicles (The Black Cauldron, etc) next with the kids after reading this one, so I think that's a pretty good recommendation.
February 2, 2021
Finished this in about 2:30, an easy and enjoyable read similar in action to the Marvelous Adventures of Sebastian. Some fighting and a murder or two. No profanity or sex. Reminds me of a later book by Orson Scott Card in that there is a wizard who was embedded in a tree, otherwise a different story.
November 9, 2017
This was really unique and clever. It hovers around 3-4 stars for me. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this, and while it wasn’t what I had imagined, I ended up appreciating it for its subtle magic.
There are elements of this that are very whimsical. But most of it is not.
There are elements of this that are very whimsical. But most of it is not.
March 13, 2021
Although I spent most of the novel wanting to stuff Arbican back in his tree, it was interesting to read a children's story where the underlining moral is something like "Quit bitching and fix it yourself."
August 15, 2017
A funny look at a legendary wizard.
Similar to T.H. White's: Sword in the Stone
Similar to T.H. White's: Sword in the Stone
October 16, 2017
This is a very fun story in the vein of the black cauldron and a quick read for young adults.
August 17, 2018
Not bad, the world building was a bit lacking but that might be due to the age range of the book more than anything.
January 5, 2020
A rapid adventure through fantasy that ends with the young heroine discovering that the greatest magic lay within her all along. A lovely story.
February 22, 2021
Mäßig gutes Märchen mit raschem vorhersehbarem Ende
April 13, 2022
Another book the family read together. A good story, perhaps the wording gets in the way of the story at times.
September 4, 2023
Somewhat based on the debate of magic vs human ingenuity and grit for solving problems. Started out silly, I didn't know if I could stand it, but it got better and I liked the characters by the end.
Read
December 4, 2015Title: The Wizard in the Tree
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Illustrator: Laszlo Kubinyi
Genre: Science fiction
Theme(s): Courage, heroism, honor,
Opening line/sentence: “Mallory’s oak was down.”
Brief Book Summary: When Mallory takes interest to an old oak tree, she soon learns that she’s broken a magical spell. After rescuing the wizard Arbican who has been trapped in the tree for thousands of years, Mallory must help him get his powers back, and escape the persecution of Squire Scrupnor.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Jonathan Fesmire
From the strange beginning until the story's end, The Wizard In The Tree is full of surprises...This reprint (the novel originally came out in 1975) features lovely illustrations by Lazlo Kubinyi, pencil drawings that capture the situations and characters quite well...This is a fun book for young adults and those of us who simply enjoy good fairy tale.
— SF Site
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: KIRKUS REVIEW
Long years spent stuck inside an old oak tree haven't petrified the wizard Arbican's tongue. On the contrary, he is glad to escape the boredom ("It's the same slow, vegetable sort of business over and over again. One tends to lose interest") and he is positively scathing when Mallory, the girl who rescues him, demands her three wishes ("No enchanter in his right mind would grant one wish to a mortal, let alone three"). However it seems his wizard powers have gone rusty and he soon needs Mallory's help to escape the persecution of Squire Scrupnor, the villain who has already murdered his employer, saddled Mallory's guardians with a ruinous "hypothecation" (mortgage) and plotted to turn the whole village into a coal field. Arbican survives a number of aborted spells, including one that turns him into a talking pig (to the delight of a dim-witted rustic who dubs him a "poll-piggy"). But of course in the end we have our cake and eat it too; after being warned against reliance on wishful thinking, we are given a wonderfully efficient magical solution. The period is the beginning of the industrial revolution, but the tempo is reminiscent of the Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian--quick-witted melodrama and nimble-tongued romanticism.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with the first review in that the illustrations throughout this novel not only help readers develop the characters in the story, but enhance the situations they encounter. This book is also full of surprises, which keeps readers at the edge of their seats the entire time. In regards to the Kirkus review, the end of this novel is very satisfying for readers, as everything works out with the help of magic of course.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: As mentioned in the first review, I definitely appreciate the sporadic use of illustrations to break up the text every now and then. I also found the development of the plot in this book to be very engaging. Lastly, Mallory’s character in the story is definitely one children should admire and aspire to be like.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book would fit best in a 4th- 7th grade classroom. For any student interested in fantasy or magical mystery, this book would be ideal to expand their creativity and imagination. I would definitely assign my students this book to read over time so we could have a whole class discussion about it’s plot and character development.
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Illustrator: Laszlo Kubinyi
Genre: Science fiction
Theme(s): Courage, heroism, honor,
Opening line/sentence: “Mallory’s oak was down.”
Brief Book Summary: When Mallory takes interest to an old oak tree, she soon learns that she’s broken a magical spell. After rescuing the wizard Arbican who has been trapped in the tree for thousands of years, Mallory must help him get his powers back, and escape the persecution of Squire Scrupnor.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Jonathan Fesmire
From the strange beginning until the story's end, The Wizard In The Tree is full of surprises...This reprint (the novel originally came out in 1975) features lovely illustrations by Lazlo Kubinyi, pencil drawings that capture the situations and characters quite well...This is a fun book for young adults and those of us who simply enjoy good fairy tale.
— SF Site
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: KIRKUS REVIEW
Long years spent stuck inside an old oak tree haven't petrified the wizard Arbican's tongue. On the contrary, he is glad to escape the boredom ("It's the same slow, vegetable sort of business over and over again. One tends to lose interest") and he is positively scathing when Mallory, the girl who rescues him, demands her three wishes ("No enchanter in his right mind would grant one wish to a mortal, let alone three"). However it seems his wizard powers have gone rusty and he soon needs Mallory's help to escape the persecution of Squire Scrupnor, the villain who has already murdered his employer, saddled Mallory's guardians with a ruinous "hypothecation" (mortgage) and plotted to turn the whole village into a coal field. Arbican survives a number of aborted spells, including one that turns him into a talking pig (to the delight of a dim-witted rustic who dubs him a "poll-piggy"). But of course in the end we have our cake and eat it too; after being warned against reliance on wishful thinking, we are given a wonderfully efficient magical solution. The period is the beginning of the industrial revolution, but the tempo is reminiscent of the Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian--quick-witted melodrama and nimble-tongued romanticism.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with the first review in that the illustrations throughout this novel not only help readers develop the characters in the story, but enhance the situations they encounter. This book is also full of surprises, which keeps readers at the edge of their seats the entire time. In regards to the Kirkus review, the end of this novel is very satisfying for readers, as everything works out with the help of magic of course.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: As mentioned in the first review, I definitely appreciate the sporadic use of illustrations to break up the text every now and then. I also found the development of the plot in this book to be very engaging. Lastly, Mallory’s character in the story is definitely one children should admire and aspire to be like.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book would fit best in a 4th- 7th grade classroom. For any student interested in fantasy or magical mystery, this book would be ideal to expand their creativity and imagination. I would definitely assign my students this book to read over time so we could have a whole class discussion about it’s plot and character development.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews