The Magic Half

by Annie Barrows

Overview

Miri is the non-twin child in a family with two sets of them--older brothers and younger sisters. The family has just moved to an old farmhouse in a new town, where the only good thing seems to be Miris ten-sided attic bedroom. But when Miri gets sent to her room after accidentally bashing her big brother on the head with a shovel, she finds herself in the same room . . . only not quite.
Without meaning to, she has found a way to travel back in time to 1935 where she discovers Molly, a girl her own age very much in need of a loving family. A highly satisfying classic-in-the-making full of spine-tingling moments, this is a delightful time-travel novel for the whole family.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781599905846
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	08/10/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,010,754
Lexile:	640L (what's this?)
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Annie Barrows was a childrens book editor (Chronicle) before becoming a full time writer. She has written several adult titles including the New York Times bestseller The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, as well as the highly acclaimed childrens series IVY AND BEAN. Annie lives in Northern California with her husband and two daughters.
For more, see www.anniebarrows.com
Annie Barrows was a childrens book editor before becoming a full time writer. She has written several adult titles including the New York Times bestseller The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, as well as the highly acclaimed childrens series IVY AND BEAN. Annie lives in Northern California with her husband and two daughters. For more, see www.anniebarrows.com

Hometown:

Berkeley, CA

Date of Birth:

August 24, 1962

Place of Birth:

San Diego, CA

Education:

University of California at Berkeley, B.A. in Medieval History; Mills College, M.F.A. in Creative Writing

Editorial Reviews

Not only is 11-year-old Miri a middle child, but she's stuck between two sets of twins, neither of which will let Miri tag along as they explore the nooks and crannies of the family's new house. Good thing Miri has a wild imagination to keep her company and a powerful belief in magic, too. She needs both for this clever take on the through-the-looking-glass(es) adventure that Barrows (Ivy and Bean) spins for her. "Magic is just a way of setting things right," Miri learns after peering through an eyeglass she discovers in her room and then suddenly finding herself in the company of a girl who could almost be Miri's twin, except that the year is now 1935. Barrows limits the fantasy to the simple but effective time-travel device, using it sparingly as Miri bravely sets about making things right for her new friend-and eventually herself. Readers will savor the author's lively observations (thinking she is trapped in the past, Miri "consider[s] the fact that several of her favorite books would not be published for seventy more years. 'Great.... When I'm in my eighties I'll find out what happens to Harry Potter' "), while the heroine's adaptability and independent thinking endow her with the appeal of a Ramona Quimby or a Clementine. Ages 8-12. (Jan.)

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Publishers Weekly

Gr 4-6

The middle child between two sets of twins, Miri often feels left out, overlooked, and unremarkable. When her family moves to a new home, she feels lonelier than ever. She soon learns from an elderly neighbor of a legend surrounding her house. According to town lore, many years earlier a thief left buried treasure somewhere on her property. Quickly, the siblings race to uncover it. Soon after the hunt begins she notices a small piece of glass taped to her wall. Looking through the lens, Miri finds herself still in her room, but in 1935. It is here that she meets Molly, a girl badly in need of help to escape her abusive situation, but Miri accidentally returns to her own time before she can save her new friend. Alone again, she must figure out how to rescue Molly before it's too late. This fast-paced story will delight anyone who has ever believed in magic, longed for a twin, or imagined the secrets their home might hold. The characters and setting are realistic despite the subtle elements of magic and time travel. Barrows conjures up a delightful tale brimming with mystery, magic, and adventure that will surely enchant readers everywhere.-Laura Butler, Mount Laurel Library, NJ

School Library Journal

Barrows conjures up a delightful tale brimming with mystery, magic, and adventure that will surely enchant readers everywhere.

From the Publisher