Seven-Day Magic

by Edward Eager

Book Overview

"Luckily for Edward Eager's fans, the children in his latest book are just as lively and literary as those in Half Magic."--The New York Times Book Review

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152020780
• ISBN13: 9780152020781
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Love these magic books!

These were my favorite books as a child. They are still fun - I am reading them out loud to my grandchildren!

Eager's Masterpice

Seven-Day Magic Book Review Edward Eager Andrew Barnaby, Abbie, Fredericka, John, and Susan LOVE books! Every Saturday they go to the library and take out some. When the story starts, they are sitting in the library. "The best kind of book is a magic book," said Barnaby. "Naturally," said John. "The best kind of magic book," said Barnaby, "is when it's about ordinary people like us, and then something happens and it's magic." "Like when you find a nickel, but it isn't at all a nickel, it's a half-magic talisman," said Susan. "Or you're playing and someone asks you `Is this the road to Butterfield?'" said Abbie. "Only it isn't, it's the road to Oz!" shrilled Fredericka. Then, just as they're checking out, Susan grabbed an interesting-looking red book. The Librarian looked at her strangely, but just said, "That's a seven-day book." On the way home, Susan read aloud from her book. "'The best kind of book is a magic book,' said Barnaby. `Naturally,' said John. `The best kind of magic book,'"...... Her voice trailed off. The grand adventure had begun. Through this great work of literature, Edward Eager expresses comedy, drama, novelty, and fun! The red book was magic and if somebody picked it up it would turn into whatever kind of book they liked best. Since John, Susan, Barnaby and Fredericka wanted a magic book, it turned into one that they could wish upon, and wrote down whatever they did. A dragon captures Fredericka. They visit what happened after the book Half Magic ended. John and Susan's Grandmother accidentally wishes herself to be in her "prime," and they find themselves in an old schoolhouse fifty years ago. Then they go to Fredericka, Barnaby and Abbie's father's T.V. Studio, and make him famous singing "Chickadee Tidbits." Then, when they refuse to return the book to the library, the book makes them argue. Barnaby finds himself staring into a magic pool, hypnotized with the horribleness of his worst deeds. Can the children save him? You should definitely read this five star book to find out!!! I really enjoyed reading Seven-Day Magic! I thought that it's neat how it flashes into other books, (even prehistoric Oz)! This book is extremely well written, and it can make you laugh, (or bite your fingernails). One of the best parts is the way that Mrs. Funkhouser defeats the dragon! The magic book turns into a cook book, and tells her to "use salt to put out fire" and to "use household ammonia to heal scratches." The dragon's fire and teeth went away. The dragon said, "Hey, St. George would have been more dignified!" This is one of my favorite books, and you'll like it too!

Meet a Meta-Fantasy

By "meta-fantasy", i mean that this is a fantasy about fantasy -- even referencing the author's own fiction *as* fiction.And it is hilarious. As soon as Susan begins reading aloud from the seven-day book that she checked out of the library on a whim... nd reads the opening paragraphs of the book that the reader is already holding in his hands, we know we're in for a strange ride, indeed, even for Edward Eager, who gave us "Half Magic" (in which there is a magic charm which grants one-half of what one wishes; a wish to visit a desert island puts one in the Sahara -- "Desert, yes -- island, no.") and "The Time Garden" (in which one set of magically-adventuring children rescue another set from another of his books from cannibals).So first read the "Half Magic" books (currently available as a boxed set), then grab this one and fasten your seat belts, keep arms and hands inside the car at all times, and enjoy the ride.

SPECTACULAR!

As a teenager reading this book really helped me get into my imagination. I have always been a firm believer in magic and this book just went right along with my belief. Follow Barnaby, John, Abbie, Susan, and Fredricka as the step into the world of Fairy tails. When Susan finds an old worn out red book at the library she can't wait to read it. As she opens it to read aloud to her friends, she finds herself reading about herself. This is very strange if you ask me. Susan has obviously come across a magic book, and sadly they may only use it for seven days on account that it is a library book, and they all have there due dates. As the children get wound up in there adventure, the reader begins to wonder. Could the magic get the better of the children? Could it lead to disaster...or worse, the distruction of their friendship. Please read this book to find out. It is wonderful and great. A great read aloud to children. Also try The Well Wishers, and Half Magic, both by Mr. Eager and both equal to the greatness of 7 Day Magic. I hope you enjoy this wonderful book.

Unforgettable

I first read this book over 35 years ago and to this day I can remember the joy I got from it. The magic of this and other books by Edward Eager is the way he weaves the adventures of magic into the lives of ordinary children. Seven Day Magic is a must-read for any child who has an imagination (what child doesn't, is what I want to know!). As you travel through this story with Susan, John, Barnaby, Abbie, and Fredericka you find yourself hoping the next book you check out from the library has the same magical formula as the one they find. This is a fun book to read with your parents (or with your kids). Enjoy!

One of my FAVORITE Books!

I absolutley loved this book! Five children named John, Susan, Barnaby, Abby and Frederika find a book at the library that combines their real lives with their favorite books. My favorite chapter is, of course, "Losing It," in which the children meet the little girl and baby from "Half Magic"! They have their way with the magic and thwart it, and the magic has its way and thwarts them, just like in any good Eager book. Needless to say, next to Half Magic, I think this is Edward Eager's BEST book. Shame he didn't live long enough to write a sequel to this one, too.