Synopsis
Four kids, a mysterious wall, and a good helping of common magic!
If you had a magic wall that could take you to any place and any time, where would you go? Would you want to visit castles and desert islands? Would you want to meet famous wizards, terrible pirates, beautiful queens, and dastardly outlaws? If so, then you are just like Henry and Emma, and Roy and Susan—and you will probably like this story a lot. In fact, you might even wish something similar would happen to you!
In Any Which Wall, author Laurel Snyder proves that you don’t have to be an orphan, know a dragon, or even be a child to get a taste of magic. You just have to keep your mind open and willing to let it happen. And when you do find magic (like Henry, Emma, Roy, and Susan), you might be surprised that along with all the fun, you also find out new things about your friends, your family, and maybe even a little bit about who you really want to be.
Children's Literature
Four bored kids, four bikes, and one mysterious wall add up to "Common Magic" in this homage to Edward Eager, the author of Half Magic and other books in which the ordinary turns extraordinary. One hot summer day, rising-fifth-grade friends Henry and Roy, Henry's six-year-old sister Emma, and Roy's middle-school sister Susan ride their bikes well outside of their small Iowa town. Soon, they are in a cornfield there, they find a massive stone wall. Through trial and error they learn the rules of the wall, which is able to take them to locales in the past, present, and future, including Camelot, the house of "the worst pirate in the world," a frontier town, and New York. There are plenty of thrills throughout this adventure, including confinement in a dungeon, tussles with a greedy wanna-be pirate, and a dangerous confrontation with a cruel, armed outlaw. Merlin the magician serves as the children's guide. First, he offers visions of what is to come; finally, he responds to Susan's plea for "wrapping up the loose ends." Another central character is Lily, the cheerfully eccentric but ultimately practical town librarian. The narrator imbues the story with an old-fashioned, friendly feel. The pacing is brisk and the plot gripping, though things slow down toward the end as the messages—including "fun does matter" and "you're never too old for magic"—pile on. In fact, these provide more "wrapping up" than readers need. LeUyen Pham's light-hearted, expressive drawings complement the text. This is a fun read for Edward Eager fans as well as those looking for magic "that happens to kids just like you." Reviewer: Paula K. Zeller