MAGIC OR NOT? (Tales of Magic, 5)

This book has Eager's sparkling writing style and his well-drawn characters, but it's missing the magic. The "magic" events could be magic or they could be explained conventionally. As a result the book has a bit of a Moffats feel to it: the children go about in their world, having little adventures that are more or less ordinary but charmingly told. I almost think it would be better to read this after Moffats and not after Time Garden. Otherwise it feels a bit disappointing if one is hoping for the usual zany magic antics such as a cat that can half-speak. I agree with other reviewers that, although this is a solid book, it is not up to the level of his first four books. After reading this we've had to go back and reread Nesbit's Enchanted Castle as an antidote.

Edward Eager's books are well written, magical and educational. I discovered these books this year, 2012, as a result of my 8 year old son's interest in magic books. Amazon pointed me to these and we now own all seven of the series - they are well worth it. Published in the 1950's they remain interesting and imaginative.

Wonderful series. Children couldn't read it fast enough. Something to keep to pass down to the next generations.

I thought it was a great book, but the first of the series, Half Magic, was definitely the best.

Children, wanting a magical summer, are willing to consider every odd coincidence is inspired by wishing down a well. When special things happen they think it has to be magic…because if it isn’t magic then it’s just a case of serendipity…or…not?Intriguing, but I like books about magic to actually be about magic, not wishful thinking. Still. A fun read, even if it is a bit of a cheat.

I remember this book from years past. It was good to re-visit it again. My only wish was that it was available through iBooks, too.

http://readfantasybooks.wordpress.comMagic or Not? is a bit different than all of the other Tales of Magic books, but it is still quite enjoyable and a great addition to the series.In this novel their are four children, later on five, who go on what they believe to be magical adventures given to them by a wishing well. However, they are never sure whether or not it really is magic or if it is just a coincidence. This is what made the story interesting and kept it a bit more real, like how children pretend when they play, and don't actually go on magical adventures. However, even though I like the book, I didn't really like this part of it because when they go on actual adventures to different places or times it makes the book so much more interesting. Instead, they just explore their new town and decide to help people in need. I did like how everything they did and all the people they helped seemed to be connected together.Most of the characters were enjoyable. Laura and James are the two main characters. They are twins who just moved into their new house, they are both really smart and love books, especially Half Magic. They eventually meet Kip who is their neighbor. He loves popsicles and was always eating one, at least at the beginning of the book, then no mention of them later on, which was weird. The children also meet Lydia, whom Kip doesn't really like at first because she seems kind of weird. She is their other neighbor who lives with her very artistic grandmother, she is mysterious, scared of horses, but rides one anyway, loves reading as much as Laura and James, and turns out to be a pretty good artist.I was amazed how much we learn about each of the characters, especially in such a short book. Everyone was well described, had their own personalities, and was memorable. I really like this aspect of the book because it helped to make it better even when the story wasn't my favorite.Overall, I did enjoy the book, but it wasn't one of my favorites of the series. The characters were what made this book! If you love the Tales of Magic series or love fantasy, then I would recommend this book to you! It's a fun book for kids!

As the title suggests, this fantasy is a bit different from the earlier Eager magic books. The children are not 100% sure that the events are magical. The story does not involve talking animals, toys that come alive, time travel, or other magical elements in the other books. But the characters and quasi magical events are entertaining and appealing.Twins Laura and James move a new town, where they meet Kit and quirky Lydia. They want to use the wishing well in the twins’ garden to do good for the people they meet, including impoverished gentlewoman Isabella King, banker Hiram Bundy, and lost little boy Harold. Although they fail to charm Mrs. Gordon T. Witherspoon into abandoning her opposition to the new school, they gain a surprising ally in her unprepossessing son Gordy, who has no friends, and are ultimately won over by his eagerness. These same children (including poor Gordy) are featured in Eager’s next book, “The Well-Wishers.”