The Reading Maniacs met on May 19 2002 to discuss Edward Eager’s Half Magic. Jill, Emma and Lacey were missing because of soccer.

We snacked on Nancy B’s banana chocolate cake, celery soda, potato salad, watermelon, popped corn, taffy and whipped cream.

We set up and played two simultaneous games of parcheesi. Vocabulary puzzles were also available.

We began discussion by sharing journals and reactions to the book. Andi Lynn especially liked Martha’s wish to be somewhere other then the theatre and felt Jane was her favorite character. She liked the lessons each adventure taught, the "morals". Vicki was not as enthusiastic about this book. It wasn’t a favorite. She felt it wasn’t well placed in time or location. Sarah’s favorite part was when Jane was part of another family and also when they traveled to Camelot. Molly M. liked the talking cat. Emily didn’t like the book and thought it boring and especially didn’t enjoy the ending. Nancy thought it was simple, a less complicated plot, and an easier read then many of our books but appreciated the use of language (vocabulary and idioms) and literary references.

We talked about when this book took place. We know it was before talking movies and after "motor cars" were invented. Vicki was concerned that there were some anachronisms, perhaps in the games played.

We discussed location. Eventually we learned that the story took place in Toledo, Ohio. Some of us thought at first it was in England but the nickel placed it in the United States.

We discussed the author. This was his first novel, written for his son in 1954. We talked about the novels of E.F. Nesbit who influenced Edward Eager. Many of the qualities were similar to Five Children and It - the characters' names, the wishes, the mistaken wishes. Mothers talked about their favorite books from childhood . Vicki loved The Five Little Peppers, and the Bobbsey Twins. Others shared their good memories of Nancy Drew books, and A Wrinkle in Time.

We discussed morals; what they mean and some in particular to the book. We agreed that the moral of this book was "be careful what you wish."

We shared definition and examples of idioms. We acknowledged that they are expressions which have no meaning in other countries. (fish not fowl, apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, raining cats and dogs)

We discussed the popularity of this novel. It frequently appears on reading lists. We felt it was because of the strong messages; the morals.

We talked about the mother’s role. It was acceptable for her to be working at this time because she had no husband and she had a suitable job. We knew she wanted to be with her children more because she said so in the end when she was offered a better job. We discussed the family that Jane was wished into and compared it to her true family. Vicki promised to research the name "Iphigenia".

We conferred about the different kinds of grownups in the world as described in the book (and read by Sarah). Andi Lynn felt strongly that we need parents to set boundaries. Nancy reminded us, in the words of Wendy Mogel, that our children don’t need two more tall friends.

We talked about the quote "...gave way to gloom. She felt awful inside, the way your always do when you’ve been perfectly hateful to those you love best, and she didn’t even know why she had done it.."(145) The mothers acknowledged that we’re not looking forward to the time when our girls will be very unhappy with us for limiting their teen age privileges. It was recommended that mothers read Get out of my Life, but First take me and Cheryl to the Mall.

We noted that the cover of the book has been changed from half knight, half girl to shattered knight with four children.

All were given the chance to state what their one wish would be. Jenna wished for ten more wishes but changed to wishing for two of the dogs she saw today. Emily wished for four dogs. Molly wished to own one hundred adventure parks. Andi Lynn wished for two dogs. Molly M expressed Vicki’s wish to have two times the food that everyone in the world needs. She also wished for two parrots (hoping to get just one). Sarah wished for two times all the books in the world. She loves to read. (yeah)

There was a VERY lively discussion regarding what to read next. Some choices included Out of the Dust, Letters from Rivka, Running Out of Time, Fever, The Secret Journey, Small Steps, Snail Mail No More, Lemony Snicket series, anything by Judy Blume, Five Little Peppers, Knights of the Round Table, something by Sharon Creech. It was decided to proceed with P.S. Longer Letter Later by Paula Danziger and Ann Martin. Because school will be ending and some of our girls will be away for much of the summer we will have a pot luck supper and meet at Nancy B’s on Thursday June 20 at 5:45. We will also get together on June 9 for tea and conversation about puberty.

Report prepared by Book Club parent Nancy Z.