Magic by the Book

by Nina Bernstein

First published 2005

Anne and Emily can't recall selecting the mysterious book from the library, but once they begin reading, reality shifts around them. The pages pull them directly into Sherwood Forest, where they become members of Robin Hood's legendary band of outlaws. Their brother Will joins them in adventures they had only imagined in their favorite stories. The magic they had always craved finally surrounds them. Their parents' garden party back home takes a dark turn when an uninvited stranger arrives. This sinister man steals their magical book, planning to twist its powers toward evil ends. The three siblings must fight to reclaim the book before its magic falls into the wrong hands. Their battle becomes a race against time to protect both worlds. Black and white illustrations bring their literary adventure to life as the children discover that real magic comes with real danger.

Genres: fiction, adventure, fantasy, magic

Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful, whimsical

Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family

Setting: Sherwood Forest

Period: 19th-century, 20th-century, 21st-century

227 pages · Hardcover · Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

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