Books › The Magic Half
The Magic Half
240 pages
A cozy, classic-feeling mystery about an overlooked middle child who finds magic, courage, and a sister of her own in the walls of an old house.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like wrapping yourself in a warm quilt on a rainy afternoon while exploring the dusty, secret-filled corners of an old farmhouse. It balances the timeless, cozy charm of classic middle-grade adventures with a gentle, spine-tingling mystery that keeps the pages turning at a brisk, engaging clip. The narrative voice is deeply empathetic, perfectly capturing the lonely ache of being the odd one out in a bustling family, before blossoming into a heartwarming tale of courage and chosen kinship. Without ever becoming too dark, it offers just enough historical peril to make the stakes feel real. It is an absolute delight for young readers who dream of finding everyday magic, hidden doorways, and someone who understands them completely.
- Mood
- cozy
- nostalgic
- mildly spooky
- hopeful
- Tone
- warm
- earnest
- gently suspenseful
- empathetic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- finding your place · chosen family · middle child syndrome · sisterhood · everyday magic
- The writing
- Accessible, inviting, and sprinkled with the relatable, humorous observations of a perceptive eleven-year-old.
- The arc
- Moves from feelings of isolation and being overlooked to a triumphant sense of belonging and forged sisterhood.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers who love old houses with secrets, gentle time-slip mysteries, and stories about finding your own special person.
Content notes
- mild child neglect
- mild peril
About the book
Miri is the only single child in the middle of a family with two sets of twins--older brothers and younger sisters. When the family moves to an old farmhouse Miri accidentally travels back in time to 1935 only to discover Molly, a girl in need of a real family to call her own. A very satisfying classic-in-the-making, with spine-tingling moments, this is a delightful family-friendly middle grade time-slip novel.
Description from Open Library.
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