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Time Travel Mystery #2
Paint by Magic
Something is terribly wrong with Connor's mom--she keeps slipping into bizarre trances. Connor suspects that the key to his mom's strange behavior is an old art book filled with paintings of a woman who looks exactly like her. But the artist who created those paintings died before his mom was even born.
Connor gets his chance to break the evil link between the past and the present when he is mysteriously whisked back in time to the 1920s. But can he save his mom--and himself--before it's too late?
Connor gets his chance to break the evil link between the past and the present when he is mysteriously whisked back in time to the 1920s. But can he save his mom--and himself--before it's too late?
271 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
14 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Reiss
25 books188 followersKathryn Reiss was born in Massachusetts, grew up in Ohio, and received B.A. degrees in English and German from Duke University, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan. After college, she lived in Bonn, Germany as a Fulbright Scholar, and during this time wrote the first draft of her first novel, Time Windows.
Ms. Reiss is an award -winning author of 20 novels for kids and teens. She has been a Writer in Residence for the Princeton Arts Council, a recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Grant for Writers, and has been a featured speaker with (among others) Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, The Northern California Library Association, The International Reading Association, Fresno County Office of Education, California Reading Association, The American Library Association, and the National Council of Teachers of English. She lives in Northern California with her husband and the last of her seven children still in the nest. She is a Full Professor of English at Mills College at Northeastern University, and also teaches in the low -residency MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Ms. Reiss is an award -winning author of 20 novels for kids and teens. She has been a Writer in Residence for the Princeton Arts Council, a recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Grant for Writers, and has been a featured speaker with (among others) Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, The Northern California Library Association, The International Reading Association, Fresno County Office of Education, California Reading Association, The American Library Association, and the National Council of Teachers of English. She lives in Northern California with her husband and the last of her seven children still in the nest. She is a Full Professor of English at Mills College at Northeastern University, and also teaches in the low -residency MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the University of Nevada, Reno.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 13, 2011
in the beginning, i was so curious to what was happening. FOr that reason, i couldn't put the book down because i wanted to figure out just what was wrong with connors mother.
i loved the characters in the book from the past. it's hilarious to read them saying, "thats the bee's knees" or "hay is for horses" because no one says that anymore. And i can relate to Connor when feels how the past is much healthier than the present day because there was no computers or tv. so everyone was always outside playing, having family dinners and real conversations, and playing with puzzles. Every day in the past is an adventure.
i loved the characters in the book from the past. it's hilarious to read them saying, "thats the bee's knees" or "hay is for horses" because no one says that anymore. And i can relate to Connor when feels how the past is much healthier than the present day because there was no computers or tv. so everyone was always outside playing, having family dinners and real conversations, and playing with puzzles. Every day in the past is an adventure.
March 24, 2016
time travel
art
family
art
family
November 12, 2018
This story of time travel, wrapped in a centuries-long tale of jealousy and revenge, is a different twist on the displacement genre of books where someone travels to their own or anothers past life.
It begins innocently enough with a family of overachievers nestled in their core group of like minded people, but quickly propels the reader outside that world into a new puzzling one where the high-powered attorney Mom becomes something similar to a reincarnated early-tv-years sitcom mother-housewife type. In a way that was creepy enough, but add in the evilness you sense around her, the eerie way she seems to act, and the changes in her, makes you want to jump in with the main character, Conner, as he struggles to understand what is happening.
A very good read.
It begins innocently enough with a family of overachievers nestled in their core group of like minded people, but quickly propels the reader outside that world into a new puzzling one where the high-powered attorney Mom becomes something similar to a reincarnated early-tv-years sitcom mother-housewife type. In a way that was creepy enough, but add in the evilness you sense around her, the eerie way she seems to act, and the changes in her, makes you want to jump in with the main character, Conner, as he struggles to understand what is happening.
A very good read.
January 1, 2018
This book had some really interesting elements in the beginning -- the concept of a portrait model being literally trapped inside a frozen pose is legitimately terrifying as a depiction of the artist-muse relationship -- but ultimately, the book didn't deliver on its potential. The central conflict was watered down into simplistic, vague possessed-by-EVIL; the glorification of the "good old days" of the 1920s -- when women stayed at home and cooked for their families every night! -- is presented far too uncritically for my taste. I recommend "Sunday in the Park with George" instead.
October 26, 2017
I think the book “paint by Magic” is a very good read. It has a fictional story that is very hard to put down once you get started. The point of view is the protagonist in the book Connor and switches to a narrator at times during the book. By doing this the author gives you the chance to be out in and out of Connors shoes and show his struggles in the book very well. The main character Connor has to grow over time during the book as he hits problems throughout the book and you can tell as the dialog in the book changes. Very good read.
August 30, 2017
I really liked this book. It was fun to read, it was never boring, and I liked the characters. I would rate it 4.86 out of 5 stars (haha). This is because there were some parts at the end where I wanted a bit more of a detailed explanation of some things, but overall there were no huge questions unanswered, all loose ends were tied up so to speak. But yeah, overall, I really like this book and recommend it to everyone. Can't wait to read more of Reiss' novels.
January 2, 2022
This book is a YA fiction. It's a decent read for this genre. I enjoyed the storyline, but would have liked a more authentic portrayal of the characters. There was very little shock, anger or frustration in the main characters even though they were time traveling and had no idea why. As mentioned for a YA book it his the right notes, but it lacked true character depth for me.
September 24, 2017
My first ever Kathryn Reiss novel. Captivated me and enthralled me to such a degree I couldn't put it down.
March 17, 2019
Cute, intriguing book. Time travel and mystery. Interesting characters and setting. An “easy read”.
May 8, 2020
One of the books that makes me think that the world is okay. The setting is kinda all over the place, but it still enjoyable read anyway. Im glad I grew up knowing this kind of books
July 6, 2021
Time travel and a sermon about the over scheduled modern family rolled into one.
August 26, 2021
Not my favorite of Ms Reiss's books but captivating. It had a touch of horror to it that put me off. Overall the story kept me turning pages. A nice bow to the good old days!
April 27, 2024
Great premise. Weak ending.
April 18, 2015
'Hay is for horses!'
This is one of the books I found in my family's study whose plot I couldn't remember. The only thing I can remember is that I liked it, and that sentence up there^ (funny what your brain retains, isn't it?), so I decided it was time for a re-read.
Paint By Magic is aimed for middle-schoolers, and I think that age group would find this thrilling. I've read and watched too many mystery novels to be surprised by the conclusion of the plot, so I became quite impatient with Connor for not reaching the same conclusion faster. Then I reminded myself that he's eleven. Nevertheless, there were truly eerie and thrilling moments, and I was truly creeped out by the painter.
I'm kind of ambivalent about the push for old-fashioned activities. I totally understand how lovely it must be to have family quality time without technology interrupting - and that should absolutely happen more than it probably is for most families - but I've lived overseas. For more or less five years, technology was the only reason I could have any form of quality time with my family. Balance is always better, and I like that the Rigoletti-Chase family seems to be moving in that direction.
All in all, I would've loved this more if I had been 14 year old, but it is still a good read.
This is one of the books I found in my family's study whose plot I couldn't remember. The only thing I can remember is that I liked it, and that sentence up there^ (funny what your brain retains, isn't it?), so I decided it was time for a re-read.
Paint By Magic is aimed for middle-schoolers, and I think that age group would find this thrilling. I've read and watched too many mystery novels to be surprised by the conclusion of the plot, so I became quite impatient with Connor for not reaching the same conclusion faster. Then I reminded myself that he's eleven. Nevertheless, there were truly eerie and thrilling moments, and I was truly creeped out by the painter.
I'm kind of ambivalent about the push for old-fashioned activities. I totally understand how lovely it must be to have family quality time without technology interrupting - and that should absolutely happen more than it probably is for most families - but I've lived overseas. For more or less five years, technology was the only reason I could have any form of quality time with my family. Balance is always better, and I like that the Rigoletti-Chase family seems to be moving in that direction.
All in all, I would've loved this more if I had been 14 year old, but it is still a good read.
August 16, 2008
A time travel book... and what made it weirder was that everything I read I would think, "Oh, yeah!" as though I had already read it... Not that I knew anything that would next. But it was kind of like dejavo (um... sp?) while I was reading it! Anyway, I found out I had read it before, so it's not that weird, but anyway!
I really liked the book. It kept me reading and my brain whirling trying to figure it out. I thought the characters were a little slow figuring stuff out, but I had to remind myself that they hadn't gotten those little glimpses into the past that the author had given me, as the reader, and, really, who is going to jump to really bizarre conclusions involving magic powder, an evil painter, and their own mother? I wouldn't have!
I really liked the first sentence:
"Lorenzo da Padova unscrewed the cap of his dagger to reveal the secret hiding place."
Who doesn't want to keep reading?
I really liked the book. It kept me reading and my brain whirling trying to figure it out. I thought the characters were a little slow figuring stuff out, but I had to remind myself that they hadn't gotten those little glimpses into the past that the author had given me, as the reader, and, really, who is going to jump to really bizarre conclusions involving magic powder, an evil painter, and their own mother? I wouldn't have!
I really liked the first sentence:
"Lorenzo da Padova unscrewed the cap of his dagger to reveal the secret hiding place."
Who doesn't want to keep reading?
December 7, 2016
I really enjoyed this time-travel mystery. It kept me reading. It starts out in the modern-day world. Connor's family is a typical family--both parents are tied to their jobs, both kids are tied to after-school activities, T.V., computer games, etc. And then Connor's mom starts acting strange. She decides to cut back to part-time work, throws all of the T.V.'s out, wears very strange clothes, and insists on everyone eating home-cooked meals together. She also freezes. She is doing something ordinary and just seems to freeze and in her frozen state she looks terrified. Connor ends up traveling back in time and finds out what is causing his mother's problems. Now he just has to figure out how to fix things and how to get back to his day. I think this book would be very enjoyable for middle school students, but I also really enjoyed it. It was exciting and scary, but also taught a good lesson on how important families are.
February 16, 2008
I highly reccomend this book. Having read a whole bunch of time-travel books lately, this one really emerges as a winner. While aimed for middle elementary schoolars, it would work for 8-14 yr olds. The plot has enough mystery and suspence to keep a wide range of ages interested. I found it to be very eire at time, lots of fun creepy moments.
The hero is a 11 yr old boy, who lives a busy life, but arrives home to find his mom strangely changed. When trying to find what has happened to her, he is transported back in time to the house of a painter who in the 20's who mysteriously had painted picutres of his mother. While there he and they children of the house encounter a number of adventures, and while he saves his mother he and his mother discover more about their lives in the present. It is a nostalgic look at the past, but is fun all the same.
The hero is a 11 yr old boy, who lives a busy life, but arrives home to find his mom strangely changed. When trying to find what has happened to her, he is transported back in time to the house of a painter who in the 20's who mysteriously had painted picutres of his mother. While there he and they children of the house encounter a number of adventures, and while he saves his mother he and his mother discover more about their lives in the present. It is a nostalgic look at the past, but is fun all the same.
November 27, 2010
Connor comes home one day to find his mom acting very strange. She acts as if she has not seen him in a year instead of last night. She has removed all the distracting technological marvels like computers and TVs from the house. She has started dressing old-fashioned and actually cooking dinner! Occasionally Connor sees her frozen and afraid, like she is not actually there. He finds a strange art book with paintings of his mom when frozen….except they were painted before she was even born. Somehow the book transports him to the early 20th century; he must find out how to save his mom from these episodes and how to return back to his own time.
It is an interesting novel with a bit of time travel and suspense. I was interested in the novel but not completely engrossed. A decent novel for 5th-8th graders (according to School Library Journal), but nothing special.
It is an interesting novel with a bit of time travel and suspense. I was interested in the novel but not completely engrossed. A decent novel for 5th-8th graders (according to School Library Journal), but nothing special.
July 26, 2012
Time Travel/ Historical Fiction
The story begins with a 15th century Italian painter, whose evil power stretches beyond his death, possessing a descendant in 1920s California and a woman living in the in the world today. For 11-year-old Connor, it starts when he gets home from school one day to find his mother, a workaholic, as an old-fashioned homemaker cooking and baking and experiencing strange seizures where she stops moving for hours. It's not until Connor is transported back in time to 1926 that he comes to understand what has happened. Can he figure it all out and save his mother in time?
From Benicia Middle School Booktalks 2011-09
Benicia Public Library Call Number: YAPB
The story begins with a 15th century Italian painter, whose evil power stretches beyond his death, possessing a descendant in 1920s California and a woman living in the in the world today. For 11-year-old Connor, it starts when he gets home from school one day to find his mother, a workaholic, as an old-fashioned homemaker cooking and baking and experiencing strange seizures where she stops moving for hours. It's not until Connor is transported back in time to 1926 that he comes to understand what has happened. Can he figure it all out and save his mother in time?
From Benicia Middle School Booktalks 2011-09
Benicia Public Library Call Number: YAPB
October 18, 2009
When Connor's busy working mom suddenly gets rid of the TV and the computer and starts cooking dinner every night, he wonders what is going on. But when she starts experiencing strange episodes that leave her frozen in terror, Connor sets out to save her. His journey takes him inside a painting and back in time.
Mystery fans will race to turn the pages to find out if Connor can save his mom before it's too late.
Mystery fans will race to turn the pages to find out if Connor can save his mom before it's too late.
July 5, 2008
this book captured me, but the main character sort of bothered me, i don;t know why.
it was about a boy (conner)who discovers that his mother(pamela) is acting sort of weird. He finds a book of paintings, and it turns out there is some sort of magical connection to the 1920's. it is basically good, but not great.
it was about a boy (conner)who discovers that his mother(pamela) is acting sort of weird. He finds a book of paintings, and it turns out there is some sort of magical connection to the 1920's. it is basically good, but not great.
March 14, 2010
This was a great book but not one of my favorites.
This was a good book, and it was very creative. It is just not Kathryn Reiss's best book. I liked it no dout about that but she has several other books that are a lot better than this one. So if you are a fan of Kathryn reiss I suggest this book and even if your not a fan I still think you should read this book.
This was a good book, and it was very creative. It is just not Kathryn Reiss's best book. I liked it no dout about that but she has several other books that are a lot better than this one. So if you are a fan of Kathryn reiss I suggest this book and even if your not a fan I still think you should read this book.
November 13, 2009
Paint by Magic was a quick read about a boy whose mom is suddenly acting very strangely. Is she bewitched? Connor decides he has to save his mom. He discovers that the solution lies in the past and he has to travel in time to get back to where the trouble started. It was a little light for me, but probably much more fun for the age it was intended. Cool idea.
March 8, 2010
This book is a fantastic page turner! filled with a magical plot that makes you think about the boundries of the demensions. I would reccomend this book to anybody who loves suspenseful mysteries. The writing style is a little advanced, so you have to read it carefully, but it is sooo worth it. I would have to say this is one of my favorite books ever.
March 10, 2010
so far this book is like amazing i am breathless i mean the whole plot is relly good but also confusing you have to be pretty interested to read this book because if you are just reading this book because your bored then just give up because this book is very confusing and interesting its about a boy who findes this book that changes his life and his mom keeps getting stuck in a transe
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2015
A decent read, but not great.
My rating of a book usually hinges on whether I want to keep reading it or not and the answer, for this book was yes.
I am sorry that the ratings don't allow half stars/as I would have given this a 3 1/2.
An y way, I give this an OK. I didn't put it down partway through but I would only recommend that you read it if you don't have any thing else in the house.
My rating of a book usually hinges on whether I want to keep reading it or not and the answer, for this book was yes.
I am sorry that the ratings don't allow half stars/as I would have given this a 3 1/2.
An y way, I give this an OK. I didn't put it down partway through but I would only recommend that you read it if you don't have any thing else in the house.
December 19, 2010
Well told story that makes nostalgia for the early 20th century understandable. Connor's upscale northern California family is not very admirable nor likeable, and the time travel element was handled well. Although slang from the 20s is better left out!
December 22, 2010
by the way, from my point of view as an adult, this story is too childish. Come on, who would believe something crazy easily from a kid's saying?
however, time travel is my favorite theme so still I like it.
however, time travel is my favorite theme so still I like it.
March 5, 2014
This book was much better than the previous one (Dreadful Sorry/Kapal Maut Clementine)
interesting story, nice plot and twist, fast-paced, I didn't even have the time to think that I'm bored *lol, yeah I know it's exaggerating* :D
interesting story, nice plot and twist, fast-paced, I didn't even have the time to think that I'm bored *lol, yeah I know it's exaggerating* :D
May 25, 2014
I loved it. The mystery of the book intrigued me so much! The plot and the characters were really great. This book really is an underrated book. I don't see it in the book stores or anything. I recommend this to any mystery, magic lovers!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews