Curious Magic

by Elisabeth Beresford

A boy's vacation on an island off the coast of England brings him in contact with a white witch, a girl his own age with increasing magic powers, a boy from the sea, and travel backwards in time.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Elisabeth "Liza" Beresford MBE was a British author of children's books, best known for creating The Wombles. Born into a family with many literary connections, she worked as a journalist but struggled for success until she created the Wombles in the 1960s. The strong theme of recycling was particularly notable, and the Wombles became very popular with children across the world. While Beresford produced many other literary works, the Wombles remained her most well known creation.

Reviews

[Mererid Evanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story for younger readers. It has such a strong sense of the constancy of place, reminding me of Puck of Pook's Hill. The hero, a boy with a broken leg, becomes the "wounded knight" destined to rescue the white witch from imprisonment. The magic and the everyday blend very convincingly.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

B. fiction, children's fiction, fantasy, adventure, England, from stash, keep

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides]

Came across this when trying to find another book (The Danger Quotient) for someone in What's the Name of That Book?

Some of the dialogue and ideas are interesting, but the pacing feels too slow.

[Anna Hepworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice time travel twisty plot suitable for mid-primary aged kids, with a bit of British history and intrigue mixed in.