Book reviews

Magic City
Edith Nesbit Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Edith Nesbit Books
New book search
Edith Nesbit Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Magic City
"Philip Haldane, 10, is not happy when his older half-sister Helen marries a widowed man with a daughter named Lucy. In a sour mood because he has had to give up his exclusive relationship with Helen, Philip makes a bad impression on everyone, who in turn treat him badly. Left alone one day, he builds a huge city with Lucy's toys, then awakens to find himself inside it! Much to his irritation, Lucy shows up too. At first placed under arrest, Philip is then hailed as "the Deliverer," who must perform seven tasks to free the magic city from its enchantment. This includes killing the dragon (which turns out to be a giant wind-up lizard), unraveling the Mazy Carpet (a giant crochet) without cutting it, freeing the Islanders from their fear of the sea, and so on.

All along the way, Philip and Lucy recognize elements of the Magic City as toys from their past. They are pursued by a pushy, arrogant lady in a veil who seems to want to take over, and whom they dub "the Pretenderette." This 1910 novel by the great children's storyteller E. Nesbit features her familiarly charming, pleasant style."

David Loftus, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Magic City
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 60%




Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - part earth & part fantasy world
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - exploring a CUTESY fantasy world
Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14)

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - student
Age: - a kid
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - servant
Eccentric: Yes - eccentric
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to Magic City
The Royal Book of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
Landon Snow And the Shadows of Malus Quidam by R.K. Mortenson
Landon Snow and the Island of Arcanum by R.K. Mortenson
Landon Snow And the Auctor's Riddle by R.K. Mortenson
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery


Click here for more information about this book


Edith Nesbit Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Ian Tupper  

SCHOLARS:


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Science Fiction books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal Story

Clones

Coming of age

Cultural problems, alien culture

Explore/1st contact/ enviro story

Family relations

GIANT monster(s)

Horror story?

Inner Struggle

Lifeform altered?

Mental/magical powers focus

Parody

Political power play

Religious overtones?

Repressive society story

Robots, Computers, VR

Romance

Spying & Investigations

Tech./$$$/Info hunt

Time Travel story?

Training/Apprent.

War or Invasion



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us




Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Lynn and Gilbert Morris 1:31:36 PM
Dean Koontz 12:02:10 PM
Vince Flynn 7:10:39 AM
Jean M. Auel 2:47:42 AM
Lori Wick 12:03:25 AM
Suzanne Collins 9:12:08 PM
George W. Bush 7:53:33 PM
Robert Segarra 7:11:56 PM
Dave Pelzer 7:10:38 PM
Christopher Stasheff 6:25:29 PM
Jane Juska 5:48:53 PM
Deric Longden 11:53:30 AM
Cecelia Ahern 10:53:33 AM
Lilian Jackson Braun 9:30:43 PM
Donna Fletcher 9:16:54 PM
J.K. Rowling 7:40:18 PM
Lisanne Norman 7:16:47 PM
Barack Obama 7:10:39 PM
Margaret Peterson Haddix 6:23:46 PM
V.C. Andrews 2:17:47 PM

More message boards