Edward Eager wrote children’s fantasy in which ordinary American children discover magic that operates according to inconvenient rules. Half Magic begins when siblings find a coin that grants exactly half of whatever is wished for, forcing them to phrase requests with mathematical care and creating comic mistakes when they forget. Magic by the Lake extends the idea through a family holiday and a new, equally troublesome magical arrangement, while Knight’s Castle sends children into an adventure shaped by toy soldiers and stories of Ivanhoe. Eager openly admired E. Nesbit, and his books share her interest in groups of children whose practical arguments continue even after magic appears. The prose is light, funny and episodic, with family dynamics as important as the fantasy mechanism. Eager belongs with classic children’s fantasy, humorous magic and family adventure. Half Magic is the clearest introduction, especially for readers who enjoy rule-based enchantments rather than large secondary worlds. Read more Less
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