Parents' Guide to

The Magic Half

By Tracy Moore, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Clever time-travel mystery about twins has some mild danger.

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Kids say (3):

THE MAGIC HALF is a rewarding read with clever turns, well-developed characters, and neatly drawn-out suspense. Readers who enjoy history and problem-solving will enjoy the trips back to the Depression, the hunt for buried stolen treasure, Miri's attempts to piece together the logic of time travel, and the conundrum of thinking about time as both in the present and past. There are some potentially dark themes -- a child who could have been murdered and some verbal abuse that, although not extreme, isn't easy to take -- but there's enough goodwill to render that all palatable for the intended readership. It's a suspenseful, often funny mystery with strong girl characters that takes readers back and forth with a few surprising twists. An added bonus is the potential for some good conversations about what it once meant or now means to be a good kid or a good parent.

Book Details

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