Ruth Chew
Scholastic
Fiction, YA Fantasy
***+
Do It Yourself Magic
Do-It-Yourself Magic
Ruth Chew
Scholastic
Fiction, YA Fantasy
***+
Do It Yourself Magic
DESCRIPTION: Rachel and Scott didn't really want to buy anything when they went into the big department store on Church Avenue. But when they saw the strange box marked The Build-Anything Kit for only seventy-nine cents, they knew they had to take it home. The box was a bit dented and oddly heavy, but when they opened it up they found parts to build... anything! Also included was a strange little hammer-headed tool called a sizer, which could make things bigger or smaller as if by magic. One really ought to be careful when playing with magical things, for that Build-Anything Kit just might build them a heap of trouble!
REVIEW: Despite a nice idea and some neat images, I had to dock it a couple points for not going anywhere with its wonderful setup. The plot wandered, and could have done more with what it had to work with. The characters don't seem to learn anything, either, and the ending feels unresolved. Part of me thinks there should be another book. but another part feels this one really could have accomplished more. That's not to say it's badly written or unimaginative. I just thought it could've been better. It's a quick read, though, and despite not quite knowing how to end it's still kinda fun.
You might also enjoy:
Bright Shadow (Avi, YA Fiction - A girl receives a dangerous gift from a dying wizard, wishes that work)
The Magic Shop books (Bruce Coville, YA Fiction - Children who enter Mr. Elives' mysterious magic shop find strange gifts and adventures in store)
Knight's Castle (Edgar Eager, YA Fiction - A boy's wish on a magical toy sets up a summer of adventure and imagination)
The Book of Story Beginnings (Kristin Kladstrup, YA Fiction - A special writing journal makes the stories written in it come to life)
The Enchanted Castle (E. Nesbit, YA Fiction - Three English schoolchildren find all manner of troubles when they encounter a magical ring)
The Castle in the Attic (Elizabeth Winthrop, YA Fiction - A boy learns the magical secret to an old toy castle)
The Ghost Witch (Betty Ren Wright, YA Fiction - A girl learns that her new home is haunted by a witch)
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