What do you think?
Rate this book
Matter-of-Fact Magic
Second-hand Magic
Caroline and Paul find a magical, birdlike kite in the park that, after repairs with magic glue, is capable of flight and responds to their wishes
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
5 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Chew
47Ìýbooks131ÌýfollowersRuth Chew is the author of a number of popular books for young readers, including Secondhand Magic and The Wednesday Witch. She was born in Minneapolis and grew up in Washington, D.C. She studied art at the Corcoran School of Art and worked as a fashion artist. She was the mother of five children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 15, 2015
When I was a kid, I read a lot of books. This is one of them that is always a pleasant memory. I know I cared less about the writing and more about the ideas behind the story. If it involved a new concept or a twisty way of looking at things, I was hooked. And the somber, dreamlike state of the book was a draw for me as well. My favorite part is how the magical measuring tape works. It's backwards, and delightful.
February 28, 2021
several of Chew's books are on openlibrary... yay!
This would be a good one to start with... if you don't mind making your kids jealous of the days when children could be 'free range' in Brooklyn....
This would be a good one to start with... if you don't mind making your kids jealous of the days when children could be 'free range' in Brooklyn....
April 5, 2024
I was then a 9 year old curious boy in Ghana. Never had come across a Ruth Chew book until my childhood friend lent me his half tattered, coverless copy( apt for a book with that title). The book cast its spell and easily is one of my favorite childhood books ever. The title and author have remained with me whenever I think of my favorite childhood books. This was the only Ruth Chew book I read as a child because they weren’t as accessible as Enid Blyton, Sweet valley or Hardy Boys where I grew up but what an impression it made!
December 12, 2023
When I was a child, I read every Ruth Chew book I could get my hands on. Her stories were always simple but full of wonder and magic--just the sort of dreamy confections I loved. Now her books are mostly out of print and hard to find; I search for copies whenever I visit a used book store, and am lucky to come across one every once in a while. I re-read this one, about a brother and sister (Caroline and Paul) who find an unusual kite. Of course the kite is magical and ends up taking them on adventures, and inevitably they meet a wizard. Like any Ruth Chew story, this is a glimpse into the past, at a simpler time that perhaps never really existed, when children could cavort all over without worry and when every odd stranger was a friendly supernatural being there to foster budding imaginations and not a killer or pervert who couldn't be trusted. There are subtle messages of what is right and wrong but no great pronouncements or major moral lessons. Just gentle fantasy, with mild drama--perfect for a bedtime story for the creative kids in your life. The books she wrote are made all the more charming by her own illustrations, which seem like black and white pencil sketches in the notebook of your great-aunt Ruth--the one who might just be a witch.
November 21, 2017
Cute, clever story about a sister and brother that find a magic kite, enhance it with magic glue, and go on a few adventures. The book features a few cameo appearances from The Wednesday Witch, such as the scissors and possibly the roller skates. The kite, Bird, manages to have a bit of a fun personality. The siblings consider stealing something, but realize it's wrong to go through with it - a nice moral message about knowing right from wrong.
The clerk and daughter that run the little corner store kind of detracted from the story a bit because they weren't particularly nice and were rude to the wizard.
March 22, 2023
I had a Ruth Chew book (The Trouble with Magic) when I was a kid and I loved it. I was thinking about it recently and decided to see if my local library could get me a copy. When they did, they got this one also. I didn't enjoy it quite as much, mostly because it felt like at the end that it should keep going. Not sure if she ever did a sequel but I wonder if that's what she had in mind. Anyway, it was a nice story and would be perfect for beginning chapter readers who enjoy fantasy.
February 12, 2018
I think people are remembering this book with nostalgia. I think it doesn’t hold up to modern standards (Clem is super creepy, running around in secret with two kids?! What?!) and the narrative is sketchy and difficult to follow. At points neither my daughter nor I knew what was going on, at all. Worse than Magic Treehouse, and I really dislike Magic Treehouse.
January 25, 2021
This was nice.
April 4, 2007
Two kids, a magic kite and some random items from a second hand store = good times.
October 26, 2009
One of my favorites when I was in grade school
February 3, 2011
It is a short but very entertaining read!
April 28, 2015
A fun little story. Very sweet, and I liked the kite imagery.
August 23, 2011
I seriously thought about going out and buying a kite after reading this.
April 8, 2013
Lots of cute magic ideas. A measuring tape to make things bigger, a magic glue that fixes things, a magic scissor to make things smaller...
March 13, 2016
Fun and quirky book. I loved it as a kid and still do
August 14, 2013
Ruth Chew was one of my favorite authors during my childhood. I have fond memories of reading her Witch books. They fostered my love for children's literature.
Read
May 3, 2022One of my favourites as a child, I must have read it at least a dozen times over the years.
January 26, 2016
it was a great adventure, exciting and scary another not the best but alright Enid Blyton book.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.