Review of MARVIN REDPOST: A MAGIC CRYSTAL?

Bibliography:

Sachar, Louis. 2000. Marvin Redpost: A Magic Crystal? Illustrated by Amy Wummer. New York: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN 0439106338

Review:

In this beginning chapter book, Marvin, your average nine-year old boy, spends the afternoon at Casey Happleton’s house where she shows him a magic crystal that can make wishes come true. Although Marvin doubts the power of this transparent rock, he agrees to keep the crystal a secret. The crystal and it wish-making abilities create problems for Marvin as he struggles to deal with his feelings for Casey. Marvin Redpost: A Magic Crystal? takes place at Marvin’s school, his home, and his friends’ houses – three places that play a big part in the lives of most nine-year olds. Louis Sachar has accurately captured this young boy’s worries about school assignments and what his friends will think about his new friendship with Casey. Readers, who are experiencing similar feelings about members of the opposite sex, will relate to why Marvin “didn’t dare tell (his friends) he went to Casey’s house. They might think he liked her. They wouldn’t understand . . .”. The humorous dialog will also entertain readers. For instance, when Marvin asks his teacher when the book report is due, she responds, “I told you Tuesday.” This, however, doesn’t help Marvin who doesn’t know if the teacher told him the due date on Tuesday or if the report is due on Tuesday. Sachar plays with the meaning of sentences throughout the story to create a subtle humor that children in elementary school will enjoy. Marvin Redpost: A Magic Crystal? is a great transitional book for children who are starting to read chapter books independently. The large print and short chapters, along with Amy Wummer’s simple black and white drawings, allow children to move quickly through the story in order to discover what happens to Marvin while at the same time bolstering their confidence as readers. Children will enjoy reading other books in the Marvin Redpost series to learn how this regular kid overcomes his fears of riding a bike, handles meeting the President of the United States, and learns responsibility as a dog-sitter.