Viva Heather!

Magic Attic Club #15

by Sheri Cooper Sinykin

Heather finds herself in grave danger when she travels to Spain in 1492. She learns that all Jews must accept the faith of the King--or die! Now she has new respect for her ancestors and the meaning of Passover. But how will she escape? Can she stow away on one of Christopher Columbus's ships?

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Fiction, Middle Grade, Jewish

80 pages, Hardcover

First published May 14, 1998

About the author

Sheri Sinykin was lead author of the Magic Attic Club series in the mid-90s, and published nine other books for young readers. She lives in Wisconsin and in Arizona."

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best magic attic book yet! This was always my favorite as a kid and still is so far! Definitely an exciting story AND get to learn about a time in history I was never taught about in school.

[★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading this book series for the first time in 2nd grade and I love it lol.


PLEASE I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!! I love the representation of Spanish Jews and Heather was always my favorite 💗

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a Magic Attic Club book, I thought it was pretty interesting. It actually had some historical references in it. Such as Christopher Columbus, Queen Isabella, and the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. It also had a TON of suspense in it!

I didn't especially like how Heather was embarrassed that her friends were invited to Passover. As a matter of fact, I didn't like how they were invited at all. I thought it was for Jews only. That whole thing makes it only worth 4 stars.

All in all, I thought it was a great book. The plot was good, and the characters were decent. I rate 4 stars for Viva Heather! (Magic Attic Club, #15).

[Carol Hardesty · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the reasons I loved "The Magic Attic Club" when I was younger was because I got to see a glimpse of different cultures. And 'Viva Heather!' is rich in culture. Firstly, Heather goes back to 1492 during the days of Christopher Columbus. Secondly, she gets to learn more about her Spanish and Jewish roots. It's because of this colorful plot and interesting set-up that 'Viva Heather!' is one of my favorites in "The Magic Attic Club'.

[Hannah]

This was one of my favorite Magic Attic books as a kid, mostly because I got to pretend I was Sephardic instead of Latina from one side of the family and Jewish from the other, and also because Passover is fun (though I didn't have to actually keep it strictly as Heather does). At any rate, slightly problematic, but all in all just as adorable as I remember, and now I must find more copies of the series to reread!

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book as a tween (and the Magic Attic Club) - and am so sad that it's gone out of print. This is a great, empowering book for young women (especially Jewish tweens) and a great way to get them to learn about one of the most important events in Jewish history - the Spanish Inquisition - in an accessible way!

[Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the books in the series that establishes heritage/ancestry of characters and the pride in that heritage. Before, Heather was not mentioned as being Jewish. This storyline explores her faith and is historically themed as well.

One that has been reprinted in limited release for dollar stores in past 10 years so may be more easily available. See this in person a lot.

[Colette! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, Magic Attic Club was just the best in terms of semi-trashy, slightly informative tween reading. This one may be the impetus that lead to my choosing Spain for study abroad, as well as a lifelong fascination with Al-Andalus and the end of La Convivencia.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish these books had gotten more attention. They were good reads but most girls in my class viewed them as American Girl knockoffs, since you could buy dolls and outfits to match each book. I loved the fantasy element.

[Rivkah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather is my favorite girl. I like her adventures the best and I'm Jewish too!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been one of my very favorite books that I've re-read in my dive into childhood favorites. It was so well written and researched. It was very jarring and impactful to learn about Heather's culture through that part of history and how it was a big part of so many people's lives.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed how this book addressed Heather's religion. Most books for children skirt around the issue of religion or they're drenched in Christianity (this is from my experience). I enjoyed this as a nice change of pace.

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood favorite and had to read it again 😊

[Ezra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Magic Attic Club wasn’t a series I read voraciously as a child, but I do remember reading a few of them in the second or third grade on a whim after finding them at the library. This one, though, especially stood out to me at the time, and I read it over and over again; it wasn’t until this month, though, that as an adult I finally ordered a personal copy and read it for the first time since childhood. Another short juvenile work of historical fiction (I hesitate to call it middle-grade), I believe it’s a great resource for young readers curious about Jewish history and culture – not only does it explain the history of the 1492 Jewish Expulsion from Spain in a way that’s easily understood, it also includes plenty of Hebrew words and traditions, which are almost immediately explained for non-Jewish readers.

Sinykan does an excellent job with the tension and pacing of the book, as the danger Heather faces feels almost palpable, and even as an adult I found myself feeling anxious for the Jewish family Heather encounters and travels with as they try to escape Spain before the imposed deadline. In fact, I remember as a kid thinking it was one of the scarier books in the series, particuarly given Heather's narrow escape from an uncertain fate - separated in a violent mob from the Jewish family she was traveling with and the man who has helped them avoid capture thus far, it is only as she manages to glimpse her reflection in an accosting soldier's upraised sword that she's spirited back to the present day, where she has a newfound appreciation for her family's history and Jewish traditions.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun. I've been daydreaming about kids' books about time travel lately so I figured I ought to check out the Magic Attic Club, which I never really read as a child although my sister did. And this one was really quite captivating. Heather, who is Jewish, finds herself transported back to Spain right before Christopher Columbus set sail. As it happens Columbus set sail the day after the Jews were all supposed to be banished from Spain. Did you know that?? I didn't. So now poor Heather is stuck in Spain in 1492 trying to flee persecution before the deadline. Fascinating! Good history, good characters, good plot. A lot better than I expected it to be. Well done, Magic Attic Club.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viva Heather! (Magic Attic Club #15) by Sheri Cooper Sinykin - If Heather didn't grow up to be a professional dancer, she missed her calling. Happy Reading!