Pure Magic

by Elizabeth Coatsworth, Ingrid Fetz (Illustrator)

Johnny forms a friendship with the new boy at school but is puzzled by his strangeness.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy

68 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 1973

About the author

Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth was best known as the author of Away Goes Sally, The Cat Who Went to Heaven, which won the 1931 Newbery Medal, and the four Incredible Tales, but in fact she wrote more than 90 books for children. She was extremely interested in the world around her, particularly the people of Maine, as well as the houses and the surrounding land. She also loved the history and myths of her favorite places, those near her home and those encountered on her countless travels.

Coatsworth graduated from Vassar College in 1915 and received a Master of Arts from Columbia University in 1916. In 1929, she married writer Henry Beston, with whom she had two children. When she was in her thirties, her first books of adult poetry were published. For over fifty years, she continued to write and publish poetry in collections and to weave poems between the chapters of her books of fiction.

Reviews

[Gale · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Unique, Fantasy Friendship”

Young Johnny Dunlap does not have a real friend until the strange Dumont family moves into the dilapidated farm near by. Set in unspecified, rural New England this undated fantasy details the bonds of deep friendship between two boys—one of whom happens to be “boy” only part time. Now in Central Europe there are tales about strange beings who are forced to turn into wolves at the full moon, but this variation on the man/beast theme is not as darkly Gothic as that.

Here Coatsworth—known for her fantasy tales about small animals—imagines a less frightening version, whereby a boy actually Chooses to become a fox…for the sheer joy of running at night. But this sets up a unique situation: can a human boy remain best friends with a boy/fox?

Eager to prove his sincere devotion to the strange French Canadian boy Johnny risks everything to protect him from fox hunters and to reconcile him with his callous father. I leave it to you to figure out which one on the cover is the werefox. This slender volume proves a cute light read, which emphasizes friendship, loyalty and keeping good relations with one’s parents and neighbors. Short—only 71 pages with many pen and ink illustrations, this book is fine for imaginative children up to age 10.
March 11, 2013 I welcome dialogue with teachers.

[Zev · Rating 2 out of 5]

Star and a half for the illustrations. If you look for an epub of this on different sites, you will want to look for the title "Pure Magic" if you are borrowing it for an hour. This was BORING. I was enchanted by it as a kid, and remembered it as so creepy and sad that I only read it a few times. As an adult, there are indeed sad and creepy parts. The ending held a stupid, unrealistic message. This is not a book for children; it just has children in it. A theme like this could have been better explored in a YA format and the book could have been longer too. Everything could have easily been more developed and expanded on. The illustrations are fantastic, though, and the imagery is great.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. Fantasy with its feet on the ground. I was startled by the ending and reread it several times. I'm still not sure I understand what happened. Short, quick read. A good bedtime story perhaps.

[Gerald Sessions · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story about friends. Friends except each other as they are. They help each other and you wonder if family becomes closer is friendship lost.

[Sarah TeRonde · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautifully wild

[Dianne Guindon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story for 3-6 grade