Ibby's Magic Weekend

by Heather Dyer

The magic of friends, the magic of family, and REAL magic tricks from the critically acclaimed author of THE FISH IN ROOM 11 and THE GIRL WITH THE BROKEN WING!

When straight-arrow Ibby visits her two troublemaking cousins in their chaotic country house, she learns of an old box of magic tricks they found hidden in the attic. Ibby thinks magic is nothing but sleight of hand...until her cousin Francis shrinks to the size of her thumb! The trio gets into all sorts of hijinks, from levitating to turning invisible. Then they uncover the mystery of Uncle Godfrey, a professional magician who disappeared years ago. After some sleuthing, the kids decide Godfrey's Vanishing Act must have gone wrong. Now it's up to Ibby to be the magician-- and find him!

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fiction, Juvenile

144 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2008

Reviews

[Amy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ibby is spending some time with her cousins. One of them finds a magic trick kit and suddeningly one of the boys is the size of a mouse and the other has become invisible. And that's just the beginning. This is a great 3rd/4th grade book about kids who dabble with magic and see the good and not so good things that can happen. Plus they discover a mystery regarding the disappearance of their uncle.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book for young readers. Made me laugh!

[Scout Steinmiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was really good

[Anika Mittal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one very quickly .It was about Ibby at her aunt house with the aunt's sons and the mystery of Uncle Godfrey

[Priya Trombino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book Ibby's Magic Weekend and it will blow your mind away with magic tricks. The book is about this girl named Ibby who goes to her cousin's house for the weekend. The only problem is that her cousin's Francis and Alex are troublemakers and Ibby is not excited to go their house alone. Another thing you might not know about Ibby is that she does NOT believe in magic at all, but when she goes to her cousin's house that changes. When Francis shrinks to the size of her thumb, Ibby might believe in magic. Then when Alex levitates, Ibby relies she does believe in magic. Her Uncle Godfrey disappeared five years and was a professional magician when they realize that maybe they can bring him back to life using the Vanishing Act. That is how Godfrey disappeared, the only problem is that what if all three of them disappear it is all up to Ibby to believe in herself. Will she do it or will she not? Also if she does it will she fail and let everyone down? Find out in this amazing book.

I would rate this book a seven and a half out of ten. This book was very interesting and had a lot of chaos happening, but I think it would be nice if the author included how to do the tricks that they did in the book. My favorite trick was when Francis turned invisible and ran away. I thought sometimes in the begging of the chapter the book got confusing but then I could understand it. If the author could clarify the begging of the chapter I also think that would be nice. I also really liked at the begging Ibby didn't believe in magic. I thought this was a good way to stat the book. At the end I think it should of shown more about Ibby's adventures in Alex and Francis's house. Over all this was a really good book I think you will want to read it. You will want to read Ibby's Magic Weekend!!!

I would recommend this book to boys and girls that love magic stories. Also I would say adults would love this book. This book is funny and fun. I really enjoyed this book. Ibbby Magic weekend will blow your mind.

[Audrey]

Ibby definitely doesn't believe in magic. But she changes her mind when her cousin shrinks to the size of her thumb! Ibby' cousins discovered an old magic box in their attic. As they play with the box, Ibby hears stories of her Uncle Godfrey, a magician who vanished years ago. Can Ibby and her friends discover a way to make him reappear?

This story is pretty basic. There's no subtext and no underlying themes--it's just a story about magic. I read it for a tween book club I run at my local library, and I worried that the girls in the club would be bored. But when I talked to them, they said they really liked it. I was a little bored, just because there wasn't anything there besides the basic story, but it was a very quick read.

For ages 9-12. May appeal to reluctant readers who have difficulty discerning themes and subtext. Additional reviews can be found here, here, and here.

[Davina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would be a good book for kids who don't like a long and drawn out story--this is a quick read and not very deep.
Ibby REALLY doesn’t want to go spend the weekend with her Aunt and two troublemaking cousins Alex and Francis. She gets especially worried when she sees something the size of her thumb scuttle across the floor only to realize it is Francis! Once Francis is back to normal size he shows Ibby and Alex a magician’s kit he found in the attic, which is how he learned how to shrink himself. Not to be outdone, Alex decides that he wants to be a magician too and the weekend starts to become a major disaster. Ibby finds herself constantly trying to keep her cousins safe and out of trouble, and she realizes that she may need to have a little magic herself in order to save the day.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Diana Wynne Jones' The Ogre Downstairs or Jane Langston's Diamond in the Window and sequels are too emotional and Edward Eager's magic series too twentieth-century for a reader, Ibby's Magic Weekend might do the trick. The drama is engaging if fluffy-- about the level of Holly Webb's "Animal Magic" series. Perhaps it can serve as a gateway book for the previously-mentioned, or even Eva Ibbotson's youth books.

One assumes there are sequels, based on the ending.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast action, clever, fun. Perfect book for middle grade readers who like a dose of magical realism. Reminded me of Ibbotson.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and fun! Reminded me of the Ruth Chew books I loved as a kid. Hope there will be more!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good intermediate reader.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

its simple, but interesting. but it ends like it should go on.

[Anne Gove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect 4th grade read.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good pick for your younger and reluctant readers--a simple but fun story.

[Lincolnwood Public LIbrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good pick for your younger and reluctant readers--a simple but fun story.

[Vimal · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice

[Katharine Ott · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ibby's Magic Weekend" - written by Heather Dyer and published in 2008 by Chicken House. A fun, magic-infused middle-grade chapter book.