Magic Cave

Matter-of-Fact Magic

by Ruth Chew

The fluffy tip of Freckles's tail stuck out of a tangle of vines. A moment later the tail disappeared. Tom climbed the slippery bank to the place where the dog had been. He pushed aside the vines that hung down from the rocky ledge.

"Al!" Tom yelled to his sister. "Guess what I found!"

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic, Middle Grade, Witches

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Ruth 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.

Reviews

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second only to the most ingenious children’s book I have ever read, “What The Witch Left”; “The Hidden Cave” is an immediate favourite. Merlin is discovered by children inside an aged tree. He was imprisoned there eons ago but a storm splits the trunk and the siblings lead him to a cave they had discovered. What makes this tale exceptional is that we are treated to a spectrum of otherworldly journeys.

First, comes wonderment from interacting with Merlin personally and the surreal ability to check history books, against what they gleaned each day. Merlin carves a remarkable abode out of the skinny canal, which ends in various public locations that cannot be traversed in reverse. For instance, the children take him to the library and museum but the opening vanishes as soon as they reach those places. They walk home out of doors. Merlin would like to return to his century when he reads that his friends were conquered in his absence. That is especially poignant. There is a stone that would make the shift possible.

The most thrilling portion is when the children use a tool from Merlin to experiment with magic on their own. Ruth’s mind must have been limitless because yet again, she conjured a concept that I wouldn’t have fathomed. The children’s wading pool at home has been transformed into a real lake, even though it looks normal. There is no clear timeframe but they only swim a little before they are intercepted by a pirate ship, making for an island! So elaborate is this enchantment, they must even be cautious standing near the edge of this wading pool. The protagonists don’t confide in their parents. However I like very much that their Dad prioritizes their feelings, when they beseech him not to drain the pool.

[Shyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that began my love affair with reading! I read this book for the first time of many when I was in 3rd grade and even convinced my teacher to read it to the class. It captured my imagination like no movie, cartoon or show ever had. From the moment I read the first page there was no going back, I was a reader!
A brother and sister happen upon a hidden cave that is guarded by a wizerd and from there things get really crazy! I need to find this book and read it again!

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a good book.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could give half stars this was better than a 2 but not good enough for 3

[Madame Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always like how Ruth Chew sets her stories in the city, and makes her child characters independent and resourceful.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

LFL find! A Chew book that is not about witches! But it's still about magic, and it's still charming, and I am so grateful to the person who shared it.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my absolute favorite book when I was a child. I read it to tatters and eventually had to get another copy. This is such a good book!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me

I love old SBS books. They're just great little stories that you don't really get with modern kids lit. So I picked up this book and put it in my box at my local library sale without another glance - it was that era and I thought the cover looked good. I didn't even read the back to know Merlin was a key part of the story.

MERLIN!

I love Arthur and Merlin and stories about them and always love reading them in different stories. Not this time. He was a forgetful old man who was petty.

The cave wasn't even a cave, it was a drainage pipe.

The children kept lying to their parents and doing things they shouldn't've.

Obviously, I'm in the minority here cause it seems like most folks love this book, but it did nothing for me.

I didn't have high expectations for this book, and I still walked away disappointed. At least tenses and sentences were correctly put together. That alone makes it better than some of the junk people try to pass off as literature today. Overall though, only 2 stars.

[Michelle Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Ruth Chew book, and I loved it! The siblings meet Merlin in Prospect Park, which leads to an exciting adventure involving a small backyard pool that's really a lagoon with pirated. I sought out every Ruth Chew book I could get through Scholastic book orders and the library. Sadly, in those pre-Amazon days I only found about half of them.

I've been feeling nostalgic for Ms. Chew because I'm taking a trip to NYC, which will include a bus tour of Brooklyn! I will actually visit Prospect Park, which I always will associate with Ruth Chew.

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

As soon as I saw the cover of this book, I knew I had read it.

This book features a magical male, namely Merlin the magician. Most Ruth Chew books I've read feature a magical female, so this one is a little different.

Same book as The Hidden Cave, just given a different title for some reason.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first chapter book. My sister gave me this book to read so I would stop nagging her and my mom. I felt so adult that I was reading a book off my sister's bookshelf I wouldn't put it down. This also started my obsession with reading every book on that shelf (esp. those not so age appropriate)

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

As soon as I saw the cover of this book, I knew I had read it.

This book features a magical male, namely Merlin the magician. Most Ruth Chew books I've read feature a magical female, so this one is a little different.

Another version of this same book has the title The Magic Cave.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rain storm and a place to hide turns into a magical adventure.

[Crystal Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Vince Decambra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book as a child. Read it a minimum of five times...