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Matter-of-Fact Magic
The Secret Tree-House
"This is easy," Sam said. "I always thought it would be much harder than this to dig a cave. It's almost as if it's digging itself."
Margaret stared at the hollow under the tree. "Same," she whispered, "look! It IS digging itself."
They couldn't see any dirt piling up, but the cave was getting bigger all the time.
Margaret stared at the hollow under the tree. "Same," she whispered, "look! It IS digging itself."
They couldn't see any dirt piling up, but the cave was getting bigger all the time.
95 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
2 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Chew
48 books137 followersRuth 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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 19, 2018
The reason why I decided to read this book is because the first page I read hooked me in, and from then on, I wanted to continue reading. I would recommend the Secret Tree House for ages between 9-13. I really like this book because it describes everyone's characteristics in detail and has magical moments. Something I learnt from this book is that it gave me ideas for my creative writing. A character I found most interesting is Margaret because she is brave and determined to do anything interesting that is about to happen.
The book is about two twins (Sam and Margaret) that found a giant pear tree that is taller than the houses nearby. One day Sam and Margaret went to investigate the pear tree and found a hole in the trunk of it then started to dig in the hole. As they were both digging, they felt as though the cave was doing it for them. Soon after, Sam and Margaret had stopped digging because the pear tree had already dug a cave all by itself! They were both intrigued, so they went into the cave. Inside it, Margaret saw light shining through the roots.
Margaret climbed up the trunk of the tree and Sam followed. While both were climbing, they saw a hole in the tree in which they could see their house and a few others. Margaret looked around and saw three baby squirrels in a nest and their mother feeding them. Sam looked beside him and saw the biggest pear he and Margaret had ever seen. He cut the pear, giving half to Margaret. She tried to bite into the pear, but the pear was so strong that it almost caused her tooth to fall out! Margaret looked at the pear carefully and took three large seeds out of the pear. Soon, they went back down the trunk, into the cave and out.
About two minutes later, Margaret pulled out one of her seeds and looked at it closely. Margaret and Sam recognised that the shiny brown seed grew bigger until Margaret had to hold it with two hands. Suddenly the seed opened wide as a shiny green bird with a long tail hopped out. It then flew away into their house. Sam and Margaret ran after the bird that was perching on a cabinet. Their mum and dad were very surprised, as well as their older sister Elaine and their 3-year-old brother, Joey. The bird then started talking as if he could understand them, But Sam and Margaret's family only thought the bird was mimicking.
They all wanted to keep him, but they knew it wasn't theirs, so they put posters up everywhere letting people know that there was a lost bird, although Sam and Margaret knew it wasn't. A week later, their family fell in love with the bird, known as Polly and decided to keep him because no one claimed that the bird was theirs. Margaret and Sam's seeds could do amazing things, such as climbing like a squirrel from tree to tree as well as setting a black cat free from the Zoo because the keeper thought the cat was a puma.
But one day when the twins were climbing the pear tree with Polly, Joey came through the fences walking straight towards the pear tree until he saw the hole in the trunk. Sam and Margaret climbed down as quickly as possible and told him to stay away. Joey didn't listen, before he could start climbing down Polly said to Sam "drop one of the pair seeds down the hole". He did and then grabbed Joey and carried him through the fences while Margaret followed. Suddenly the Pear tree falls, but luckily nobody was hurt.
Everyone in the neighbourhood was shocked and sad at the same time. Sam had only one pear seed left, which he used it wisely. When their family was cleaning up the garden, Sam planted his last pear seed in the soil, that gave him luck as it then started to rain. About five minutes later, the pear seed had already grown six inches high.
The book is about two twins (Sam and Margaret) that found a giant pear tree that is taller than the houses nearby. One day Sam and Margaret went to investigate the pear tree and found a hole in the trunk of it then started to dig in the hole. As they were both digging, they felt as though the cave was doing it for them. Soon after, Sam and Margaret had stopped digging because the pear tree had already dug a cave all by itself! They were both intrigued, so they went into the cave. Inside it, Margaret saw light shining through the roots.
Margaret climbed up the trunk of the tree and Sam followed. While both were climbing, they saw a hole in the tree in which they could see their house and a few others. Margaret looked around and saw three baby squirrels in a nest and their mother feeding them. Sam looked beside him and saw the biggest pear he and Margaret had ever seen. He cut the pear, giving half to Margaret. She tried to bite into the pear, but the pear was so strong that it almost caused her tooth to fall out! Margaret looked at the pear carefully and took three large seeds out of the pear. Soon, they went back down the trunk, into the cave and out.
About two minutes later, Margaret pulled out one of her seeds and looked at it closely. Margaret and Sam recognised that the shiny brown seed grew bigger until Margaret had to hold it with two hands. Suddenly the seed opened wide as a shiny green bird with a long tail hopped out. It then flew away into their house. Sam and Margaret ran after the bird that was perching on a cabinet. Their mum and dad were very surprised, as well as their older sister Elaine and their 3-year-old brother, Joey. The bird then started talking as if he could understand them, But Sam and Margaret's family only thought the bird was mimicking.
They all wanted to keep him, but they knew it wasn't theirs, so they put posters up everywhere letting people know that there was a lost bird, although Sam and Margaret knew it wasn't. A week later, their family fell in love with the bird, known as Polly and decided to keep him because no one claimed that the bird was theirs. Margaret and Sam's seeds could do amazing things, such as climbing like a squirrel from tree to tree as well as setting a black cat free from the Zoo because the keeper thought the cat was a puma.
But one day when the twins were climbing the pear tree with Polly, Joey came through the fences walking straight towards the pear tree until he saw the hole in the trunk. Sam and Margaret climbed down as quickly as possible and told him to stay away. Joey didn't listen, before he could start climbing down Polly said to Sam "drop one of the pair seeds down the hole". He did and then grabbed Joey and carried him through the fences while Margaret followed. Suddenly the Pear tree falls, but luckily nobody was hurt.
Everyone in the neighbourhood was shocked and sad at the same time. Sam had only one pear seed left, which he used it wisely. When their family was cleaning up the garden, Sam planted his last pear seed in the soil, that gave him luck as it then started to rain. About five minutes later, the pear seed had already grown six inches high.
February 21, 2025
At first, I thought The Secret Tree-House by Ruth Chew would have a similar storyline to The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne—both feature two main characters, a boy and a girl, and a fascinating tree. However, The Secret Tree-House focuses more on family and resonates deeply with everyday household life, making it more heartfelt than the famous Magic Tree House series.
The only thing I didn’t like was the title—it would have been better named The Magical Pear Tree or The Magical Pear Seed instead. Despite that, this book is a delightful read for children, perfect for bedtime or a relaxing picnic in the park.
The only thing I didn’t like was the title—it would have been better named The Magical Pear Tree or The Magical Pear Seed instead. Despite that, this book is a delightful read for children, perfect for bedtime or a relaxing picnic in the park.
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June 21, 2020I loved Ruth Chew so much as a kid that I buy her books when I find them for a good price. This one was fine.
January 3, 2023
Always love Ruth Chew. Such precise and concise writing. A fantastic writer. I love all of her books. A super quick read.
February 28, 2009
This may have been the weirdest Ruth Chew book I have ever read, and that's saying a lot. There is no witch in this story, but it's still pretty far out supernatural.
I found this book at the Social Services League Thrift Store and purchased it for just pennies. That pleases me. I will probably pass it on to my sister now, if she wants it.
I found this book at the Social Services League Thrift Store and purchased it for just pennies. That pleases me. I will probably pass it on to my sister now, if she wants it.
February 16, 2008
This was one of my favorite books as a child. Upon re-reading it, though, it's much less spectacular. A cave that digs itself, a magic hollow tree, and a talking bird that hatches from a pear seed has much less appeal the older you are apparently.
April 4, 2007
Magic and adventure for kids - all of Chew's books are wonderful!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews