Magic Mirror

by Orson Scott Card, Nathan Pinnock (Illustrator)

Presents a contemporary fairy tale about a family who struggles with the pressures of modern day life and the consequences of becoming disconnected from one another

Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

Orson Scott Card is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. He is (as of 2023) the only person to have won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, winning both awards for his novel Ender's Game (1985) and its sequel Speaker for the Dead (1986). A feature film adaptation of Ender's Game, which Card co-produced, was released in 2013. Card also wrote the Locus Fantasy Award-winning series The Tales of Alvin Maker (1987–2003).
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presented like a child's picture book (with magnificent illustrations) yet about grown-up situations & feelings. Short & sweet.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this from the library because I know the illustrator and was happy to see hi name on a cover. The story is short and has a good moral.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the Princess kissed the frog, he turned into a handsome prince and they lived happily ever after... or did they? The Princess can't stand the Prince's froggy habits - the way he hops around on the furniture, or sneaks off to the lily pond. The Prince is unhappy, too, and decides that it would be best if he were changed back to a frog. But finding a witch who will do...more

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although nominally a children's book, this is an allegory about what spending too much time on the internet can do to individuals and families, and while it's not anything we haven't all heard before, it is a book that will make you re-evaluate how you spend (and waste) your time while neglecting relationships that matter.

[lunarlibrarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan I'm afraid.

[Cmadler · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story isn't much to speak of; any interest this book has comes from the illustrations.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat heavy handed fable. The illustrations are key and the mix between modern times and fantasy are interesting. But other than that, it's just ok.