The Magic Grandfather

Very enjoyable. Amusingly presents limits on magic -- "Ever hear of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle?" asks Grandpa when he's explaining why magic can't foretell the future. Magic is more fun when it has its own logic, and Jay William's magical logic is comparable to Eager's or Nesbit's -- but with a scientific spin that appeals to the geek in me.

Rounded up from 3.5 in honor of young me who would have loved this. I've always been a fan of 'what if....' What if you discovered magic as a 'tween boy, when up until then you loved TV more than anything else? What if your mentor was gone, and you needed to rescue him? What if the only person who could help you was your annoyingly (to you) smart girl cousin?

Jay Williams had talent, but didn't always have access to his muse. Some of his stories are gems, most are workmanlike. If you love this, you might like the Danny Dunn books (plugged here as one is on Sam's bookshelf). I favor, and recommend, his feminist fairy tales, like [b:The Practical Princess, and Other Liberating Fairy Tales|783164|The Practical Princess, and Other Liberating show more Fairy Tales|Jay Williams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1244753751l/783164._SX50_.jpg|6733952]. show less