Stage Fright on a Summer Night

I picked this book up expecting to feel brain cells dying as I read it. I was very wrong; I can see why my students enjoy this series so much. It's very well written (albeit extremely simplistic) and interesting. It was an extremely quick read and is educational, to boot!

This may be my favorite Magic Tree House story yet. Jack & Annie travel to Elizabethan London and join Shakespeare on stage at the Globe Theatre where they learn the magic of theater. There's a lot of great touches like Annie's sympathy for a bear used in bear baiting and Jack's stage fright.

Re-reading some of the Magic Tree House books has really reminded me of how unique they are. The stories of a magical tree house that teleports Jack and Annie anywhere they want to go are combined with the historical and geographical learning that comes with each adventure, making for amazing experiences. I particularly enjoyed this Magic Tree House book, for Jack and Annie not only went back in time and learned about William Shakespeare, but they also learned something about themselves, too. Like Morgan le Fay said, their task was to find magic of their own, and even though they are just ordinary kids, that is exactly what they did. It didn't hurt that I am also currently also in a production of a Shakespeare play and so was really show more interested in the topic! show less

Annie and Jack are time traveled to Elizabethan England (1600) to enjoy a bit of magic. They arrive in bustling London which has a population of over 100,000 and attempt to adjust to unfamiliar sounds, sights and smells. They meet a famous playwright who casts them in A Midsummer Night's Dream! I think the true magic of this novel is Jack conquering his stage fright and Annie defending animal rights.

I love how Mary Pope Osborne connected the first four stories in this collection with a common thread. In each episode Jack and Annie were looking for a natural form of magic in the world. It was fun reading about their adventures in different eras of time and locations and finding the magic of the world that surrounds us each day. Unfortunately the connections between the first four stories made the same story seem like a throwaway. It kind of had a "magical" connection, but it wasn't as seamle I love how Mary Pope Osborne connected the first four stories in this collection with a common thread. In each episode Jack and Annie were looking for a natural form of magic in the world. It was fun reading about their adventures in different show more eras of time and locations and finding the magic of the world that surrounds us each day. Unfortunately the connections between the first four stories made the same story seem like a throwaway. It kind of had a "magical" connection, but it wasn't as seamless as the other stories were. I enjoyed it anyway. " show less

This is a good book for 3rd-Middle school ages. It doesn't have an informational text but it is entertaining. I think it would be a good choice for AR reading. I think it teaches a lesson and maybe even the kids can see themselves doing something that goes along with the storyline.

Jack and Annie go to London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and meet up with William Shakespeare who is conveniently short on actors. Jack and Annie end up getting cast as fairies in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Annie, of course, is a natural, and Jack discovers that he can actually do it, allowing them to discover strength within themselves. I will give it points for doing that, although they are still determined to "help" by saving a bear from the bear pits.