A review by paperprivateer
The Magic Trap by Jacqueline Davies

4.0

This review published by Brigham Young University's The Children's Book and Media Review

Jessie and Evan Treski are excited about magic, so Evan decides that he’s going to put on a magic show. Their mom is getting ready to go on a trip when their dad, a war reporter and very good at doing disappearing acts on his own, shows up unexpectedly. When their babysitter has an accident, their dad agrees to watch the kids while their mom is gone. Their dad tries to be helpful with the show by getting them a rabbit and a magic box, but he leaves before the show for work, leaving Evan and Jessie by themselves. When a hurricane comes, the kids have to work together to make it through the storm and to put on the show themselves.

Although it mentions events that happened earlier in the series, this book could also be read by someone who has not read the other books. The kids in this book and highly resourceful and intelligent in difficult situations, but the idea of the dad leaving the kids alone with a hurricane approaching is difficult to swallow. The relationship between Jessie and Evan is sweet, particularly when Evan patiently works with Jessie to calm her down when she is over-excited or scared about what is going on. This book is the fifth in a series of fun, realistic fiction highlighting the relationship between a brother and sister.