60 pages 2 hours read

Edward Eager, N. M. Bodecker, Alice Hoffman

Half Magic

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1954

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Chapter 4

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 4 Summary: “What Happened to Katharine”

The morning after their desert expedition, the kids are quiet. Once their morning chores are complete, they meet in Katharine and Martha’s room. As usual, Jane takes charge, establishing rules for the charm: They must take turns, everyone must be included, the original wisher grants smaller wishes during the adventure, except if there is an emergency, and she, Jane gets to go first.

Katharine crafts a compelling argument that she should get the next wish. Convinced, Jane allows it, but only after advising her sister not to generate a boring quest and not to wish for something clichéd.

Having already traveled to another location, Mark wonders if they could go to another time. Excited, the children settle on King Arthur’s Camelot. Therefore, Katharine wishes double, including their desires to watch a tournament, go on a quest, and complete a good deed.

Instantly, the children stand in the middle of a busy road. Four queens and seven merry milkmaids pass by. In the distance, a knight battles a giant. Then they are asked directions to Canterbury by a group of pilgrims.

Tired of the highway’s chaos, they move into a field and encounter a knight sleeping beneath an apple tree.

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