The Enchanted Castle

Working in a bookstore, I meet a lot of people, especially parents buying books for their children. As you can imagine, several of them ask, "What do you have that's like Harry Potter?" I always recommend E. Nesbit's books. They never know who I'm talking about. But they usually become interested very quickly.Edith Nesbit was an outspoken British writer who wrote enormously entertaining children?s books in her later years. Many of these books combine normal, everyday children with magical themes or elements. In 'The Enchanted Castle,' three children - Gerald, Cathy, and Jimmy - stumble upon a lush, beautiful garden, where they find a princess who has been asleep for 100 years. Or is she really who she says she is? All the children know is that something strange is going on - like why are the statues moving?'The Enchanted Castle' IS enchanting. The writing is colorful, exciting, and engaging. If your child is looking for something in the Harry Potter vein, the E. Nesbit books are just what the doctor ordered. Kids won't even care that it was written nearly 100 years ago. It still reads pretty well today, and that's what counts.291 pages

My children and I have been reading this as our bedtime book. My son, age 8, was going to read it himself, but we soon found his sister, age 6, wanted me to read it instead (so I could do the "voices") so it has been turned into the nightly story. The characters: Gerald, Kathleen, and Jimmy are each drawn clearly and individually. My children are fascinated with Gerald's way of speaking as though he were telling a story. And they love Kathleen's way of alternating between being practical and yet longing for all things "magical". Jimmy is funny and endearing, as he is at that age of Not believing and yet eager for adventure. Their friend Mabel is full of mystery and make-believe and soon pulls them into a grand escapade. The author is able to vividly paint each person and each scene. It is with great reluctance we put the book down after a couple of chapters each night, wanting to finish all at once, but wanting the magic to last a little longer. When we finished, we all decided it was one of our favorites. Extremely well written. I did not find even the beginning dull or slow. From start to finish, this is one of the best children's books I've found. And we've read very many.

Although written around a century ago, this still remains one of the great classics of Children's literature. I have not read Harry Potter yet, but I would suspect this book is at least comparable. The plot is actually fairly complex -- there's humor, drama, romance, and magic. It can be read by both children and adults and both will enjoy it. The story deals with a number of children who find a magic ring that can make your wishes come true. But this only gives a small idea of the wonders that lie within. Other great Nesbit works -- Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet.

I first read this book when I was 11 and fell in love with it. I am re-reading it now and love it more than before. Her descriptions of the children's feelings, the way she describes their conversations (they weren't always agreeing with each other!). This book is funny, heart warming, imaginative and everything else wonderful!

I first read this book at the age of 10, and have made a point of reading it again nearly yearly ever since, for more than 30 years. It is timeless and magical, and for adults as well as children, as long as they have kept their childhood beliefs in enchantment alive. I am not in the habit of gushing praise, but this is absolutely the best book I have ever read, and has become a part of my children's lives as well. I am so happy to see it in print again. My mother searched everywhere for it in the 60's because I was so enamored with it that I wanted to copy it by hand, if necessary. I am now ordering a new untattered copy to keep forever.