What a great series! I love that - as a well-read 30 year old - I am STILL learning things because of these books. I'd have never known about Nightingale's background if not for this short, fun book. ( )

The Magic Tree House books feature two children named Jack and Annie. These two children go on an adventure seeking out a nurse name Florence Nightingale in Thebes, Egypt. The book talks about the oppression she receives from her parents for wanting to be a nurse. These books are fun to read with kids because it makes them feel like they are going on an adventure. ( )

A brief summary:
This Magic Tree House adventure begins in the middle of summer, with Jack preparing for a magic project and Annie just itching to go on another adventure. Annie has mislead Jack into the Frog Creek woods multiple times already, thinking that the tree house was waiting for them. After hearing a "wooshing" sound, Annie convinces Jack to go into the woods yet again, except this time, the tree house is there! Jack and Annie receive a mission from Merlin the magician to search for the third secret of greatness from a woman named Florence Nightingale. Annie is excited about the mission because she once did a project on her and felt like she practically knew her already. The tree house takes Jack and Annie to 1850 Thebes in Egypt. Jack and Annie run into an English couple that are traveling with Florence Nightingale and they agree to introduce them to her. When Jack and Annie finally meet Miss. Nightingale, she does not act like Annie expected her to. Annie mentions how famous Miss. Nightingale is for her work in nursing, but she remarks that her parents would never let her pursue a career in nursing and seems more interested in exploring Egypt. Miss. Nightingale sets off for the Valley of Kings and Jack decides that they must follow her if they are to find out the third secret of greatness. Annie rents two donkeys from Ali, the son of the guide they met earlier, Mustafa. As Annie and Jack travel to the Valley of kings, the baboon that they are watching for Countess von Keskey escapes and climbs up a cliff and is unable to get down. Annie insists that they must retrieve Koku the baboon, but they are unable to get up the cliff where the baboon is. Annie has the idea to use the magic mist in order to become great rock climbers so they can scale the cliff and retrieve Koku. Unfortunately, the hour of the magic mist runs out as they are traveling back down the cliff and both Annie and Jack fall to the ground. Annie suffers from a sprained ankle and Jack feels pain in his shoulder and arm. As Jack and Annie wish they could just go back home, Florence Nightingale appears to bring them back to the boat and to treat their injuries. Later, Nightingale tells Jack and Annie that she feels she must help the world by healing the hurt and the sick, and in the process reveals the third secret, "meaning and purpose."

My personal reaction:
Like other books in the Magic Tree House series, this book engages the reader with its mix of adventure, history, magic, and at times danger. The reader is able to follow the journey of Annie and Jack into an unfamiliar place while learning a bit about Florence Nightingale. I like that the book also presents an inspiring message surrounding the third secret of greatness which is "meaning and purpose." I feel like this book could be a fun gateway into learning more about Florence Nightingale and her decision to pursue a life in caring for the hurt and the sick.

A couple of uses:
- This would be a good book to have in the classroom library for students to choose during choice reading time.
- I don't think I would use this as a book for a read aloud where students are gathered in one spot (like on a rug) but rather when students are doing a simple activity. For example, I can see myself reading this book a little each day as the students enjoy their midday snack. This book has some good cliff hangers throughout and I feel like it leaving off on one at the end of snack time would make students want to read the book even more and be excited about reading.
- Once we have read this book as a class, the students can practice comparing and contrasting characters by focusing in on Annie and Jack. The class could draw what the characters on large pieces of paper and then place them on a wall where students can easily write words or characteristic that describe the characters. In the space between the characters, students can write what they find similar between Jack and Annie. It is important to encourage students to provide some textual evidence or reasoning for the words or phrases they choose to put on the diagram.

Genre:
This book falls under the category of fantasy as it includes magical elements like the magic tree house, the magic mist, etc. The book also contains some historical elements as Jack and Annie meet and learn more about Florence Nightingale, a woman who was known for her contributions as a social reformer and the founder of modern nursing. I think this is a good example of fantasy because it takes magical elements and uses them to allow the main characters to interact with people of the past. In doing so, the reader has the opportunity to learn about people of history while enjoying an adventurous and engaging story.

Media:
Appears to be pen and pencil ( )