Alison Rides The Rapids (Magic Attic Club)

When a disastrous math test shakes her self-confidence , Alison goes through the magic mirror and finds her skills and courage tested as a junior river guide on a white-water rafting trip

Grade 3-5-Three girls each find adventure when they open an old clothes trunk in a neighbor's attic. When each child puts on an article of clothing (a different one each time the trunk is opened), she is suddenly transported to the period or place of the costume. In the first book, Alison, who is struggling with the challenges of dyslexia, puts on a life jacket that plunges her into a leadership experience while white-water rafting. Next, Megan dons a tunic and finds herself in ancient Greece; there, she learns about the place of women in that society and helps her "cousin" solve a mystery involving a temple. Finally, Keisha, trying to think of the perfect history-project topic, puts on a flapper outfit and finds herself a part of the Harlem Renaissance. Each of these outings teaches a lesson to the youngster involved. Easy to read, full of familiar characters who have pleasant experiences, and illustrated with full-color paintings, these brief novels are reassuring reading. By no means great literature, they still fill a need for girls who are developing their reading skills.
Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library
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