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    Waiting for the Magic
    Waiting for the Magic
    Waiting for the Magic
    Ebook104 pages1 hour

    Waiting for the Magic

    By Patricia MacLachlan and Amy June Bates

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    People may drift apart, but love can hold them together. A touching tale of pets and family told in the “venerable spare and moving style” of Newbery Medalist Patricia MacLachlan, author of Sarah, Plain and Tall (Booklist).

    When William’s father leaves, his mother promptly goes out and adds four dogs and a cat to their lives. William’s sure that nothing can fill the hole left by his father, but the new additions to the family are determined to help. With his sister, Elinor, and his mother, William will learn that “family” can come in all shapes and sizes, because sometimes we find love through magic, and sometimes that magic is all around us.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAtheneum Books for Young Readers
    Release dateSep 13, 2011
    ISBN9781442431256
    Waiting for the Magic
    Author

    Patricia MacLachlan

    Patricia MacLachlan (1938–2022) was the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb’s Story; Edward’s Eyes; The True Gift; Waiting for the Magic; White Fur Flying; Fly Away; and Snow Horses. She lived in western Massachusetts.

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    Reviews for Waiting for the Magic

    4/5

    70 ratings7 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Lovely. Adorable. Heartwarming.
    • 3/5
      I didn't enjoy this as much as most of those who have critiqued before me. (Spoilers follow.)William and his little sister live with their parents. At the opening of the book, the father has left for unknown reasons, and may or may not come back. Mom promptly goes to the animal shelter and adopts four dogs and a cat. The four dogs talk. Williams sister and grandmother can hear them, but others in the family can't. But in time, William hears them too.Dad returns, also for unknown reasons, and in time he too hears the dogs.It is a sweet story. The weakness to me was the unknown nature of the father's departure. When he returns, he doesn't seem at all to be the sort of father who would leave his wife and two young children. For half the book he is absent and for the second half he is present. This seems to be the major theme of the book, and yet the author doesn't seem to have much to say about this major theme. Dad's absence and return seem almost irrelevant.
    • 5/5
      This is a charming story that both children and adults will enjoy.
    • 5/5
      It's fun and frothy...and a story about the pain of a disrupted family. I felt happy often while reading it...and it was about the harsh realities of what it's like when a parent leaves. I loved the animals...and I grew to appreciate the humans, even the father who left. Bottom line for me: the world is full of great books that handle the pain and depression that ensues when parents split up. Thank goodness for one that addresses the issue frankly, doesn't downplay the sadness in any way, yet still offers the reader some happiness and comfortable hope. In this book the father comes back and everything ends well. Yes, I know that often that isn't the case in real life. I maintain there are enough books in which the sad outcome is explored. I was very happy with the ending of this book!
    • 4/5
      This was a sweet book that we read aloud. This may be the first book we read that had a real life situation/problem that we could discuss(the father in the story leaves his family for a while). I imagine many families today may be able to relate. I was hesitant to read the story at first but we kept reading and I was pleased with the way the author managed the story with care. The children's emotions were touched upon and well handled. There was a bit of magic and humor and the whole story has a happy ending.
    • 3/5
      When William's father leaves yet one more time, he is weary of it all. Angry and frustrated, even though Williams mother is a steady, strong woman, William feels as though he has to protect his mother and little sister.His mother's way of dealing with the situation is to fill the house with love, and away to the animal shelter they go to bring home a dog and a cat. Adopting four dogs and one cat sounds crazy, but it works to help heal their wounds.When William's father returns, he has to learn to trust and forgive. As always, MacLachlan's characters are well developed. Subtly she unfolds a story that touches the readers heart.
    • 5/5
      What an incredible book. A heartwarming story about a family coming together. Papa Joe leaves his wife and two children to 'find himself' and write. Waiting for the Magic.Mom takes the children and adopts 4 dogs and a cat. They become a family. Joe learns that the magic is at home with his now expanding family. A very poignant story. I loved the characters. Found myself laughing out loud at the animals and at young Elinor. The ending was as I expected, but nonetheless, brought warmth and heartfelt smiles.I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a great warm hearted story.

    Book preview

    Waiting for the Magic - Patricia MacLachlan

    Chapter 1

    IT WAS EARLY ON A SATURDAY summer morning when my mother and father stopped arguing and Papa walked away. He is a teacher of literature at the college, so he could have said words when he left. He didn’t. And this time he didn’t slam the door. He shut it with a small, soft sound that made me jump.

    Click, said my four-year-old sister, Elinor, looking up from her coloring book. I stared at the door. I could feel my heart thump. And I could feel tears coming.

    Later, when I went into my bedroom, I found two notes from Papa—one for me and one for Elinor.

    Dear William,

    I’ve gone off to do some writing. I will call you. And I’ll be back to see you soon. I’m sorry for this.

    I love you,

    Papa

    I read Elinor’s note to her. It was like mine, but he had drawn a picture of Elinor in her long dress.

    Elinor took the note but didn’t say anything.

    Suddenly Mama was in the doorway. She beckoned to me.

    Let’s go, William, she said. Get your sweater, Elinor.

    I stood up and tore my letter into small pieces.

    What’s that? Mama asked.

    Nothing, I said. Go where?

    I followed Mama out to the car.

    She strapped Elinor into her car seat.

    We’re going to get a dog, she said firmly.

    I sat next to Mama in the front seat.

    Papa never wanted a dog, I said.

    That’s true, said Mama. Your father is a flawed man. Everyone should have a dog.

    What is ‘flawed’? asked Elinor from the backseat.

    It means stupid, said Mama with feeling.

    Stupid is a bad word, Elinor announced. She pronounced word as wood.

    Yes, said Mama. He is a stupid bad wood.

    Elinor had a list of bad woods, forbidden by Mama who thought words like fat and stupid were cruel to call anyone.

    Mama began to cry then, very quietly, so that Elinor couldn’t see. I couldn’t say anything. Mama’s crying scared me. All I could do was hate Papa for this. For causing Mama to cry right in front of me.

    A driver cut off Mama, and she slammed on the brakes.

    Go to your house, lady! yelled Elinor at the driver. Read a book or watch a movie!

    Mama started to laugh, and so did I. Those words coming out of Elinor’s mouth; that face surrounded by messy blond hair. Words that must have been Mama’s at one time.

    What kind of dog are we getting? I asked.

    Whatever they have, said Mama.

    Can we get a cat? asked Elinor from the back.

    Yes, said Mama.

    For a moment I thought about asking for a horse, but I didn’t think Mama’s mood about animals would last that long.

    Mama turned into the long driveway at the animal shelter.

    As we walked to the front door, Mama took my hand. I shouldn’t have said that about your father, William, she said.

    Will he come back? I asked.

    He had gone before and come back happily after a while as if nothing had happened.

    Probably. I’m mad at him, Will. But that doesn’t make him bad. She paused. Sometimes your papa doesn’t know what he wants.

    I didn’t answer Mama. He had gone before, but he had never left notes for Elinor and me. Somehow that seemed more final, that note. It was something to be read, saved, or torn up. Maybe Papa felt that leaving a note made going away all right.

    Thinking about it would wait for later. In fact, when we went inside I forgot all about my father for just a little while because Mama surprised me more.

    The shelter was small, and a woman with spiky hair invited us in. Her name tag said JULIA.

    I’m glad you brought your children. We don’t let families adopt dogs without the children present.

    We walked through a door to a room where the dogs were. She turned to us.

    "We have four dogs

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