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A Deadly Game of Magic Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of A Deadly Game of Magic


When stranded at a strangers house in the middle of a storm, Lisa finds out what it is like to go against a magician and a murderer. The story begins with several teenagers in a car. The driver's name is Bo Baxter, however, the first person narrative is from the view of Lisa. The others are a male named Julian Hamilton and an African American female named Teena Wilson. The car breaks down. They are caught in such a terrible rainstorm that the road is underwater. They go to the nearest house. A man, who doesn't introduce himself, invites them in to wait for the Automobile club. Lisa feels uneasy. She feels that they should wait outside but the boys have already decided to stay inside and watch television. Lisa remains on guard but inside. In the middle of her conversation with her mother, the phone dies. Also, the man they've dubbed Blackbeard never returns along with the tall skinny woman who Lisa is sure was not his wife.
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Then a woman by the name of Lonnie Whitt tells them that the woman who owns the house's name is Miz Gracie Ella. She tells them Miz Gracie Ella's husband was a magician by the name of Chamberlain. After Lonnie Whitt leaves, there is a strange noise. They walk towards it and Sam ( from the auto club) faints and then drives off. The teens discover evidence of a break in and are now certain that something is amiss. The lights go out. They discuss openly amongst themselves who they think is in the house with them. They light candles and tell jokes to assuage their fear of the unknown. Then objects begin to move seemingly on their own. Then out of nowhere , a black female Labrador appears. Then suddenly the dog is gone. Teena thinks this is all a hallucination. Lisa reads the albulms. She discovers that Harry Polowski is the real name of the magician and that Gracie Ella Porter is really Gladys Polowski.
The children speculate on why Gladys may have changed her name. Lisa then realizes that Harry Polowski must be in the house and shares this knowledge with the others. Though the album has disappeared, lisa had stuffed some letters In her pocket. Teena and her begin to read them. The letters are from Gladys' sister, and warning her that Harry will find her. Being convinced that this a show, Lisa tells them to applaud. The magician remains concealed. She challenges the magician ( magician to magician) and gets the others to play her assistants. However, her assistants don't seem to understand her instructions and she is not very good. Harry erupts in laughter. His laughter gives away his potion and they pounce on him and tie him up.
Best part of story, including ending: I dislike the lack of natural progression. It seems like people , and things appear and disappear without a rational sequence.

Best scene in story: I like the scene where they discuss who is in the house with them because their imaginations are really interesting. They think the owner is trying to scare them, or it's a ghost or poltergeist.

Opinion about the main character: I dislike how Lisa is for most of the story inciting panic,when in the end she is the voice of reason.

The review of this Book prepared by Sarah Francois a Level 1 Blue Jay scholar

Chapter Analysis of A Deadly Game of Magic

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases 10%Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 40%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 50% Tone of story    -   suspenseful (sophisticated fear) Time/era of story:    -   2000+ (Present) Kid or adult book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Horror Story?    -   Yes Horror plotlets    -   the mad stabber chased me!

Main Character

Gender    -   Female Profession/status:    -   student Age:    -   a teen Ethnicity/Race    -   White/American

Setting

United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Texas

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   moderately detailed references to deaths Amount of dialog    -   significantly more dialog than descript

Books with storylines, themes & endings like A Deadly Game of Magic

Joan Lowery Nixon Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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