Magic or Not?

Laura has always looked for excitement, so when her family moves into a house with an old well in the backyard, she is quick to test whether it grants wishes. Her outspoken neighbor Lydia insists the well is a wishing well, and Laura decides to find out. The summer that follows is full of surprises. With her new friends, Laura works to keep Miss Isabella's home from being foreclosed, helps track down an heir who was nearly lost to history, and uncovers the story behind an antique desk.

As the events pile up, a question lingers: is the well really responsible, or is some other explanation behind the summer's strange happenings? The book keeps that question open. Its light, warm tone makes it suitable for reading aloud to younger children and for independent reading by older ones. Readers who enjoy The Penderwicks or The Vanderbeekers may find a similar appeal here.

This is book five in the Tales of Magic series, which includes seven middle grade novels.