Night of the Ninjas

(The Mystery of the Magic Spell 1)

(Magic Tree House 5)
by
Mary Pope Osborne

illustrated by

Sal Murdocca

Random House, April 1995, 69 pp.
ISBN: 0-679-86371-0

Genre: Early Chapter
Subgenres: Time Travel / Ancient Japan
Reviewed: 11/3/2003

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Excerpt

"They're looking up. I think they know we're here."

Jack peeked over the windowsill. His eyes met the dark eyes of the tall ninja.

"E-hy!" the ninja cried. He dashed toward the tree. The other ninja followed.

"Oh, no!" said Annie.

"We've got to go!" Jack said. "Where's the Pennsylvania book?"

He and Annie looked around wildly.

But where was the book about Pennsylvania? It had the picture of the Frog Creek woods in it. Jack and Annie couldn't get home without it.

"It's not anywhere!" cried Annie.

"We've got to do something. Fast!" said Jack. "Pull up the ladder!"

He and Annie grabbed the top of the rope ladder. They pulled the ladder into the tree house.

But the tall ninja leaped at the tree trunk. Then he started climbing up the tree! The short ninja followed. They climbed just like cats!

Jack and Annie huddled in the corner.

The ninjas climbed into the tree house. Neither one made a sound.

Synopsis

A little mouse, which Annie names Peanut, is found in the tree house and joins with the kids on their new adventure. Annie puts him in his pocket as they travel back to Ancient Japan looking for a clue as to what Morgan wanted them to retrieve.  At first, the ninjas that crawl into their tree house give the kids a good scare, but they turn out to be quite helpful and bring Jack and Annie to the ninja master.

The ninja master gives them good advice about how to live with nature, but then they are suddenly caught in a samurai attack. How can Jack and Annie get back to their tree house with samurai warriors hot on their trail?

Night of the Ninjas is the fifth book in the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. This is the first of four books in "The Mystery of the Magic Spell" collection. The book is illustrated by Sal Murdocca. This story is intended for early chapter book readers in 2nd to 4th grade. The writing is perfect for young readers as there are not a lot of difficult words, but new ones are introduced and then reinforced with repetition.

Review

In this fifth installment of the Magic Tree House, I was happy that the story was heading in a new direction. With Morgan le Fay under a spell, the kids now have to find some items that will help break the enchantment placed upon her.

Once again, Annie's impetuous nature takes the kids on a journey they may not have been ready for. I do like that Jack smartly writes down everything new he learns. This is a great way for remembering what you have read or seen. There is not as much danger in this story as there usually is, but the story is still a fun read, even if it is a little slower paced.

Overall, Night of the Ninjas is a good addition to the ever-growing Magic Tree House series.

I rated this book an 8 out of 10.