While not Edith Nesbit's best children's fantasy book, "The Magic City" has many elements that resonate with today's young readers. Our hero, Philip Haldane, retreats to a fantastic world when the city he has built of odds-&-ends from around his home comes to life. He's running away from a diificult family situation, but his new step-sister Lucy ends up going with him on this magical adventure. The city is in danger and they must perform 7 noble deeds to save the day. There's a nice moralistic tone to the story without being too preachy. ( )

Not Nesbit's finest, but still quite fun. What I liked most, though, is the descriptoons of the built cities. ( )