Half Magic

As the centerpiece of Half Magic, the charm symbolizes possibilities. Once Jane recognizes what the fake coin is and how it works, she determines that “they must […] decide just how they were going to use this wonderful gift” (28). Given that their summer is off to a slow start, Jane’s belief that the charm is a gift indicates that the children now have endless possibilities ahead of them. Instead of sitting around their house with Miss Bick, they can experience a whole host of magical things. This symbolism is emphasized later, after the children return from the Sahara. Jane notes, “We’ll spend the night thinking up wishes. […] It’ll be better from now on because now we all know” (57). The real fun she refers to is the prospect of more adventures in which they all participate. Also, her emphasis on the word “know” indicates that since they understand what the charm does, they have more agency in choosing their adventures.

Even after the charm no longer works for the children, they see that it holds possibilities for others. When deciding what to do with the talisman, Martha asks, “It’s used up for us, but how do we know it wouldn’t still be perfectly good for other people?” (186) Her question implies that there is still more the charm can offer, even if not for them. The text leaves the reader to decide whether the charm was real, or whether the children created an elaborate game that cast an ordinary nickel as a magic charm. Either way, the charm gave the children—and, later, the adults—a clear way to express and act upon their desires.