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Recap / The Magic Tree House

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Recap pages are Spoilers Off. You Have Been Warned!

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    Arc 1 (books 1-4): The Mystery of the Tree House 

Jack and Annie discover the mysterious magical treehouse and discover its abilities, traveling to different time periods via pointing at pictures in the books and making wishes. After each initial wish, a helpful being appears right before the treehouse starts traveling, and later helps them out during their adventure. In the climax, the pair meet the treehouse's owner, Morgan Le Fay, who turns out to be the royal librarian of Camelot, traveling through time to collect new books, and was the being they saw before each journey — a pteranodon, a knight, a black cat and a parrot, respectively.

  • 01. Dinosaurs Before Dark (UK Title: Valley of the Dinosaurs)
  • 02. The Knight at Dawn (UK title: Castle of Mystery)
  • 03. Mummies in the Morning (UK title: Secret of the Pyramid)
  • 04. Pirates Past Noon (UK title: Pirates' Treasure!)

    Arc 2 (books 5-8): The Mystery of the Magic Spell 

Morgan has been placed under a spell, and Jack and Annie have found a white mouse, whom Annie names Peanut, in the treehouse. Traveling to different times, they must find four items necessary to break the spell. In the climax, it turns out Morgan was Peanut the whole time, and was placed under the spell by the wizard Merlin.

  • 05. Night of the Ninjas
  • 06. Afternoon on the Amazon (UK title: Adventure on the Amazon)
  • 07. Sunset of the Sabertooth (UK title: Mammoth to the Rescue)
  • 08. Midnight on the Moon (UK title: Moon Mission)

    Arc 3 (books 9-12): The Mystery of the Ancient Riddles 

Morgan hasn't been able to collect new books lately, and only a Master Librarian can use the treehouse for this purpose. Jack and Annie, in order to become Master Librarians, must solve four riddles to prove they know how to do research and can find answers to hard questions.

  • 09. Dolphins at Daybreak (UK title: Diving with Dolphins)
  • 10. Ghost Town at Sundown (UK title: A Wild West Ride)
  • 11. Lions at Lunchtime (UK title: Lions on the Loose)
  • 12. Polar Bears Past Bedtime (UK title: Icy Escape)

    Arc 4 (books 13-16): The Mystery of the Lost Stories 

Having passed Morgan's test and become Master Librarians, Jack and Annie are sent on a new series of adventures to recover old stories lost to history.

  • 13. Vacation Under The Volcano (UK title: Racing with Gladiators)
  • 14. Day of the Dragon King (UK title: Palace of the Dragon King)
  • 15. Viking Ships at Sunrise (UK title: Voyage of the Vikings)
  • 16. Hour of the Olympics (UK title: Olympic Challenge!)

    Arc 5 (books 17-20): The Mystery of the Enchanted Dog 

Sent back to the Titanic, Jack and Annie find a dog whom they name Teddy, and whom they learn is actually under a spell, requiring them to find four items to allow Morgan to lift the spell and reveal that he's a young magician and apprentice of Morgan, who accidentally enchanted himself.

  • 17. Tonight on the Titanic
  • 18. Buffalo Before Breakfast
  • 19. Tigers at Twilight
  • 20. Dingoes at Dinnertime

    Arc 6 (books 21-24): The Mystery of Morgan's Library 

Camelot is in trouble, and so Morgan sends Jack and Annie on a quest to find four special kinds of writing for her library in order to save the kingdom, inspiring King Arthur with hope and never giving up.

  • 21. Civil War on Sunday
  • 22. Revolutionary War on Wednesday
  • 23. Twister on Tuesday
  • 24. Earthquake in the Early Morning

    Arc 7 (books 25-28): The Mystery of Morgan's Rhymes 

Since they've done much good for King Arthur and Camelot, Morgan now wants Jack and Annie to do something good for themselves, and sends them out to learn a special magic of their own from each of their four destinations. By finding these four kinds — the magic of the theater, the magic of animals, the magic of community, and the magic of friendship — they learn how to find magic in things you encounter on Earth every day, and thus become Magicians of Everyday Magic.

  • 25. Stage Fright on a Summer Night
  • 26. Good Morning Gorillas
  • 27. Thanksgiving on Thursday
  • 28. High Tide in Hawaii

    Arc 8 (books 29-32): Merlin Missions — Quest to Save Camelot 

Jack and Annie go on a quest to save Camelot, a quest that will prove to a beleaguered King Arthur that children and imagination really can make a difference.

  • 29 (Merlin Missions 01). Christmas in Camelot (set immediately after book 24)
  • 30 (Merlin Missions 02). Haunted Castle on Hallow's Eve
  • 31 (Merlin Missions 03). Summer of the Sea Serpent
  • 32 (Merlin Missions 04). Winter of the Ice Wizard

    Arc 9 (books 33-36): Merlin Missions — Using Magic Wisely 

Jack and Annie must complete missions to prove to Merlin that they can use magic wisely. After completing the fourth, they are given their own magic wand, the Wand of Dianthus.

  • 33 (Merlin Missions 05). Carnival at Candlelight
  • 34 (Merlin Missions 06). Season of the Sandstorms
  • 35 (Merlin Missions 07). Night of the New Magicians
  • 36 (Merlin Missions 08). Blizzard of the Blue Moon

    Arc 10 (books 37-40): Merlin Missions — Secrets of Happiness 

Merlin isn’t feeling well, not eating or sleeping, and is always tired as a result. Morgan consequently sends Jack and Annie on missions to find the four secrets of happiness in order to make him feel better. In the end, they bring back a penguin named Penny, who becomes Merlin’s pet and companion.

  • 37 (Merlin Missions 09). Dragon of the Red Dawn
  • 38 (Merlin Missions 10). Monday with a Mad Genius
  • 39 (Merlin Missions 11). Dark Day in the Deep Sea
  • 40 (Merlin Missions 12). Eve of the Emperor Penguin

    Arc 11 (books 41-44): Merlin Missions — Inspirations 

Jack and Annie travel through history, inspiring various historical artists to bring happiness to millions with their works.

  • 41 (Merlin Missions 13). Moonlight on the Magic Flute
  • 42 (Merlin Missions 14). A Good Night for Ghosts
  • 43 (Merlin Missions 15). Leprechaun in Late Winter
  • 44 (Merlin Missions 16). A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time

    Arc 12 (books 45-48): Merlin Missions — Penny's Spell 

Teddy accidentally turns Penny the penguin to stone, and Jack and Annie must travel through time to find the four ingredients to breaking the spell before Merlin finds out what's happened.

  • 45 (Merlin Missions 17). A Crazy Day with Cobras
  • 46 (Merlin Missions 18). Dogs in the Dead of Night
  • 47 (Merlin Missions 19). Abe Lincoln At Last!
  • 48 (Merlin Missions 20). A Perfect Time For Pandas

    Arc 13 (books 49-52): Merlin Missions — Greatness 

Merlin sends Jack and Annie out to find four secrets of greatness from different historical times.

  • 49 (Merlin Missions 21). Stallion by Starlight
  • 50 (Merlin Missions 22). Hurry Up Houdini!
  • 51 (Merlin Missions 23). High Time for Heroes
  • 52 (Merlin Missions 24). Soccer on Sunday

    Arc 14 — Unrelated adventures 

Jack and Annie undergo assorted missions. Unlike previous adventures, these are essentially standalones rather than an ongoing arc.

  • Super Editions 1. Danger in the Darkest Hour (reprinted in 2017 as World at War, 1944)note 
    • Kathleen is in danger, stuck in 1944, and Jack and Annie are sent back to rescue her before it's too late.
  • 53 (Merlin Missions 25). Shadow of the Shark
    • Jack and Annie get to go on vacation to any time they want, and choose the time of the ancient Mayans.
  • 54 (Merlin Missions 26). Balto of the Blue Dawn
    • Jack and Annie are sent back to the famous 1925 serum run from Anchorage, Alaska to Nome, to combat an outbreak of diphtheria, in the hope that they can save lives.
  • 55 (Merlin Missions 27). Night of the Ninth Dragon
    • King Arthur's castle in Camelot has been attacked and King Arthur himself has been gravely wounded, forcing Jack and Annie to find a missing dragon in order to save the king and kingdom.

    Arc 15 (books 29-32): Learning From the Heroes 

Morgan sends Jack and Annie to four time periods in order to learn skills from famous people in history.

  • 29. A Big Day For Baseballnote 
  • 30. Hurricane Heroes in Texas
  • 31. Warriors in Winter
  • 32. To the Future, Ben Franklin

    Arc 15 (books 33-on): Animal Rescues 

Different animals have come to be in danger, and Jack and Annie must go on quests to rescue them.

  • 33. Narwhal on a Sunny Night (January 2020)
  • 34. Late Lunch with Llamas (July 2020)
  • 35. Camp Time in California (March 2021)
  • 36. Sunlight on the Snow Leopard (January 2022)
  • 37. Rhinos at Recess (announced for January 2023)


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