Perfect since there are five girls in the Magic Attic Club. What is it, you may ask? Released in the mid-90s, the Magic Attic Club was a brand of dolls with accompanying books and accessories encouraging kids to embrace their imagination and friendship. Apparently they were very popular back then because I found a wiki and everything.

Here’s the summary from the fan-made wiki: The line focuses on a group of ten-year-old girls–Alison McCann, Keisha Vance, Heather Hardin, and Megan Ryder, and later joined by Rose Hopkins–who are given a magic key bestowed by an enigmatic woman, Ellie Goodwin, which gives the girls access to her attic. In the attic is a trunk and wardrobe filled with costumes, and a magic mirror. When the characters dress up and look at themselves, they are transported into many different worlds both past, present, and fantasy. The adventures provide life lessons on how to deal with situations in the girls’ personal lives. After their first adventure, the girls form the Magic Attic Club that they share as a secret, and they make a promise to share all of their adventures with one another.

It’s a bit of magic, a bit of history, and thanks to Internet Archive (go donate!), I was able to read all thirty books and its four super specials. Here are my five favorites. One for each girl who get five books each.

Heather Takes the Reins: This was a fun story where the real world plot has Heather facing pressure from her quiz bowl team to carry them to victory. Thanks to her drassage-riding adventure, she learns the importance of finding everyone’s (and every horse’s) personal strengths and learning to communicate that a team can’t rely on one person, it’s called teamwork for a reason.

Megan’s Masquerade: Contrary to what the cover looks like, Megan goes back to the Revolutionary War. Not only was it fitting with my general historical fiction theme this year, but has an awesome message about history is not only about war and important figures, but also about the ordinary citizens that affect change even though their names aren’t in history books.

Keisha Discovers Harlem: Not only is it a good primer about the Harlem Renaissance, communicating the excitement and creativity of the era, but highlights that African-American history isn’t confined to the Civil War, and the Civil Rights (important as they are) and suffering, but they had joy and prosperity in their community as well.

Alison Rides the Rapids: I think this was the most relatable of the books as no matter who you are, chances is that you’ve dealt with anxiety over a test or project. This had a good message about learning to keep a cool head under pressure, and tackling things one section at a time.

Rose Faces the Music: Another nice message about learning to deal with consequences of one’s actions, and how things can get quickly misconstrued and exaggerated in the world of DC politics.